How do you naturally disinfect a pool? (2023)

How do I disinfect my pool naturally?

White Vinegar

Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, dip a sponge or soft cloth into it, and scrub that residue away. It's OK if a little bit of it makes it into the pool water, but if you're concerned, test the water after using vinegar, and adjust any levels if necessary.

Chlorine is added to the water to kill germs. But it does not work right away. If used properly, free chlorine* can kill most germs within a few minutes. CDC recommends pH 7.2–7.8 and a free chlorine concentration of at least 1 ppm in pools and at least 3 ppm in hot tubs/spas.

In the same way that baking soda can be a spot treatment for black algae, household borax does the same for blue and green algae. Simply use the borax to scrub away algae that's sticking to your pool walls, then use the brush to dislodge it.

Baking soda doesn't really “clean” your pool per se, what it does is to maintain the PH level of the water in your pool. Maintaining the PH level of the water means keeping your pool healthy. Baking soda scrub is used for cleaning pool tiles.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) DE is a pool chlorine alternative that you can put in the filter to help fill tiny holes, making the filter work better on smaller debris.

Saltwater will sanitize your pool, but it does so through electrolysis, which produces bacteria-killing chlorine. In other words, saltwater pools are no healthier or safer than chlorinated ones.

Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes! You can use baking soda in a pool for a few different things, and the same applies to vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar in a swimming pool can be used as cleaning agents, but you can also lower pool pH with vinegar or raise it with baking soda.

What you may not know is that hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer that can be combined with ultraviolet light to disinfect swimming pools. The combination of ultraviolet disinfection with hydrogen peroxide allows pool owners to safely eliminate all chlorine in their pool or spa.

Chlorine is still one of the most effective killers of algae so doing a super-chlorination of 10-20 ppm of chlorine can go a long way towards wiping out the algae. Liquid chlorine is an ideal shock for algae because it is fast acting and does not add cyanuric acid (CYA) or calcium to the water.

What kills algae permanently?

Bleach is great for killing algae (and other organisms that may lurk in your tanks) and for keeping it from coming back. Scientific research shows that using bleach that is made from a solution with 5.25% hypochlorite. Never mix bleach and chlorine together.

Organic soap and white vinegar are particularly excellent cleaning solutions. You can use street salt or domestic salt to remove algae from the terrace or concrete floor. You can use a high-pressure spray to remove algae and other green stains.

Boil water, if you do not have bottled water. Boiling is sufficient to kill pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa (WHO, 2015). If water is cloudy, let it settle and filter it through a clean cloth, paperboiling water towel, or coffee filter. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.

Will baking soda clear a green pool? No. Baking soda will only raise your alkalinity and pH levels and this will not kill algae. Chlorine is what kills algae.

Borax acts as an effective pH buffer and helps prevent algae growth in swimming pools. Plus, it will leave your water looking sparkly and feeling soft.

Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on the formulation. The label on every bleach bottle should tell you the ratio of sodium hypochlorite (and available chlorine) in the bottle to everything else. A higher percentage is generally better, as you'll need to use less bleach to treat your pool.

Disadvantages of Saltwater Pools

More complex than traditional pools, they often require experienced technicians even for minor problems. Salt can cause damage to some materials, so you may have to avoid using specific types of heaters, fixtures, underwater lighting, liners, and even some types of masonry work.

Conclusion. Each pool maintenance method has its own pros and cons. Even though there is not a certain answer for which one is better: Salt vs chlorine pool, it can be deduced that salt pools are healthier for both swimmers and the environment, regardless of the relatively high costs.

Are salt water pools dirtier than chlorine?

Saltwater pools are also generally the cleaner of the two. Having a salt water pool could also be safer than having a chlorine pool. That's because, with a salt water pool, you don't have to store all the harmful chemicals that are needed with a chlorine pool.

As you can see, a dirty filter will only reintroduce algae into your swimming pool over time. We highly recommend using a high-pressure hose and some Dawn dish soap. The dish soap helps remove any oil or hair that may have accumulated in the filters (especially if you have dogs that love to swim).

Hydrogen Peroxide VS Chlorine

If you have surface water and need to disinfect it, especially if there is algae, then chlorine is dramatically superior to hydrogen peroxide. However, if you have incredibly high iron or sulfur, chlorine is not a good choice, but hydrogen peroxide is.

We recommend using hydrogen peroxide because it is a safer, more environment-friendly alternative to bleach products. It's a biodegradable material made of water and oxygen that completely decomposes.

It is advised to add the hydrogen peroxide, then let the pump run 6 hours before swimming so it's fully incorporated and the percentage is at a safe swimming level. Use the test strips and test your pool about once a week.

Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub any pool surfaces covered in algae, including the walls, floors and steps. Apply a green algaecide according to the directions on the label. Let the water circulate for 24 hours, then brush the pool surfaces again. Vacuum or backwash to remove any remaining dead algae.

Yes, shock is the key ingredient to killing algae in pools. Shock raises the free chlorine levels in your pool water to the point where contaminants like algae die off. Depending on the severity of your algae growth, you'll need to add 2-4 doses of shock.

Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes! You can use baking soda in a pool for a few different things, and the same applies to vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar in a swimming pool can be used as cleaning agents, but you can also lower pool pH with vinegar or raise it with baking soda.

Chlorine-based disinfectants are among the most frequently applied disinfectants and oxidizers for swimming pool treatment. Chlorine is usually added as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypochlorite (OCl^-). Chlorine kills pathogenic microorganisms that are present in the water.