What's the difference between pool shock and bleach?

Swimming pool shock contains 12.5% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) vs. 6-8.5% for Clorox (bleach). Some Clorox products go as high as 8.5%. At a 12.5% concentrate, liquid pool shock is approximately 2x's stronger than Clorox bleach.

Can I use bleach as pool shock?

Using Bleach as a Shock

You need to use less of such products per volume than you do if you simply add chlorine, and if you opt for chlorine alone, you need more bleach than you do pool chlorine. Bleach contains the same chemical -- sodium hypochlorite -- as pool chlorine, but the concentrations are different.

Can I use chlorine bleach instead of shock in my pool?

Therefore, a lot of people keep away from ever using a drop of bleach near their pools. Bleach is safe and the only chemical you should be using in your pool unless cleaning pool tile with baking soda. So yes, you can use bleach to keep your pool water chemistry balanced.

Is bleach the same as liquid shock?

Sodium Hypochlorite, also known as Bleach or Liquid Shock is used often at Hotel, Condo and Health Club pools, delivered by truck and stored in 50 gal vats. This commercial strength liquid chlorine is also used by laundry and dry cleaners, and is a strong concentration of 12.5 % Sodium Hypochlorite.

Is bleach and pool chlorine the same?

Liquid chlorine

Household bleach (the same as you use for your laundry) and pool chlorine are the same thing. They are identical in every way, with the exception of strength.

Liquid Swimming Pool Chlorine

Which is stronger bleach or pool chlorine?

About Bleach Neutralizers

Pool chlorine and household bleach both contain hypochlorite ion, which is the chemical agent responsible for their “bleaching” action. Pool chlorine, however, is substantially stronger than household bleach.

What happens if you mix bleach and chlorine?

The combination produces chlorine gas, as in the chemical warfare agent. Chlorine gas causes coughing and will irritate mucous membranes. It causes chemical burns and can be deadly if concentrations are high enough or exposure is prolonged. Vinegar is not the only acid that produces chlorine gas when mixed with bleach.

Can I add shock and bleach at the same time?

It Should Not Be Done Together

Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.

What can I use instead of pool shock?

Common unscented household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) works well to shock a pool.

Will bleach clear a green pool?

Green algae, unlike its black counterpart, is a true algae; it isn't resistant to chlorine, so you can control it by shocking the pool. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on expensive pool chemicals, you can shock with household bleach.

How much bleach does it take to shock a pool?

Often, it will look something like this. 12.5% Liquid Chlorine Pool Shock – Normal Dosage: 1 gallon of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Shock Dosage: 2 gallons of shock per 10,000 gallons of water.

How long after putting bleach in pool Can you swim?

Liquid chlorine — In general, it's a good idea to wait at least four hours after putting liquid chlorine in the pool. The size of your pool and the amount of chlorine added does play a factor in this, too. Once your levels reach 5 ppm or lower, you're ready to swim.

Can you put bleach in a vinyl pool?

High concentrations of chlorine (above 1.5 ppm) will attack the liner and bleach it, thus damaging it. Any level below this range will weaken its ability to kill off bacteria.

Will baking soda clear up a pool?

The simple answer is No. Baking soda cannot be used to clear up a cloudy pool because it is a base. Bases raise PH levels, which causes the water to turn cloudy. Some people suggest using baking soda as a quick fix to high alkalinity levels, but it's not reliable as a pool chemical.

Can you use bleach instead of chlorine?

6 reasons why you should avoid disinfecting your pool with bleach instead of chlorine. Finally, if it is not properly dosed, bleach can become dangerous for bathers! Pool water that is too concentrated in bleach can become toxic, irritating the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract of swimmers.

Can I put vinegar in my swimming pool?

Just like you run vinegar through your coffee pot to get rid of calcium buildup, white vinegar can wipe away this eyesore in your pool. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, dip a sponge or soft cloth into it, and scrub that residue away.

What happens if you put too much shock in a pool?

Although, if you overdo the shock treatment, you risk getting green hair from chlorine due to the excess chlorine oxidizing the copper in the water. You can execute a shock treatment with a few different types of pool shock, just be mindful of how much you're using.

What chemicals should I balance first in my pool?

Total Alkalinity (TA) is the first thing you should balance in your pool water. TA refers to the amount of alkaline material in the water. And since alkaline is a pH stabilizer, the number of alkaline substances in water will affect the pH balance. The ideal Total Alkalinity range for pool water is 80 – 120 ppm.

Is vinegar and bleach a good cleaner?

Can you clean with vinegar and bleach? You should never clean with these two ingredients combined. Mixing chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite, with any type of acid like vinegar creates chlorine gas, a dangerous chemical that's deadly in high volumes.

Why does bleach turn urine red?

Mesalazine as part of its chemical make up is an "azo-dye" which on interaction with some chemicals (e.g. common house hold bleach) can turn a the colour that we all describe seeing in the toilet. This may appear red in the bowl if there is sufficient cleaning product in the bowl.

What pool chemicals should not be mixed?

Incompatible Pool Chemicals

Mixing of organic chlorinating agents (such as trichloroisocyanuric acid) and inorganic chlorinating agents (such as sodium hypochlorite) can lead to fires, explosions and chlorine gas release.

How often should I put bleach in my pool?

Once you've obtained a good reading, you can usually maintain your chlorine levels by adding chlorine tablets once a week. These dissolve more slowly and will keep your chlorine levels stable.

What type of shock is best for vinyl pools?

For a vinyl pool, we have two types of oxidizer that can be used safely and without having to pre-dissolve in a bucket before adding to the pool. Non-Chlorine Shock: This oxidizer is 100 percent potassium peroxymonosulfate, a mixture of salts that is completely safe to handle and store.

What type of pool shock is best?