Cheap Bleach?

[Watermom]

Be aware that some stores sell bleach that is 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and some sell 6%. Most places sell 6% but you can sometimes still find the other. Take this into consideration when doing price comparisons. Check the label to see what you are getting.

Watermom

[HillBoy]

WaterMom makes a good point. The bleach sold by WalMart & the Chlorox at Sam's Club is 6% as is the bleach sold by DollarTree. The bleach sold by Dollar General & Family Dollar is 5.25%. I have to say that I was skeptical at first that using bleach would actually work but after giving it a try I am completely sold. It completely killed off the algae and turned my pool water sparkling clear and blue.

[CarlD]

I have to say that I was skeptical at first that using bleach would actually work but after giving it a try I am completely sold. It completely killed off the algae and turned my pool water sparkling clear and blue.

Laundry bleach is merely one way of packaging Sodium Hypochlorite solution. A local pool store sells 6% (ultra bleach) in gallon jugs labled "Liquid Chlorine". They sell 12% gallon jugs of the stuff labled "Liquid Shock".

Re-labeling stuff to make it look like more than it is is nothing really new--think about people spending 2-3$ for a bottle of water, just because it says "Evian"--talk about a license to print money!!!!

The Moral: Judge by the ingredients and the amount, not by the fancy hyping label. I don't care if it says "Mustard Algaecide", "Black Algaecide" or "Algaecide"--if the ingredients are "60 % Poly...<something unpronounceable>...." then it's PolyQuat and I will buy it--if it's no more than $15/quart. If it contains anything else, it stays on the shelf.

[aylad]

The dollar stores Like Family Dollar & Dollar General carry 3/4 gallon jugs and they typically sell for $1.13 and up. The best deal I've found is at DollarTree which charges $1 for their 3/4 gallon jugs. Here in Dallas, WalMart's 2 gallon jugs sell for $2.28 and Sam's Club has a 3 pk of Chlorox in 182 fl ounce jugs for $7.82.

Check the hypochlorite percentage on that--the last time I looked at the Dollar Tree down here, it was only 3%.....

Janet

[Lenny]

Doesn't "ultra" generally signify that it's 6% (or at least 5.25%)?

I checked a dollar tree around here last year and I couldn't find the % listed anywhere on the jug. I don't recall whether it said "ultra".

[kaybinster]

Standard Chlorox bleach was always 5.25%, about 2 years ago they came out with Ultra as a way to rip off the consumer. You see the difference between regular and ultra is that ultra is 6% but it comes in a smaller bottle. The ultra bleach is not sold in a gallon bottle but in one that smaller, forget exact size. The two generally sell for the same price, but if you calculate how much of the active you are actually getting the 5.25% bottle is normally cheaper.

[xoroniox]

the local home depot has 10% bleach for $1.99/gallon and 5.25% bleach for $1.30/gallon and my local pinch a penny/leslies pool supply sells 10.5% 2.5gallon yellow jugs for $4 a jug which equals $1.60/gallons for 10% seems to be the best deal around, i will definitely now go look @ wal mart and the local dollar stores to try to find a cheaper way to go but for now im stuck @ the local pool stores which i hate!! owell

[kathypx]

Massachusetts and Rhode Island store 1 gallon, 12%, on sale frequently for $1.88.....nicely packaged in boxes of 4 gallons

[Watermom]

The smaller jugs are usually 3 quarts. (0.75 gallons) Remember, you don't need to buy Clorox. Buy the generic stuff. Same stuff, cheaper. No fragrances, fancy flavors, etc. And, as this thread states, check to see what strength you are buying. If it is only 3% (I have also seen it that low) for about the same price, that is no bargain.

Watermom

[tommypenngotti]

wow! my local Leslie's store in Northern CA - 2 gallon box of 10% = $7!! I guess I'm in "They can afford it ville"

trying Walmart & Home Depot next