Several chemicals are necessary to clean a pool. Some are irreplaceable and must be bought at a pool store, but there are also some household products that you can use to get the job done.
Using these cheaper alternatives will help you save a significant amount of money. It will also ensure you are reducing your impact on the environment.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural, inexpensive pool chemical often used as a pH and alkalinity increaser. It is also an excellent natural sanitizer for your pool.
A good pH level helps to prevent algae from growing. A balanced pH level also makes it easier for chlorine to kill bacteria and sanitize your pool. A test kit is essential to measure your pool’s pH and alkalinity levels. It would help to increase both groups to help your pool water stay clear and safe.
It can take several days to raise your pool’s pH and alkalinity levels, so it is recommended that you break this process into a few daily steps. Always measure the pool’s pH and alkalinity before adding additional chemicals.
Borax
Borax is an inexpensive and effective way to keep your pool water looking soft and sparkling clean. It helps maintain the ideal pH level and prevents algae growth.
Before borax, pool owners used baking soda and soda ash to raise the water’s acidity levels. However, this method can be time-consuming and more efficient than borax alone.
Borates, such as sodium tetraborate decahydrate and sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, work well as pool pH buffers. They can be added to pools in small amounts, making them convenient.
Vinegar
White vinegar is an excellent choice when cleaning tough, chalk-like stains across the pool wall. The acidity in this household product removes calcium buildup, which is a fairly common problem in most pools.
Vinegar is a mild acid that helps adjust pool water’s pH and alkalinity levels. It can help prevent the formation of bacterial blooms and mineral deposits while making the water more breathable for swimmers.
One of the best things about using vinegar as a pool cleaning agent is that it’s a cheaper alternative to muriatic acid, which can be expensive and not readily available at your local swimming pool supply store. However, you should be aware that putting too much vinegar in the pool can lower the pH of the water, which can be harmful to your skin, eyes, and mouth.
Salt
Salt is a common household item and a good choice for alkaline pool water. One cup of salt added to 10,000 gallons of water can increase the alkalinity by ten ppm.
In addition to raising the alkalinity, it also inhibits bacteria and viruses that can cause pool problems. So it’s an excellent option for people with hard water and for those who want to keep their pools clean without spending much.
Another advantage to using salt is that it’s much cheaper than chlorine, so you’ll likely save money over the life of your pool. It’s also more environmentally friendly than chlorine, which does not require storing and handling chemicals.
Water
There are many different pool chemicals that you can use to sanitize your swimming pool. One of the cheapest is chlorine. This is a very effective sanitizer and works well in both outdoor and indoor pools. Using a test kit, you should check the chlorine level in your pool weekly.
Another common and inexpensive sanitizer is bleach. Bleach is sodium hypochlorite that removes hard water deposits and algae. When sanitizing your pool with these products, follow all the instructions on the labels carefully. Doing this will ensure you are safe while cleaning your pool, and everyone who swims in it will also be.
