A pumice stone is your safest bet.

A pumice stone is your safest bet.

Yes, but only if you keep it wet and use light pressure. A pumice stone is a soft abrasive that won’t scratch glazed ceramic or porcelain pool tiles. It’s the go-to tool for calcium scale because you can physically buff the deposit off without chemicals that might damage the grout or the tile finish.

Don’t reach for vinegar or muriatic acid unless you know your tile is acid-resistant. Vinegar can etch some finishes, and acid will ruin your grout if you’re not careful. Even mild acids can cloud glass tiles or damage natural stone. The pumice stone works on wet tile — just dip it in water, rub gently on the scale, and rinse. It takes a little elbow grease, but it’s the most forgiving option.

If the scale is really thick, you might need a specialty calcium remover designed for pools, but those are stronger than most people need. Start with the stone.

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