Can I use liquid bleach instead of pool shock?

Yes, but it’s not a perfect substitute. Household bleach (6% sodium hypochlorite) can raise chlorine levels, but pool shock is usually 10–12% and has stabilizer (cyanuric acid) to protect chlorine from the sun. You need more bleach, and additives like scents or thickeners can mess with water chemistry. For maintenance it’s fine, but for a full shock treatment, use pool-specific shock.