We get this call a lot: “Do you guys clean pool tile?” The short answer is no. Starr Cleaning Services cleans the tile and grout inside your home: kitchen and bathroom floors, walkways, showers and countertops. Pool tile is a completely different job, so when someone in Mesa, Gilbert or anywhere in the East Valley asks us about it, we send them to Pool Tile Pros.
Floor Tile vs. Pool Tile: Why They Need Different Pros
Both jobs say “tile cleaning” on the invoice, but the problem, the equipment and the process have almost nothing in common.
| Floor & shower tile (Starr Cleaning) | Pool waterline tile (Pool Tile Pros) | |
|---|---|---|
| What’s on the tile | Dirt, desert dust, grease, soap scum and old cleaning residue packed into the grout lines | White calcium and scale left behind by Arizona’s hard water at the waterline |
| How it’s removed | Pre-treatment, hand agitation and truck-mounted hot-water extraction | Media blasting that removes calcium from glass, porcelain, ceramic, pebble and stone |
| Prep | Move small furniture; floors are walkable in about an hour | In most cases the pool is drained first so the calcium line doesn’t come right back |
| Finishing | Optional penetrating grout sealer or grout color sealing | Blasting material removed; acid wash often recommended for the pool surface |
A carpet and tile cleaning truck can’t take calcium off a pool’s waterline, and a pool tile crew isn’t set up to deep clean the grout on your kitchen floor. Hiring the right specialist saves you a wasted appointment.
Who We Recommend for Pool Tile Cleaning: Pool Tile Pros
Pool Tile Pros is a family-owned East Valley pool company run by Sage Nichols. Calcium removal on pool tile is what they built their reputation on, and they’ve restored hundreds of pools around the Valley. Their services include:
- Pool tile cleaning: removes calcium and scale from waterline tile, spillways and water features
- Acid washes: removes stains and mineral buildup from plaster, pebble and stone pool surfaces
- Green-to-clean: brings a green, algae-filled pool back to clear water
- Weekly pool service: chemistry, brushing, skimming and equipment checks (Queen Creek only)
They serve Queen Creek, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, San Tan Valley, Florence, Apache Junction, Coolidge and surrounding areas.
Pool Tile Pros: (480) 907-0915 · pooltileprosaz.com · ROC# 353882
Signs Your Pool Tile Needs a Pro
- A white or gray crusty line along the waterline that scrubbing won’t move
- Spillways or water features with chalky buildup
- Glass or decorative tile that has lost its color and shine
- It’s been more than a year or two since the tile was last cleaned
Calcium hardens over time, so the sooner it’s removed, the easier it is on your tile and grout.
Need the Tile Inside Your Home Cleaned? That’s Us.
If it’s the tile you walk on, shower on or cook over, Starr Cleaning is the call. Our tile and grout cleaning uses truck-mounted hot-water extraction to pull dirt, mineral film and residue out of the grout lines instead of pushing it around with a mop. We clean ceramic, porcelain, travertine, saltillo, slate and vinyl plank, with optional grout sealing to keep it looking good longer.
We serve the whole East Valley, including tile and grout cleaning in Mesa and tile and grout cleaning in Gilbert. Call (480) 694-3971 or request a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Starr Cleaning clean pool tile?
No. We clean indoor tile and grout (floors, showers, backsplashes and countertops). For pool tile and calcium removal, we refer customers to Pool Tile Pros at (480) 907-0915.
Who cleans pool tile in Mesa and Gilbert, AZ?
We recommend Pool Tile Pros. They specialize in pool tile cleaning and calcium removal across Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley and the rest of the East Valley.
Does the pool have to be drained to clean the tile?
Usually, yes. According to Pool Tile Pros, old hard water is what causes the calcium line, so if the pool isn’t drained, the buildup tends to return within a few months.
How often should pool tile be cleaned?
Pool Tile Pros recommends every 1–2 years, depending on your water, the age of the pool and how much it’s used.
Does Pool Tile Pros clean floor tile?
No. Pool Tile Pros handles pools, spas and water features, and they send floor tile customers to us. They wrote about it here: Do You Clean Floor Tile? Who We Recommend in Mesa & Gilbert.
