How should I shock my pool for the best results?

Shock your pool at night because sunlight burns off chlorine fast, so adding it at dusk gives it all night to work. Test your water first and adjust pH to 7.2–7.4 if needed. Calculate the dose based on your pool size and the shock product’s chart, then mix the shock in a bucket of water (never add water to dry shock—it can explode) and pour it around the edges with the pump running. Let the pump run 8–12 hours and don’t swim until chlorine drops below 5 ppm.