How To Clean Glass Pool Tile

A handy guide on how to clean your swimming pool mosaic tiles – including tips on waterline cleaning and care

Glass pool mosaic tiles are available in an extensive array of color choices and an assortment of finishes and textures. The variety in options and the design versatility of glass pool mosaic tile along with make it a popular decorative material for both indoor & outdoor applications. The aesthetic aspect is not the only reason mosaics are popular, pool mosaic tiles are also very functional and require minimum maintenance in most cases. With having that said, all pools require some maintenance and cleaning. Let's have a look at what makes glass mosaic an ideal material for pool mosaic tiles and how to keep it clean.

Is Glass Mosaic Really Suitable for Swimming Pools?

Yes, it is one of the best pool tile materials out there. Glass Mosaic tiles are non-porous, easy-to-clean and durable. A good glass mosaic tile should be non permeable, frost proof, thermal shock resistant, color fade proof and chemical resistant.

Top view render of a swimming pool mosaic abstract design by MEC — A 3D render with abstract Vertex Glass PIXL pool mosaic design. Contact MEC for a complimentary render now.

Read more about how glass mosaic can be the perfect tile choice for humid and wet areas like like bathrooms, spas, backsplashes and swimming pools:

Is Glass Mosaic Suitable as Shower Area Tile?
4 Benefits of Glass Mosaic Tile in Swimming Pools

Millions of patterns and unique designs can be made using tiny glass pool mosaic tiles. Think of a single glass tessera as a pixel on a screen. Thousands of glass tiles can be arranged together to make stunning art.

Elysian Aqua Vertex PIXL glass tile swimming pool mosaic by MEC 3D render — Elysian | a pool design from MEC's AQUA collection magnificent realistic tropical leaves. The classic blue background with a subtle overlapping wavy line pattern creates an enchanting design.

See: Abstract PIXL Mosaics | Customized, Fast, Revolutionary!

With a wide enough range of colors available and technology that can convert any image into a mosaic ready-design, the possibilities are endless. Your pool is the perfect blank canvas to get creative with mosaic art!

What is All That Grime & Residue?

From algae to stains and calcium scaling, let us discuss what causes your pool mosaic tiles and waterline to appear dirty and how to tackle it.

Organic Material

Materials such as dirt, soil and leaves can cause staining if left for extended periods. It is therefore recommended that the pool is cleared of leaves manually or with a special pool vacuum cleaner.

Chemical Imbalance

If there is too much chlorine in your pool it can make your glass pool mosaic tiles appear discolored. The bleached appearance is due to calcium deposits and scaling that deposit on the tile surfaces. Similarly, if the chlorine content is too little, you might face a slippery and unsightly algae problem. Maintaining ideal pool chemistry and regular cleaning can minimize the issue.

Hard-water Deposits

Have you ever come across hard water stains inside your house around the shower areas, bathtubs, sinks and backsplashes. If you are no stranger to the cloudy white residue, it is highly likely that your pool also has similar scaling.

Glass mosaic swimming pool with calclium and hard water deposit. White residue. — Swimming pool featuring blue glass pool mosaic tiles with hard-water deposits. This can be tackled with the right techniques and mild chemicals.

Here are the two different kinds of calcium scaling:

Calcium silicate: Harder of the two. Forms over a longer period of time. Grayish-white look.
Calcium carbonate: Easier to clean. Reacts with muriatic acid. White flaky appearance.

Nobody wants their precious custom pool mosaic tiles to dull over time. Fortunately there's a remedy for scaling and buildups.

Get Cleaning!

When cleaning glass pool mosaic tiles, avoid using abrasive cleaning tools or chemicals. Things like cheap pumice stone can leave scratches on your mosaic.

Household Chemicals & Cleaners

For basic cleaning mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray it on the area you want to clean. Leave it there for a while then clean it off with a soft cloth to get rid of light staining and calcium carbonate casts. Rinse it off and let it dry. For stained grout you can use the same mixture with warm water and clean with a soft bristled brush or toothbrush. Good quality swimming pool cleaning brushes and non abrasive scouring pads work best.

Tougher grout stains can be tackled by applying a baking soda and water paste to the grout before the vinegar spray step. Be sure not to scrub too harshly, that might wear off cementitious grout. To minimize grout staining and wearing off, you can seal it periodically or use epoxy grout.

Glass mosaic pool tile close up. Needs fixing. Tiles chipped. — What could go wrong: If the installation process is not up to the mark and the laying and fixing materials used are not used, tiles can get chipped and fall out of the mosaic. However, you can still clean the tiles and grout as usual.

There are some specialized commercially available glass tile cleaning products like, Limesol, that you can try. Additionally, you can also use mild cleaning products already available at home like even a dish detergent or even toothpaste.

Acid Bath

Diluted muriatic acid has proven to be very effective. However, you must take some precaution while handling his chemical. Disposing the unused acid can be tricky as well, so do not venture into this method without proper research and preparation. The diluting process can be very exothermic, so be sure to dilute the acid slowly and carefully. Always do that by pouring the acid into water, never the other way around. 8 ounces of muriatic acid per gallon of water. Use gloves, mask and protective goggles. The acid can react with certain materials. So be sure to use a plain wooden spoon and dedicated plastic measuring cups, mixing containers and spray bottles. Head over to SFGATE for a more detailed guide written by Cecilia Harsch: How to Remove Hard Water Stains From Pool Tiles

Little at a Time

Do not worry if the cleaning feels overwhelming and too time consuming. You can get it done in smaller increments.

Pressure Washing

See if your local hardware store offers pressure washing tools on rent. Read on the safety tips and guidelines before using them on your glass pool mosaic tiles.

Pool Cleaning Professionals

Alternatively, if your pool mosaic tile needs heavy duty cleaning you can leave it to the professionals. Pool cleaning companies have special equipment, chemicals and techniques. If you have that kind of budget for pool upkeep, just sit back and relax. Let the professionals help you make that pool spotless and as good as new!

Bottom Line

Having access to one's own private swimming pool can be one of the most luxurious things for a homeowner. You can just step out and take a refreshing plunge whenever you want! Host poolside (safe and socially distant) parties. With that privilege comes great responsibility. Our advice – clean your pool mosaic tiles often. The longer you put off simple routine cleaning the more buildups and tougher stains you would have to face later. Glass Pool mosaic Tiles are durable by default. Nevertheless, to maintain that beautiful look that you get with new tiles, your swimming pool tiles will need your care and attention. Just remember the following points to avoid costly maintenance and replacement in the long run:

Maintain optimum levels of pool chemical,
get rid of the dirt and leaves frequently, and
drain your pool every now and then to give it a thorough cleaning with chemicals and products that are safe to use with glass pool mosaic tiles.

References:

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-hard-water-stains-pool-tiles-37583.html
https://betterhousekeeper.com/2019/09/03/useful-tips-for-cleaning-your-pool-tiles/
https://www.thespruce.com/best-way-clean-tile-pool-waterline-2736539