Kim,
I understand your frustration but bear with us as your internet friends

In reviewing your thread I noticed a couple things have possibly held you back & prolonged your slam:
Hesitation to thoroughly clean the ladder (many people make this mistake),
lack of a functioning psi gauge so you know when to backwash,
&
While your filter size is ok for your pool I question your zeolite.
It can get blown into the pool on high speed & cause cloudiness due to its light weight. In a large pool this may dissipate easily after a short time but not so much in a small pool.
It also has the propensity to get clogged up & no longer backwash well.
It doesn’t really lend itself to a deep clean with the water hose the same way sand does either. But it may be worth a try.
Fwiw- After 2 seasons of never having anything but a clear and balanced pool my zeo looked like used kitty litter

I cannot imagine what it would have looked like if I had ever had to clear a swamp with it. It also poofed every time the pump came on.
I suggest you Keep with the slam,
Replace your pressure gauge & investigate your filter media. #20 pool filter sand is perfectly fine and the appropriate media for a sand filter.
Also, get in & scrub your seam flaps if you have any. A poly household broom works well. I used to have to lift them with my toes to get the broom/ brush in there.
Wear something already messed up if you’re concerned about bleaching.
I have been in MA slam fc level water & never had what you’re describing with clothes/suits so I am not sure what’s going on there unless you immediately got in before mixing the liquid chlorine into the water.
One other note - enter your ch in poolmath.