Household bleach vs. Chlorine

[Eilum]

I have been using pool chlorine (10% cal-hypo) and couldn't find anymore in the local Walmart so switched to generic laundry bleach (8.25% cal-hypo).

When I poured it in the pool, it created thick white bubbles all the way to the floor and a few minutes later there were clusters of white bubbles floating on the top of the water. This never happened with the liquid chlorine. Is this normal and safe or should should I stick exclusively to pool liquid chlorine?

Thanks

 

[mknauss]

Check the bottle -- does it say 'Splashless'? That contains surfactants (soap) that you do NOT want to use. Only use plain, generic, 8.25% bleach.

 

[Mr Bruce]

You sure you used unscented, regular bleach? Not splashless, etc?

Also, liquid chlorine / bleach is not cal-hypo.

 

[Rollercoastr]

What exactly was the product you added? You're looking for 8.25% Sodium Hypochlorite. Outdoor Bleach, splashless and scented bleach contain additives you don't want in your pool.

- - - Updated - - -

Holy cow this forum is active in the morning!

 

[tim5055]

Yup, I think you have used one of the "special" flavors of bleach as the others have pointed out.

You want the generic GreatValu at WalMart. Mine is $2.57 a bottle right now.

 

[JohnT]

I got a jug of splashless bleach at Walmart last year in a regular bleach jug. Fortunately I noticed when I started pouring.

 

[Eilum]

You guys are great!! Yes, it says "low-splash formula." So I guess this is lesson-learned. It is sodium hypochlorite, btw.

 

[tim5055]

You guys are great!! Yes, it says "low-splash formula." So I guess this is lesson-learned. It is sodium hypochlorite, btw.

Yea, the "extras" they add to make it splash less and scented cause foaming. It will go away in a reasonable time. It helps speed it up if you net out any big piles of foam.

 

[RyanMcC]

That's awesome! I always assumed "low splash" was a few cents extra for the handle that channels air back up into the bottle so it doesn't splash when you pour.

 

[Eilum]

So is it safe to use the splash-less bleach? I can live with the foaming until I use the 3-4 bottles I bought, as long as it won't damage the pool.

 

[brims]

Someone posted that the splashless bleach states on the bottle "not for sanitizing" or something to that effect. So stick with the regular, unscented.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

So is it safe to use the splash-less bleach? I can live with the foaming until I use the 3-4 bottles I bought, as long as it won't damage the pool.

It could be "safe" but it's not a good idea at all. Think about it this way - the chemical thickener they use to make the bleach "splash-less" is capable of withstanding chlorine oxidation at concentrations 10,000 times higher than what's found in swimming pools. Do you really want to add a chemical like that to your water? What you've added will take a relatively long time to degrade (some people have posted experiencing foaminess for several weeks) so you really don't want to keep adding it.

Return it or use it for the laundry but DO NOT add it to your pool.

 

[Eilum]

Ok. Thanks.