Can Bleach Be Used in Swimming Pools?

Are you the proud owner of a swimming pool? Have you ever wondered if bleach can be used in your swimming pool?

Regardless of whether you have a pool that is situated outdoors or indoors (or perhaps even both) we’re sure that you’ll agree with us when we say that having a swimming pool is one of the best aspects of the home, especially when it comes to keeping active, socializing and having fun with your loved ones!

Still, even though having a swimming pool comes with plenty of awesome benefits, you’re still going to need to make sure that you are staying on top of its upkeep and maintenance!

If you aren’t ensuring that your swimming pool is being properly cared for, then besides running into various problems, you’re also going to find that your swimming pool is unhygienic and not safe to swim in.

Still, purchasing optimized cleaning products specifically designed for a swimming pool can be pretty costly, which can lead many to wonder whether or not household bleach can be used in place of chlorine.

This is where we come in to lend a helping hand.

Read on to discover whether or not you can use household bleach in your swimming pool, as well as some reasons why you might want to stick with your chlorine.

Let’s jump right in!

Can Household Bleach Be Used In A Pool?

While it is not something that is necessarily recommended as a means to keep your swimming pool clean, it is possible to use household bleach as a way to keep your pool sanitary and safe to swim in. 

However, while this might be the case, it is also important to note (before we go any further) that for the best results, it is also best to use swimming pool-grade chlorine in your pool for sanitizing and shocking purposes – as it is a product that will have been specifically optimized for use in your pool.

Still, if you do decide to use household bleach in your swimming pool, it is highly recommended that you only use 1 part bleach to 2 parts water as a mixture before adding to your pool.

How Much Bleach To Use In A 5,000 Gallon Pool?

Clorox is considered to be the most common bleach product that is used for swimming pools. So considering that Clorox has a 5.7% bleach concentration, if you have a 5,000-gallon pool, you will be using about 3 cups or 24 oz to help raise the chlorine levels.

How Much Bleach To Use In A 10,000 Gallon Pool?

The company Clorox itself has been known to recommend using around 100 ounces of regular-strength bleach per 10,000 gallons of pool water — one gallon is 128 ounces, and many bottles of bleach are available in one-gallon or half-gallon sizes, which is quite a bit of bleach. Many swimming pool cleaning professionals tend to recommend more conservative amounts of bleach, and our team recommends 75 oz for a 10,000 gallon-sized swimming pool.

With this being said, if you find yourself feeling a little confused about using the correct measurements, it’s a good idea to take a moment to consult with a professional for assistance before using household bleach in your swimming pool.

Why You Might Want To Use Household Bleach In Your Swimming Pool

As mentioned earlier,  But, besides the costs, there are a variety of other reasons why you might want to consider switching from chlorine to household bleach.

As we’ve just mentioned, the most obvious reason to make the change from chlorine to household bleach would simply come down to cost. 

Household bleach is one of the most inexpensive cleaning products currently on the market, which means that opting to use that instead of chlorine (and other optimized cleaning products specifically designed to work in a swimming pool) will be able to save you plenty of money in the long run.

To follow on, another reason why you might wish to make the switch over to household bleach in place of standard chlorine would be because it is considered to be much safer for children and pets to swim in. 

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While more research needs to be undertaken on this, it has been reported by many people that chlorine can cause a multitude of health issues when exposed to it, especially in people who suffer from asthma, allergies and skin conditions. 

Household bleach, on the other hand, does not contain the same harmful chemicals that can trigger a reaction, which means that it is a much gentler option to consider using. 

Another thing to take into consideration is that household bleach is actually easier to use than chlorine.

For example, you won’t have to worry about measuring out exact amounts of chlorine; instead, all you need to do is add enough bleach to cover the bottom of your pool. 

You’ll also notice that when you use household bleach, it will turn your pool water a bright yellow color.

This is something that you don’t see with chlorine, which makes it easy to know how much bleach you’re adding to your pool.

Reason To Avoid Using Household Bleach In Your Swimming Pool 

While these are some of the main reasons why you might choose to use household bleach in place of chlorine, there are some reasons why you might wish to refrain from using household bleach and instead stick to using chlorine. 

For starters, household bleach has a very low concentration of chlorine, which means that it might not be able to offer the same amount of disinfectant abilities as chlorine can.

In addition to that, it is also worth noting that household bleach has a high pH level, which will cause you do have to do more pool water tests.

Due to this, it means that if you do wish to use household bleach in your swimming pool, you will need to rebalance the pH levels with an acidity regulator. 

Household bleach is also super unstable and is known to degrade very quickly when used in water.

With that being said, if you are thinking about making the switch from chlorine to household bleach, you will need to sanitize/shock your pool on a far more regular basis than if you were to stick with chlorine. 

Our Conclusion on Using Bleach In Swimming Pools

So, there we have it! When it comes to the question of if bleach can be used in a swimming pool, while household bleach can be an optional alternative to chlorine, it is important to remember that it isn’t always the right choice for everyone.

If you are looking for a cleaner solution for your swimming pool, then chlorine can be a choice with considering, although most household bleaches often have unwanted fragrances and colors.

However, if you are concerned about the safety of your family or pets, then you may wish to opt for household bleach as an alternative to chlorine.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this article, we hope that it has been of some assistance to your considerations of bleach with your swimming pool, and helps you keep your pool clean and clear for many years to come!