Are your pool steps and ladder dirty and making your pool water murky? It might be because of rust, dirt, or algae collecting over time around the steps.
Most of the ladders and handrails are made up of stainless steel. We all think it won’t stain by hearing the name stainless steel. But contrary to popular belief, it does. But it does not necessarily stain with rust because of the water in pools but the surrounding environment.
Stainless steel contains a minimum of around 10.5% chromium, making a self-healing layer of transparent oxide by reacting with air. This is good for the long run but might expose itself to rust without proper maintenance. Many factors are responsible for rusting and stains, such as weather conditions, unbalanced pool chemicals, or poor electrical grounding.
Steps and Handrails provide a safe and easy way to get into and out of the pool; although they are safety equipment, they can cause severe injuries if they are not adequately maintained (dirt can cause algae and make the steps slippery).
Check your rails and ladder regularly to avoid mishaps and keep your pool water sparkling clean.
Table of Contents
Steps to Clean a Pool Ladder
Cleaning the ladder is relatively easy. All you need is some chlorine bleach or powdered cleanser, a scouring pad, a scrub brush, and a water hose. Remove the stairs from the swimming pool to remove any loose dirt or debris before you begin.
Use a plastic scouring pad to scrub the pool ladder. Avoid using steel scouring pads as they might leave scratches. Wet the cleaning pad with fresh water and apply a powdered cleanser. Rub softly in circular directions until you get rid of any loose dirt, and the stains are removed. Rinse everything off with water once you’re done. Dry the pool steps and apply automotive wax.
Let it dry and rub it with a clean, soft cloth, then properly place the ladder back into the pool. The process might be a little different if you want to clean pool steps underwater.
Pro Tips
Pool ladders are an essential part of any pool. However, if you are not careful while cleaning them, they might get scratches and ruin the appearance of your swimming pool, follow these tips to properly clean them without causing damage:
- Use a Brush or Vacuum Cleaner
Clean the bottom of the ladder with a brush or a vacuum cleaner. If there is less dirt, you can use a vacuum cleaner to wipe it off; otherwise, it is advisable to use a cleaning brush for tough stains.
- Clean the Surface With a Garden Hose
The corners of the handrail or ladder can be hard to reach. An easy way to clean difficult spots is to spray them with a pressurized hose.
- Scrub With Diluted Bleach
Over time, leaving your pool ladder exposed to rain, sun, algae, and other contaminants can lead to severe rusting. Scrubbing the ladder with diluted bleach will remove the rust and make it shine. Do this before every pool season to ensure a lovely and clean pool.
- Sanitize Your Ladder Using Chlorine Tablets
Add a chlorine tablet to the cleaning solution (you can also add chlorine tablets to the pool water); This will help sanitize your ladder and keep your pool free of germs, thereby reducing the risk of getting sick.
How to Clean Fiberglass Pool Steps?
Fiberglass pool steps are usually constructed with high-quality resin, making them more durable than other ladders. Some people install these ladders in their pools because they are more stable than different ladders.
Fiberglass pools do not require resurfacing or hard-facing except for concrete pools. Because fiberglass does not affect the water’s pH, fewer chemicals are necessary for fiberglass pools. Body oils, suntan creams, and airborne pollutants can gather on fiberglass pool walls and tiles in any pool. Pools made of fiberglass should not be emptied for cleaning. Pool cleaning products may remove the residue.
Cleaning fiberglass pool stairs is not simple, but it’s not as challenging if you have the correct equipment and expertise.
You’ll need the following items to make things smooth:
- A rake for the pool
- Vinyl tile cleanser, mild
- Abrasion-resistant cloth
- A gentle pool brush
Fiberglass Pool Steps Cleaning Process
It is essential to clean fiberglass pool steps as soon as possible to prevent dirt from accumulating and getting into the water.
Pool steps can get dirty from the pool, weather, and dirt from people walking on them. The best way to clean them is to use a pressure washer and a brush attachment.
The steps to cleaning fiberglass pool steps are pretty straightforward.
- Step 1: Push scum toward the pool’s main drain using a pool rake. Because algae do not get caught in the pores of fiberglass pools as it does in cement pools, algae cleaning is straightforward.
- Step 2: Clean the unclean, discolored pool portions with a mild vinyl tile cleaner. Avoid using any abrasive cleaners on your fiberglass pool surfaces.
- Step 3: With a non-abrasive towel, wipe away the cleanser and the muck. If the material is stubborn, use a soft pool toothbrush to scrape it out gently; if you find cracks in the steps, try fixing them.
- Step 4: Until the pool is evident, clean any leftover residue.
If you complete all the steps outlined above, you should find your fiberglass swimming pool steps looking brand new in no time. Your friends and family will enjoy using them much more than before when they aren’t surrounded by dirt, algae, and other debris.
One of the best ways to clean fiberglass pool steps is with a pressure washer. This will get the stains and mildew off the surface and give a nice shine that shows off the surface once more.
Steps to Clean Pool Handrails
Here are a few ways you can follow to maintain a rust-free stainless steel pool handrail:
- One thing you can do is frequently wash your pool handrails with fresh water. This is for washing away chemicals generally found in pools like chlorine.
- Clean the pool handrails with some cleaner and water. You can choose your cleaner because it will probably be safe for stainless steel if it can clean glass.
- Make sure to remove any rust stains as soon as possible with the help of a nylon brush.
- Weekly, clean your pool handrail with warm water and a bar of mildly cleansing soap.
- Use a soft dry cloth to scrub the stubborn spots on the handrail beforehand to avoid rust spots in the future.
- You can also add any high-quality automotive wax of your liking to your cleaning ritual. This will protect your handrails in the long run.
How to Make Sure the Cleaning Products Are Good
Make sure to look up the cleaner’s contents before buying it. This may sound insignificant, but the contents are the stepping stones towards better or worse maintenance of your pool.
Try avoiding ingredients that contain chlorides, abrasive cleaners, or steel wool.
These products will damage the pool handrail’s surface and leave it susceptible to staining with rust or corroding.
Are There Other Alternatives Than Stainless Steel?
There are other alternatives to stainless steel steps and handrails; you can try out equipment made out of either of the below materials for a durable and rustproof experience:
- Powder coating
They are applied to steel as a dry powder and then baked to create a durable finish. The finished product is corrosion and scratch-resistant.
- Vinyl-coated rails
These are preferred if you have salt-chlorinated pools. They stay cool in hot temperatures.
Summing Up
You might have to deal with muddy algae or dirt if you don’t clean the steps and rails on your swimming pool. Cleaning the steps is the only method to address the problem. It prevents the risk of someone slipping and falling due to a slippery surface.
After cleaning up, you will notice a better grip while using the ladder, pool water will be cleaner, and the pool pump will run less often. While cleaning the ladder and handrails, check the pool liner for any rips or tears, and clean all other parts of the pool.
