Safe Swimming Pool Shock Treatments
That’s what you want when you have 1,000 gallons of water in your backyard with kids and animals splashing around.
Look:
I’ve spent the last 10+ years skimming out dead ducks, rats, mice, lizards, bugs, spiders, and other critters from my swimming pool…
And every year since 2007, I’ve spent several hundred dollars ($200 – $300) on pool chemicals, such as 3-inch chlorine tablets, pool shock, water conditioner, algaecide, and muriatic acid – all to keep nasty organisms from living in the swimming pool water.
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: Swimming Pool Chemicals (Updated Daily)
You name it, and I’ve tried it – every brand of pool supplies sold at Walmart, Lowes, Leslie’s, and Amazon.
I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to buying cheap pool chemicals.
Pool shock is the one important pool supply I don’t skimp on.
I buy the best pool shock I can afford because, by far, it’s the most important pool chemical, along with chlorine tablets for keeping my swimming pool clean, clear blue, safe for swimming, and odor and algae-free.
Listen…
After over a decade of do-it-yourself swimming pool care, I’ve tried every flavor of pool shock there is, from HTH, Pool Essentials, Aqua-Chem, Kem-Tek Super Shock, DryTec, In The Swim to the Leslie Pools brand, and the best I have found is Clorox Xtra Blue.
That’s right, Clorox Xtra Blue is the best!
As a DIY, I searched high and low for a product that would save me time and money because I wanted:
- The best price on pool shock (anything less than $5 per treatment was a deal).
- The best shock for an in-ground pool that had been re-plastered (with and without chlorine).
- Pool shock products for Arizona’s hard water with high levels of alkaline (liquids or granules).
- Discount pool shock or coupons that I could use at Lowes or at Leslie’s Pool Supply.
- The strongest shock available kills any organism – but it is safe for home use since I was only doing DIY pool maintenance.
How To Sock Your Pool
The weather is right, and the family is ready to use the pool, but what about that strong chlorine odor? We’ll show you what to do about it. Time to clean the gutters. Climbing the ladder and dealing with leaves, bugs, and muck is tiring and potentially dangerous. Not anymore. We’ll show you an innovative solution that will save you hours of nasty work. Your car, it’s another space you live in just about every day. Today, we’ll show you how to make your driving spaces stylish and more comfortable. This is the show all about you and your space.
Your home and surroundings. We are Designing Spaces. (Music) Do-it-yourself pool care is now simpler than ever. It can be shockingly easy once you understand a few basics and have the right swimming pool tools. Designing Spaces goes poolside to see for ourselves. Take a look. Designing Spaces got together with Rebecca, the New Products Manager for the Clorox Pool and Spa brand, to show Melia some simple pool care tips to help her with her problem. Was I glad to see Rebecca? I could use some help understanding why my pool acts up sometimes. It seems like Melinda is a little bit shy about using chlorine. I need to get her comfortable with maintaining the proper levels. (Music). So what’s going on? I’ve been adding chlorine to my pool, and I’ve noticed this strong chlorine odor. Am I overdoing it? That smell could mean you’re not adding enough chlorine.
Not enough chlorine? Was I surprised? I figured because the pool was clear, everything was fine. The clearness of the water does tell you a lot about the chemistry, but it won’t tell you everything. Have your kids been using the pool a lot? With the weather getting warmer, yes. Yeah, I figured it was being used regularly, and that would use up the chlorine and could lead to that chlorine odor. When was the last time you tested? As I said, I figured the pool was clear, so everything was fine. Yeah, well, we should test before we go to the store. Can you download the Clorox Pool app? Sure. Melia doesn’t understand that after chlorine is used, it can linger in the pool.
Weekly use of the shock will help break it down so you don’t run into that strong chlorine odor she’s having. (Music). Ok, so search Clorox Pool in the app store. Ok. Perfect, there it is. And now, we’re going to set up your profile. So, put in how many gallons of water you have. Ok. Great, and then it’s a regular chlorine pool, of course. And the final liner. Perfect, that’s it. So now we are ready to test the water. Awesome. So, all you will do is take one test strip and dip it into the water at elbow depth, which will give you the best reading. So you dip it in, you’re going to shake it once, then lay it down on the grey card. So, do the Multi-Use Smart Strips help me know when to shock? Well, I’ll show you so if you open the app and go to the test your water section. Ok. You are just going to line up those lines with the test strip. Ok. Just like that, perfect. You see, it went green, so now it’s analyzing.
Ok. So now we can see that your total chlorine is higher than your free chlorine, which means that there is used chlorine in the pool, and that’s when you know how to shock. So this is the Clorox Pool, and Spa Chemical set. Ok. And the first thing we need is Shock Extra Blue. And it conveniently comes in our new, easy-open, easy-pour shock bottles. I think you’re going to need a few, so we’ll go ahead and grab a six-pack. Ok great. Just put it in the cart. Yea. Perfect. Ok. (Music). So the other product you need is the multi-use smart strips, which should be used weekly to help test your chlorine levels, and these will teach you when you should shock the pool.
We’ll go ahead and add those and head out. Thank you so much. Yea. We must pick up a Clorox Pool and Spa Step Three Shock, like Shock Extra Blue. I also picked up the My Pool Care Assistant Multi-Use Smart Strips so she can watch her levels and maintain her pool in the Clorox Pool and Spa comfort zone. So we have Shock Extra Blue, which the app recommended to cure your used chlorine. It’s a six-in-one formula with Algae-killing crystals that kill algae. It also kills bacteria, removes contaminants, and clears cloudy water, and just like the doctor ordered, it reduces chlorine odor. When do I use it, and how often? Shocking is step 3 in the Easy One, Two, Three Pool Care Brand System, and it should be used weekly to maintain chlorine levels. We also recommend you shock more frequently after high heat, heavy rains and if you use the pool often. How long do I have to wait before letting anyone enter the pool? That’s a great question, and one of the great things about Shock Extra Blue is you can treat and swim in just 15 minutes.
But we recommend you test before swimming to ensure your chlorine doesn’t exceed four parts per million. 15 minutes, wow, that’s great. My kids are going to love that. How do I shock the pool? So the app recommended you add three pounds using the new easy-open, easy-pour shock bottle. Ok. Wow, I like this bottle. It’s really simple to get the shock to go where I want it to go. I was so happy to discover how simple it was to test and treat my pool with the Clorox Pool app.
I heard about shock, but I hadn’t given it much attention. But now, have things changed? Thank you so much, Rebecca, for showing me what to do. I now know I do not have to be shy with chlorine. You’re so welcome. Remember to test your water regularly with your pool water testing kit, monitor your chlorine levels, and don’t forget to do weekly shocks. All of us on the Clorox Pool and Spa Products Team want pool owners to know that you can save time and money on pool care with a Simpler and Smarter Pool Care Brand System. Melia was like so many DIY pool owners who think there isn’t a problem if the pool is clear. But they need to test the water to know what’s going on. Once they get down to pool care basics and start seeing the results, they find it rewarding to maintain the pool themselves. To learn more about Clorox Pool and Spa Step Three Shock products and the Easy One, Two, Three Pool Care Brand System, visit their website, CloroxPool.com, where you will also find all kinds of helpful information on doing-it-yourself pool care.
To see this portion of the show again, visit DesigningSpaces.tv. (Music). Whether in your car enjoying your pool or simply looking for a way to reduce unpleasant chores, we believe in providing you with up-to-date information and better home care for a better home life. We are Designing Spaces. (Music). For more information about anything you’ve seen on today’s show or about how to be part of the show, log onto DesigningSpaces.tv. You can visit these websites to learn more about the participants in this edition of Designing Spaces.
My favorite pool shock has an easy-to-open-and-pour bottle!
Not only does the Clorox Xtra Blue easy-to-open bottle make it simple to add shock to the water, but it also keeps the water clear, keeps the algae from growing, and helps lower the need to add as many chlorine tablets each week.
This is a big deal in Arizona, where the pool water temperature gets in the 90s when the pool deck is 125+ degrees, perfect for supporting an ecosystem of bacteria, bugs, ducks, and algae…
BTW, when I say easy-to-use-bottle, I mean it because if you’ve ever tried to rip open a bag of super shock with your teeth, you know what I’m talking about.
It doesn’t make sense why the manufacturers of pool shock don’t think about making it easy to tear the end of a bag of shock, but they don’t – I digress!
So, without any more of my rambling, let’s see which is the best pool shock on the market for DIY pool maintenance…
Best Pool Shock On The Market Starting With My Favorite (Compare 5 Bestselling Brands)
- BENEFITS: Stay all clear for cannonballs; This fast-dissolving, convenient 4-in-1 formula kills bacteria and algae, reduces chlorine odor and irritation, and quickly restores crystal clarity
- FEATURES: Multi-functional shock treatment for weekly use to solve 90% of pool water problems within 24 hours and restore crystal clarity
- VISIBLY BRILLIANT SPARKLE: This Cal Hypo based formula sanitizes without adding cyanuric acid (CYA) to prevent overstabilization or chlorine lock
- COMPATIBLE WITH ALL SWIMMING POOLS: This product is great for all pool types including vinyl-lined pools and saltwater systems
- YOU'RE ALL CLEAR WITH HTH: For best results, use with HTH 6-Way Test Strips to test and balance your swimming pool water twice weekly
- One bag of this product per 10,000 gallons of water
- Adjust and maintain pH at 7.2-7.6
- Maintain total alkalinity in the range of 60 to 120
- One bag of this product per 10,000 gallons of water provides 5 to 10 ppm available chlorine
- 68% Calcium Hypochlorite
- Fast-dissolving, pool shock
- Creates crystal clear water
- Kills bacteria and algae
- Improves filter performance
- Won't impact pH
- Swim-ready in 15 minutes
- Kills and prevents algae with algae-fighting formula
- Kills bacteria
- Improves filter performance
- Fast-dissolving
- PRODUCT SPECS: 55 pound bucket of calcium hypochlorite (pool shock). Works in in-ground, above-ground pools, spas and hot tubs. 65% Cal Hypo Granules. Great for regular maintenance.
- KEY FEATURES: Fast acting calcium hypochlorite & professional-grade formula tackles algae blooms, restores water clarity, raises chlorine levels to eliminate unwanted contaminants. Professional formula trusted by pool maintenance experts. Solves 90% of pool water problems.
- DIRECTIONS: Ensure the pool filter is running. Measure (1lb for 10,000 gallons of water) & pour into water directly. Distribute evenly. Use a pool brush to ensure granules dissolve into the water and aren’t sitting on the bottom of the pool. Ensure proper circulation and avoid swimming until chlorine returns to 1-4 ppm.
- BENEFITS: Non-stabilized formula (no CYA’s) to prevent chlorine lock. Effective for all swimming pool types including pools with liners, gunite pools, and saltwater pool systems. Regular testing of pool water and maintenance are essential for optimal shock treatment results.
- BEST PRACTICES: Keep out of reach of children. Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes. Use in a well ventilated area. Store in a cool dry place, away from sunlight. Follow guidelines and usage instructions provided by the manufacturer. Do not add directly into the pool floater or skimmers.
Best Choice Vs. The Cheapest Choice
You can compare the Pros/Cons, ratings, reviews, and prices of each product listed above to find the best or cheapest pool shock treatment. As you see, both choices are listed.
But my mind is made up, and my favorite is Clorox Xtra Blue with the easy-to-open bottle because, after years of testing different pool chemicals, I’ve learned to get the best price and products for my DIY swimming pool needs.
And that’s not all. Another benefit I discovered along the way is how easy it is to buy pool chemicals online and get supplies delivered straight to my front door in 2 days or less by using my Amazon Prime account…
Warning About Poop In The Pool Water
On any given day in your chlorinated pool, you’re just one toddler diaper or animal poop away from dangerous recreational water illnesses.
These illnesses are caused by organisms such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and E. Coli, as well as symptoms such as severe diarrhea, which will all make you and anyone swimming in your contaminated pool water very sick.
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I have used all the pool chemicals listed above and then many many others. I have found that these are not the best and are ineffective unless your dumping pounds of them in each day. I have switched to Poolife Chemicals. I buy them from a reputable pool supply store in our town. (Note added: Poolife products can also be found on Amazon.)
Don’t have any problems with algicide, chlorine or phosphates. My water remains crystal clear and I have actually saved money. They also recommend that we change out pool sand in the filter annually. So with the help of knowledgeable pool techs, good quality chemicals we are now swimming in safe pool water.