Is sodium hydroxide in bleach normal/ok to use in pool?

[juzzie]

Hi guys.

Found some bleach at ALDI supermarket - extremely cheap but only 4% strength sodium hypochlorite. that's ok...

But It also says in the active ingredients it has sodium hydroxide 9%.

Is the sodium hydroxide OK to use in pool?

I am shocking at the moment and can't get the better 13% liquid chlorine...

 

[Stuamurr]

Cheap bleaches such as these are not as good as 6% Wall-Mart or 16% Supply but do the job ok, the additional Sodium Hydroxide or "lye" will have a slightly pH+ effect, but not much really. You don't have any real concerns about using it.

Regards
Stu

 

[juzzie]

Thanks stu...

It's sunday morning here and I am shocking and can't pick up some 13% till tomorrow.

I'll just get some cheap stuff to keep the shock process happening...

Cheers.

 

[chem geek]

Are you sure it says 9% sodium hydroxide and not 0.9% (which is still high -- good chlorinating liquid has 0.25% and Clorox bleach is < 0.1%)? If it's truly that high DO NOT USE IT. It will significantly raise the pH and require you to add a lot of acid. If it were truly 9% sodium hydroxide, then it would require about 30 fluid ounces (almost a quart) of full-strength Muriatic Acid (31.45% Hydrochloric Acid) for every gallon of bleach that you use!

 

[Stuamurr]

I don't think the peroxide level quoted is correct, I've used Aldi bleach here in the UK many a time for poolside cleaning, washing it into the pool afterwards without any change in pH.

 

[juzzie]

Oops sorry I got it wrong it says 9g / litre which is 0.9%

I will use it this once until I get some liquid chlorine tomorrow.

 

[bzbmom]

Where do you get the 16% bleach? I normally use the 8.25% from Kroger or WalMart, but was looking at the bleach from Home Depot, which does have <1% Soldium Hydroxide (which is how I found this thread.

I finally learned to NOT use Dollar Tree Bleach, after way too many $$ spent on basically water

 

[bordelond]

Where do you get the 16% bleach?

The OP is in Australia. I'd be interested to know if any U.S. states allow retail sale of 16% bleach.

Some states allow up to 12.5%, some (like mine) cap it at 10%. There are other states still of which I have no idea.