Re: Problems with high pH
I broke your post into a new thread.
Bleach will temporarily raise the pH slightly, but the eventual effect is neutral. However, pool chlorine (10+% bleach) that's been stored for a year is mostly just salt and a bit of a caustic soda with very little chlorine left. Using enough OLD bleach to affect chlorine levels very possibly will raise pH.
Regardless, do two things:
1. Validate your pH test by adding up to 5 drops of acid demand reagent to the pH test mix. It should turn orange. If not, get a new kit. (Not sure how you did your acid demand test, so you may ALREADY have done this!)
2. Once you are sure you are getting valid pH readings, continue adding small DAILY doses of acid till your pH is in range.
And . . . in the future, use OLD bleach to clean your sidewalk or toilet.
Good luck!