Pool Question - Bleach instead of Chlorine???

[grinningghost]

BIL told me he only uses bleach in his pool - no other chemicals except clarifier. He claims it's cheap and it works better.

His pool is always very clean, but I never knew I was swimming in Clorox before.

Is this OK?

 

[Lanshark]

I would not do it. We have had pools for many years. We started with above ground and now have an inground pool. A pool can look good and be chemically out of balance. Go to a reputable pool supply place and have your water tested. The testing is free. They will then recommend what you need to get it in balance. We buy our chlorine and shock from SAMS. It's much cheaper. Personally, I wouldn't swim in your BIL's pool if all he uses is bleach. Part of the expense of having a pool is proper maintenance. It makes the pool last longer and it's safer for those swimming.

As I said, it's important to find a pool supply place you trust.

 

[Patch'sD]

I use bleach as shock, that is about it. I would find it very hard to regulate the chlorene level. I have also heard of people using baking soda for PH+.

 

[floridafam]

I wouldn't do it.

Can't high levels of chlorine or bleach be harmful?

It just doesn't sound right.

 

[dennis99ss]

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00451.htm

I learn something new every day

 

[peachgirl]

It won't cause any problems for swimmers that using a chlorine product meant for pools will. Actually Clorox is much, much weaker than regular pool clorine, but it does work. It is harder to maintain the right clorine levels because it's not stabilized, but it does the same thing as any other clorine product does as far as killing bacteria.

It does nothing though to keep the ph in balance. If the ph is off, depending on whether it's high or low, it can cause dry skin and itching and it can also be corrosive to the metal parts of the pool, pump and filter.

No, you're not going to die if you swim in a pool clorinated with Clorox....

 

[aprilgail2]

My whole childhood my fahter used bleach in our pool and I was just fine....but...I wouldn't use it now...I don't like usiing any type of chlorine in my pool, I use an alternate system in mine. Bleach ruins your clothes and bathing suits and fades your pool liner not to mention burns your eyes.

 

[antkim]

My dh uses bleach instead of shock and then chlorine tabs after that.

Kim

 

[bcvprincesses]

We use bleach as a shock and then the chlorine pucks in the automatic chlorinator. It works really well. No problems here. If you do use bleach you need to add some stabilizer or you will just be adding bleach all the time.

Here is a great website all about pools

http://www.poolforum.com

 

[ZebraStripes]

Originally posted by bcvprincesses
Here is a great website all about pools

http://www.poolforum.com

We just have one of those temporary "bladder" pool. I found this sight very helpful last year. Thanks for reminding me about it.

Kris

 

[grinningghost]

Wow. Really sounds like a flip of the coin, doesn't it? Very interesting link from Dennis - thanks. I'll be visiting the poolforum.com in another minute.

Thanks to all for your chemical advice.

 

[Disney Doll]

We used to use "made for pools" chlorine, but I do recall a couple of times when we threw blach i there when we had run out of the pool chlorine and hadn't had a chance to get to the pool supply store to get more.

I didn't die.

 

[grinningghost]

I spent a very interesting hour on the poolforum.com and it seems lots of people use bleach. But you must be careful to use the right formula of bleach, or it doesn't do any good.

From what everyone says, Target bleach for 99 cents is good.

Who would have ever known?

 

[jimmalru80]

Baquacil here, nothing to do w/chlorine or bleach. DD's can't handle the chlorine. I know it's more $$, but if they feel better about using the pool, so be it.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Ozone.