Pool tile guide How often should you clean pool tile?

Brush weekly

Brushing the waterline once a week with a soft nylon brush is the single best habit for keeping calcium off. It removes fresh deposits before they harden. Brush raised walls, spillways and waterfalls too, since they build up faster.

Skip wire brushes, pumice stones and acid tile cleaners. They scratch tile and wear grout, and scratched tile scales up faster.

Professional cleaning when the line won't brush off

There's no fixed calendar for professional tile cleaning. It depends on your water, how often you top off, and how well the chemistry is kept. Many Houston-area owners find that once a year keeps the tile looking new. Pools on hard well water may need it more often; pools with excellent maintenance can go longer.

Signs it's time: a white or gray band that brushing doesn't touch, rough texture at the waterline, or crust on spillways and rocks.

Staying on a schedule

If you'd like the tile cleaned every year without having to think about it, ask our office about the Yearly Tile Care Plan. Details are on the tile cleaning page.

Don't wait too long

Fresh calcium carbonate comes off more easily than years-old, hardened scale. Cleaning before the buildup gets thick usually means a shorter job and a better-looking result.