We’ve gone through and debunked some of the most common myths. Check out our spook-tacular list of pool care superstitions below.
Chlorine causes red, itchy eyes
Chlorine is NOT the culprit for red and itchy eyes. It is an unbalanced pH level that causes burning red eyes. Your eyes have a pH of 7.4, by keeping the pH between 7.2 and 7.6 it will make the water much more comfortable to swim in and avoid red and burning eyes.
Strong chlorine smell = clean pool
A strong whiff of chlorine around your pool must mean it’s adequately sanitized, right? Not quite. When chlorine mixes with sweat, dirt and other natural oils, it creates chloramines which give off this odor. So if your pool has this strong ‘pool smell’, it may mean it is not being treated properly.
Use a tennis ball to clean pool water
You may have heard that keeping a tennis ball in your skimmer box will help keep your pool clean, but this isn’t quite true. While tennis balls may attract algae, sweat, and other natural oils, it does not act as a proper filtration system. Algae will continue to live and grow on the ball and will become pretty gross, pretty quickly!
Chlorine turns blonde hair green
Once again, chlorine is not responsible for your locks turning green, it’s copper who’s to blame. Some algaecides contain copper, which attaches to your hair when you’re in the water. If you find your swimmers are coming out with green locks, speak with your technician about your pool chemicals and maintenance plan.
There’s no chlorine in a salt water pool
This is false! There is a small amount of chlorine in salt, so there will be some chlorine in your saltwater pool. But these levels are lower and not as concentrated compared to a normal chlorine pool. Salt water pool systems are a safe and cost-effective way to convert salt via electrolysis into chlorine.
You can clean your pool with household cleaners
While baking soda may do a great job of cleaning your house on the inside, it is not suitable for your pool.
Trying to cut corners when it comes to pool chemicals could stain your pool or even damage your pool equipment and end up costing you more to repair or replace these parts. Stick to chemicals specifically designed for pool maintenance and follow the recommended dosage amount.