Have you ever wondered if you have to use chemicals to clean your pool? Some products you find at your local grocery store can do just as good a job as the products marketed specifically for pool cleaning, which can save you quite a bit of money.
💦 Get 10% off our pool maintenance video course and ebook by using the promo code VIDEO: https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-care-handbook/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description'>https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-care-handbook/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
VIDEO
00:00 - Introduction to Common Household Pool Cleaning Chemicals
00:32 - How To Use Baking Soda To Clean Your Pool
01:12 - How To Use Bleach To Clean Your Pool
02:38 - Pool Care Video Course
03:16 - How To Use Muriatic Acid To Clean Your Pool
04:21 - How To Use Borate or Borax To Clean Your Pool
🏊‍♂️ Our Favorite Pool Maintenance Gear: https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-maintenance/'>https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-maintenance/
📺 Subscribe to our channel if you want more information on swimming pool and hot tub maintenance: https://www.youtube.com/swimuniversity
Swim University®️ has made swimming pool and hot tub care easy for more than 10 million homeowners. And each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. And it’s hard to find a trusted source of information. We get it! This is the reason we created Swim University®️.
😎 Visit our website for more in-depth information on swimming pool maintenance: https://www.swimuniversity.com/

So the truth is, is that you really don't need expensive pool chemicals and pool cleaning equipment? You actually might already have these things in your home. Already we're gon na talk about it. So, let's dive in okay, quick, disclaimer, we're gon na be talking about pool chemistry, and so, whenever you're dealing with chemicals, make sure to wear chemical resistant gloves and chemical resistant goggles. So we're gon na talk about four household products that you may already have in your home that can help you clean your pool, let's get into it the first thing.

You definitely have this in your home. If you don't, I would be shocked, but baking. Soda baking soda is an excellent cleaner. You can mix a little bit of water a lot of baking soda and make a paste and that'll be really helpful to clean tile and grout in your in-ground pool baking.

Soda. Also increases the alkalinity in your pool water. You can actually sprinkle or broadcast baking soda in your pool, and you need 1.5 pounds of baking soda for 10,000 gallons of water, which will raise your alkalinity ten parts. Per million it'll help clean your pool and it will increase your pools alkalinity.

Now you might have some sodium hypochlorite in your house. Where would you have it? It would probably be in your laundry room and it would be called bleach or, if you have grout in your in-ground pool between the tiles bleach is a great way to get rid of any stains that can form in that grout and bleach can also be used To shock your swimming pool, so what is shock real quick? I just want to point out that shocking is an actual act and not a product. So I know that there's products called shock out there, but shocking is the act of super chlorinating, your water, to kill all the bacteria in your pool. You want to get that chlorine as high as possible and, if you add one gallon of bleach per 10,000 gallons of water, you're gon na raise your chlorine level.

Five parts per million, so you're gon na need a lot of gallons of bleach. In order to shock your pool, but if you have a bunch of gallons of bleach lying around, you want to use that instead of liquid chlorine or powdered shock, you can absolutely do that. Real quick just make sure that if you're gon na be using bleach, don't use like the thick kind and don't use scented bleach, just regular plain old bleach. That's that's all! You need all right, real, quick! We have two more, but I want to do a quick that was the chair.

That was the chair. This video is technically sponsored by our very own product. It's how we keep the lights on here at some university is called the pool care handbook and video course. It is a massive massive multi, our video course teaching you everything you need to know about pool care, and it includes a 300 plus page digital Illustrated ebook with charts and graphs and everything you need to know to help you take care of your swimming pool and Because you're watching this video, you get a special deal.
If you use the promo code, video at checkout, the promo code is video at checkout. You will get 10 % off so thanks for watching now. I don't know if you're gon na have this stuff around, but it is actually really cheap and it's called muriatic acid. Now, muriatic acid is an acid.

If you have it around your house or if you want to use it, it can be used for two things. One it can clean cartridge filters and soak either your grids, your fingers, not your actual fingers, your de fingers, if you have a hayward de filter and your cartridges in that solution, and it will actually help to grease and clean those filters now you can also use Muriatic acid, to lower your pools, alkalinity and it's hard to say how much it's gon na need. So what you need to do is test your water before you add any muriatic acid to lower your alkalinity, and you can use an online pool calculator which we will include here at the bottom. To tell you how much neurotic acid you're gon na need to lower your pools alkalinity, you can also find charts in our pool care handbook.

So everything is there that you need, in order to figure out how much mirror to gas that you need to lower your pools, alkalinity, so muriatic acid, it does all kinds of things. Alright. The last thing you may find this also in your laundry room, it's borate. What is borate, it may not be called borate, it could be called borax, and if you have it, it could actually be used for a few things.

It's similar to baking soda in the fact that you can make a paste out of it and use it to clean tile or grout or sticky parts of your pool. You can use it for that can also use it to raise pH now. What I would do is add about a half a cup for every 10,000 gallons and then retest after about 15 minutes after it circulates see where you are, because you really don't need much to really raise the pH in your pool. That's it if you missed anything or you think I missed anything.

Please leave a message in the comments I'll be happy to answer it and maybe produce a future video. Also, if you need more information, please go to swim at university comm. Everything that you need is there and if you want to subscribe to our channel on youtube, to get more videos like this, please do so. That's it happy swimming.


50 thoughts on “Common household pool chemicals? | swim university”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars DRAGON LADY says:

    How soon can you swim in after putting the bleach in

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars User8571 says:

    "Bacon Soda"?

    Go on.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Pass A Sevilla Sanz says:

    Thanks 😊 I will try

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Virginia Estep says:

    What can I use to raise chlorine in my pool. There is a shortage this year and we are completely out of all tabs.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Angel Luna says:

    Orale like your info, is your thing in Español too ? ,just got a 16.5x9x48 intex, in ca. What the difference here and other states to keep up pools? Thanks 👍

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kenneth Reid says:

    Informative, as always, but one major point that was left out regarding boric acid is that it can be used to stabilize pH. That's very significant for those of us who have salt chlorine generators.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Charles Rubio says:

    Hello I would like to know could you also use these items in a pond would that be a harmful for your animals like ducks and dogs Service area Nepean??

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tyren The Bull says:

    I have a mini pool that holds about 1,000 gallons of water only. How much bleach in liters should i use?

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mommagongs channel says:

    so can you shock our chlorinate your pool just as well with the lower concentration of household bl each

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jelliebean88 says:

    Unfortunately I am one of those people with a couple gallons of bleach. U have them for different floors thru the house

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars DESPERADO PHARAOH says:

    I looked at liquid chlorine and it's the same as bleach on the bottle and same for the Alkalinity powder to Baking soda I was like huh? The pool store is robbing us lol

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Umar Sabtu says:

    TQ for the info. However you didn’t mention which one is the better choice? Please advise. TQ

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jl5777 says:

    Amen!

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Greta Rank says:

    how do I get iron out of my above ground pool?? It was looking great while I was starting to fill but when I added the chlorine tablets and my water went yellow now its turning rusty brown… so I Googled and found is "Iron Out" ok to use? Then this morning I found your site… Help please

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jackie Brown says:

    What can I use to raise the total hardness

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jason Morrell says:

    So if both bacon soda and borate do the same thing, why use the soda? 1.5 lbs vs 1/2 a cup?

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Melissa Sadler says:

    That was the chair…..lol

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Bryan P says:

    Love me some good ‘ol bacon soda 🥓.
    But seriously though, great video. Many thanks

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Yamisbel Tablante says:

    Very good info. Now, I have a dumb question, but I need to be sure before doing anything. Can these products be used on above ground pool? We have an intex 16 inches, so it's like 5000 gallons. Are you in Ottawa ?

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jonathan sancho says:

    Should definitely be the face of pools period. Like a mr.clean of pools idk but dude start making products il bias buy your products I swear!

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Melissa Blanchard says:

    Added granulated chlorine directly into my pool 3 days ago. I still see the chemicals floating around in the pool and they arent dissolving. It settles to the bottom but when I put in my dolphin vacuum it just spreads it around . Help !

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Matt Anderson says:

    Sodium hypochlorite is sodium hypochlorite. In the fall when all the pool chemicals go on clearance, I buy the gallons of pool chlorine for using in laundry. It's just a higher concentration, so you use less in the wash than you would normally put in.

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Cristian Cedillo says:

    So house hold bleach is the same as adding like chlorine tablets but in liquid form I just whta to know so I want to be sure

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sherly Flores says:

    Ty so muchhh for telling me Are you in Nepean ?

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars legit_h4x0r says:

    One thing to mention – the amount of bleach to add would depend on the CYA level in your pool (stabilizer). “Stabilizer” or CYA (Cyanuric Acid) acts as “sun screen” for your chlorine (sodium hypochlorite / bleach). You need a proper pool test kit to test CYA, but if the level is high, you’re going to need more than 1 gallon per 10,000 gallons of water to reach the desired chlorine ppm level to kill any algae. Service area Kanata??

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kate Evans says:

    Crap I literally just added the thick bleach because I was out of the regular. Are you in Kanata ?

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars twentyøne used crybaby's says:

    I messaged clorox about using one of their shocks in my small inflatable pool and they told me they don't recommend it and sent me a link explaining what to use instead(which was bleach). Also I don't know how but growing up my mom and papaw never put any chemicals in our pools and didn't cover them but they somehow stayed cleaned all summer🕵🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars irishokel says:

    Never use baking soda or bleach in your pool! What an idiot! There’s additives they don’t use in pool chemicals. Are you in Barrhaven ?

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jackie Mercado says:

    Hi, question! If I want to add chlorine to my pool, how long do I have to wait until I add baking soda or borate? Can they be done at the same time? Thank you!

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rebecca A Lundberg says:

    He says “bacon soda” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 love it! Awesome video! Thanks for the info and for saying bacon soda lol

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Just Biatch says:

    I have a small pool and it’s 70 x 20 round pool – are you able to help me know how much baking soda and bleach i would need.?

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars waterCarePro says:

    He's saying bacon soda or baking soda ?

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Darrell Wagster says:

    What about stabilizer

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kyle 0 says:

    Any idea if I could use iodine in a pool? Instead of chlorine.
    Iodineism absorbs into the thyroid gland a d is really healthy for people, it's one of the main reasons why fish are "healthy" due to iodine from the ocean and omega fats.
    I love swimming, pools and even the smell of chlorine, I use iodine on a daily level though and have been using it for a mini animal pool for a few weeks and it's been going good for far.
    I'd really like to know if It could be used on a large swimming pool though

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Advanced Dent Repair Southern Oregon says:

    I’m surprised you didn’t mention that Muriatic acid lowers PH as well as T/A??

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rob Ervine says:

    Been doing this for more than 30 years. If you keep your pool in the “pink (Ph 8-9)” it stays blue!!

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Natasha Hilliard says:

    If anyone can. Give me a list of everything to make own chorine tablets please and how much etc I'd really appreciate it

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Patrick Snyder says:

    Does all of his work with salt cell chlorinated pools?

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Louis Dorato says:

    These days, baking soda is just as expensive, or even more expensive than alkaninity increaser. Might as well get alkaninity increaser instead.

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ken Hodges says:

    Is there any guidance for removing rust stains from plaster unground pools?

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andrew Cooper says:

    Always informative and fun to watch your vids! Love the pool care guide too…I highly recommend Service area Orleans??

  42. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Aracely Guerra says:

    What about home vinegar for clearing smoggy water?? Service area Ottawa??

  43. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Southwest says:

    Bacon soda. I hear bacon soda.

  44. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Adam Kendall says:

    Don't buy the dollar store bleach either. There's a good reason why it's so cheap.

  45. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars leroy jenkins says:

    So why did that other pool guy on YouTube use like 56 pounds of borax
    Idk

  46. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Phillip Rose says:

    Pool salt works but dont use too much, it will bleach out your liner,no other chemicals needed.

  47. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Douglas Jackson says:

    Your videos are awesome!

  48. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Annie Pittman says:

    When to add bicarb before shocking the pool? Or do I need to shock if free chlorine level is good?

  49. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Heather Brown says:

    What about food grade Hydrogen Peroxide?

  50. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars C_mcmxciv says:

    I still work on pools as a technician, fixed, replaced motors and filter systems and have done piping and even heat pumps and heaters over the years as a seasonal job in the summer months and have done so for years. First of all… idk what this dude is saying but baking soda thats sold in the market should never put in you pools. It contains all sorts of metals that’ll mess the water up. Alkalinity and ph will be the last of your problems. Sodium bicarbonate is used for pools yes but something like arm and hammer has all sorts of additives its not meant for pools. Second Clorox and all those 5 in1, 6 and 1 things that are sold in walmart Home Depot etc are all bs. Just get your water tested bi weekly by a professional who can help balance your water. Chlorine meant for pools isn’t just simply bleach its industrial grade around 12 to 13 percent if its good. Dry acid is a ph reducer and isn’t just simply soda ash either. Alkalinity balances the ph but should be kept at around 80-100 or it’ll cloud the water ph should be roughly 7.4 to 7.6, calcium is good at 200-250 unless you have a heater and anything around 300 or 350 is also fine for the metals, your chlorine stabilizer is okay at around 50-70 and if you use tabs you should use half the recommended amount just to get you going. Chlorine is alkaline based and will increase the ph, tabs are acid based and will decrease your ph. Just keep a ph increaser/decreaser on hand depending on your form of chlorination. K.I.S.S keep it simple stupid.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.