How to Use Baking Soda in My Swimming Pool

Use baking soda to neutralize your swimming pool's water.

Baking soda (chemical name: sodium bicarbonate) is an alkaline compound that is commonly used in cooking and cleaning, as well as a remedy for bad breath and heartburn. Another not so common use is to keep your swimming pool water clear. Baking soda helps to neutralize pool water that has become too acidic. This clears the water and prevents it from stinging your eyes.

Things You'll Need

• Eyedropper
• pH test strip
• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Remove some water from your pool with an eyedropper.

2. Put a drop of water on a piece of pool pH test strip. The strip changes color, which indicates what the pH level of the pool's water is.

3. Turn on the pool's filter system. This will help mix the water with the baking soda.

4. Add 3 to 4 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water if the pH is less than 7.2. Add 2 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water if the pH is between 7.2 and 7.5. Do not add baking soda if the pH is above 7.5.

5. Let the baking soda filter through the pool until you no longer see any chunks of baking soda in the water. Do not swim in the pool while the baking soda is dissolving.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your pool's pH every week to keep it in the proper pH level range.

References

• Pool Clean: Understanding pH
• Arm and Hammer: Will Baking Soda Help Keep My Pool Water Clearer?
• Arm and Hammer: Pool Owner's Guide