Chlorine level - too low - but why???

[FRANCIS]

Added half a gallon of Clorox GERMICIDAL bleach. Home Depot carried that, plus 'outdoor' variety for decks. So far, so good. thanks!

[FormerBromineUser]

Great! How much did you pay for that? It can be expensive!

[FRANCIS]

$4.39. Isn't this this part of the cheap, but effective BBB method?

[FormerBromineUser]

Well, it's a great product, but $4.39/gallon is tough. Many people just use plain, unscented 8.25% laundry bleach. I use pool shock which is the same stuff but at 12.5%. I try not to pay more than $3.00/gallon and sometimes I get it for $1.99/gallon at Menard's on sale. If you're handy at math you can figure out what is the better deal for you. If germicidal was cheaper, more people would use it!

[FRANCIS]

wow
that IS a big price difference

[FormerBromineUser]

The germicidal bleach is supposed to have extra things in it for E. coli and some other bacterias. You're the first person I know that has used it, though. I have read that it is a great product -just expensive.

The main thing with bleach is to make sure it's plain, unscented, not the splashless kind, and that the percent chlorine is listed in the ingredients. With both bleach and "pool shock", the main thing is to also look at the date code so you know it's fresh. The code will be something like 15169. This means it was bottled on the 169th day of 2015. Chlorine loses strength over time so this is very important. Also, don't buy anything sitting outside in the sun as sun and heat increases the rate of break-down.

[dansdad]

That 169 deal being 169th day of 2015 is great info. I have never heard it before. THANK YOU