Cost Comparison of Chlorine Sources

[ScottS]

Thanks again Richard for yet another wonderful post!

Great information!!

[mbar]

Wow, what a great post!, and easy for me to understand

[matt4x4]

why is it that a 1 gal jug of 6% Wally world (walmart) no name brand bleach is 1.36 and a 1 gal jug of 10.8% Wally world no name brand pool chlorine is 4.96,
would 2 jugs of the bleach not equal one jug of pool chlorine at 12% instead of 10.8 for a cost of 2.72 instead of 4.96?
This is in Canada, wally world in the US likely has a diferent product selection.

I've been buying this 6% bleach for forever now because it seems to be the best bang for your buck anywhere.
People always look at me really strange when I stock up, I try not to tell them what it's for, because as soon as you do, you'll never find that bleach on the shelf in that store again since everyone switches to it.

[rilesworld]

So if I am following the logic right here if you were to get a 1.36 gallon jug of 6% bleach for $2.25 then my equivalent cost is:

cost per pound (assumed same unit weight at your 12.5%) = 2.25/(9.7*1.36) = $0.171/pound

cost per available clorine = 0.171/0.057 = $2.99

maybe I had better shop around for a better price

Riles

[chem geek]

The bleach is less dense than chlorinating liquid. Whereas 12.5% chlorinating liquid has a density of around 1.16, 6% bleach has a density of around 1.08 g/ml. So 1.36 gallons weighs around 1.36 * 8.33 * 1.08 = 12.24 pounds so $2.25/12.24 = $0.184/pound. And $0.184/.057 = $3.23

so it's actually worse than you calculated because bleach is less dense than chlorinating liquid. Basically, a good deal would be getting a 96-ounce container of 6% bleach for $1 since that would be $2.60 per % available chlorine. That seems to be the best deal most people get except for unusual sales.

I've updated the table since the chlorinating liquid wasn't really $2.50, but was $3.25 (before tax). It's more expensive than some bleach so I've added the above $1 for 96 ounces scenario to the table. Some people can get chlorinating liquid for a very low price, but most don't (including me), but I don't mind paying more for the convenience of carrying less and getting the containers reused.

Richard

[bbse]

I can buy a 55 gallon drum of 12.5% chlorine locally for $150.90 after tax (it is around $138 before tax). I have to pay a one time drum fee of $15.00 and buy a drum pump for $22.00. Of course I get to swap/keep both the drum and pump so going off of these number for just the chlorine it is $2.75 a gallon.

Does this stuff go bad, I think I can use most of it up in one season but even if I don't, with gas at $3.10+ dollars a gallon, I think it would pay for itself in not having to go to the store and lug all those bleach bottles around.

[sunofthebeach]

Does this stuff go bad, I think I can use most of it up in one season but even if I don't, with gas at $3.10+ dollars a gallon, I think it would pay for itself in not having to go to the store and lug all those bleach bottles around.

yes it goes bad. degrades rapidly especially in heat and sun. I don't know to what extent though.