Want to do your own swimming pool maintenance this year? Then there are several things you’ll need to know to do the job properly, not least of which is proper pool chemical usage and balancing.

Adding the wrong chemicals to your pool, adding too much or too little of various chemicals, or even adding the right chemicals in the wrong order could end up damaging your pool equipment. Improper chemical usage can also create water conditions that’ll irritate your skin and eyes when you go in for a dip.

If you want to keep your pool in great condition while minimizing your risk of skin and eye irritation, avoid putting the following chemicals in the water at all costs.

1. Sunscreen & Perfumes

You might not purposely put these products in your pool water, but even if they end up in there by accident, they can cause big problems. When these substances break down in the water, they react with chlorine and other sanitizing chemicals, throwing off the pH balance of the water.

When the water’s pH moves outside of its ideal range, you and other swimmers may suffer from skin and eye irritation while you’re in the water or after you get out. While keeping sunscreen out of your pool might be tough if you’re swimming in the hot sun, you can minimize how much gets in the water by applying sunblock at least 30 minutes before you swim.

2. Excessive Chlorine or Bromine

If you don’t have a saltwater pool, you must use either chlorine or bromine to sanitize the water. But before you go dumping these chemicals into your pool, you should know that adding more isn’t necessarily better.

In fact, adding too much of these sanitizers can cause serious skin and eye irritation and throw off the water's chemical balance. Excessive chlorine or bromine can also aggravate asthma and may even make sensitive swimmers sick.

To keep the water clean, you must test it first to determine just how much chlorine or bromine you need to add. Don’t just randomly dump product in, or you’ll end up with overly acidic water, which can damage your pool equipment (and the pool itself) over time.

3. Chlorine + Acid

Whatever you do, DO NOT add chlorine and acid (whether you’re using dry or muriatic acid) to your swimming pool at the same time. And don’t mix them together in a separate vessel before dumping them into your pool water, either.

Mixing these substances creates a toxic gas that can be highly detrimental to your health. Avoid adding shock to your pool directly after adding acid to the water, and never add acid to the water when chlorine levels are high.

Always test your pool water before adding any type of chemical to ensure you’ll add the correct amount. If you’re unsure how to do this or decide you don’t want to deal with it, you can always set up a cleaning and pool maintenance schedule with a swimming pool service pro.   

Need a Pool Maintenance Pro in the Twin Cities?

If you want to ensure your pool remains in top condition year-round, let our team at Royal Pool & Spa in White Bear Lake, MN, help you out! We’ve proudly served pool owners throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro since 1988 and would love to service your swimming pool, too!

To learn more about our services or get a service quote, feel free to call us at 651-779-7606 or request a quote online, and we’ll reach out with more information!