5 Things to Know Before Using Household Bleach in a Pool

Use only plain, unscented bleach Any bleach with splash-less additives, fragrances, or surfactants will foam and disrupt pool chemistry. Stick to the cheapest, plainest bleach you can find.

Check the concentration Most household bleach is 6% sodium hypochlorite, while pool chlorine is 10–12%. You will need roughly twice as much household bleach to get the same sanitizing effect.

Store bleach properly Bleach degrades quickly when exposed to heat or light. Keep it in a cool, dark place to maintain its strength.

Never mix bleach with other pool chemicals Mixing bleach with acid or algaecide can produce chlorine gas, which is dangerous. Always add bleach to water, not the other way around.

Consider buying pool shock instead If you are treating a pool regularly, pool shock is cheaper per unit of chlorine and eliminates guesswork with dosage.