Results for "skin care"

Replaced my pool chlorine system after seeing my neighbor's kids swim all day with perfect skin, but mine still come out looking like lobsters. What are the specific conditions that lead to skin burns from pool chlorine, and what are the precise chemical parameters I should maintain to prevent skin irritation?

I'm particularly concerned about concentrated chemical exposure during maintenance procedures and want to know the exact chlorine levels that are safe for swimmers versus those that can cause chemical burns.…more

Hot tub water care requires maintaining proper pH (7.4-7.6), alkalinity (80-120 ppm), and sanitizer levels while following regular testing and chemical adjustment schedules. Higher temperatures and smaller water volumes make spas more sensitive to chemical imbalances than pools.…more

Last week my kids broke out in red, itchy rashes after swimming, and I'm worried the pool chemicals might be dangerous - should I keep them out? Red, itchy patches on my arms and chest after getting out. Is this from the chlorine or other chemicals? Water looks clear but maybe something's off with the balance. What should I test for and how do I fix this?…more

Weekly pool maintenance involves testing and balancing water chemistry (pH 7.4-7.6, proper chlorine levels), cleaning skimmers and equipment, brushing walls, and vacuuming debris. Consistent weekly care prevents expensive repairs and keeps your pool safe for swimming year-round.…more

Every time I see that crystal-clear pool water calling my name, my week-old tattoo reminds me why I shouldn't have jumped in last weekend. I also recently got a tattoo and I'm wondering when it would be safe to take my first swim.

The pool store told me about keeping chlorine levels balanced, but they didn't mention anything about tattoos. How long should I wait before getting in? I want to make sure I don't risk any infections or mess up the healing process. Are there specific things I should check about my pool's chemical balance before swimming with a new tattoo?…more

My backyard pool has developed a really strong chemical smell, my kids come out with red burning eyes every single time they swim, AND a neighbor mentioned my chlorine levels might actually be too low despite the overpowering odor — all at the same time. I test my water regularly and I keep adding chlorine, so I'm confused why it smells so strong and still seems to be underperforming as a sanitizer.

Someone at the pool store told me what I'm smelling isn't really chlorine at all — it's something called chloramines or 'combined chlorine' — and that this actually means my free chlorine is being used up and isn't working properly. That really surprised me because I always assumed the strong smell meant there was too much chlorine in the water.

Can someone explain exactly what chloramines are, where they come from, and what I need to do to get rid of them? I want to understand the chemistry so I'm actually solving the problem and not just dumping in more product that won't help.…more

I added granular cyanuric acid to my pool and it's just sitting on the bottom instead of dissolving. I have a 20,000 gallon inground pool and my current CYA reading is around 20 ppm - I need to get it up to about 50 ppm. I tried just broadcasting the granules directly into the pool like I do with other chemicals, but they seem to just sink to the bottom and sit there without dissolving much.

I've heard that cyanuric acid is notoriously slow to dissolve compared to other pool chemicals. What's the most effective method to get this stuff into solution? Should I be pre-dissolving it somehow, or is there a specific technique that works better? I want to make sure I'm doing this right and not wasting product or creating hot spots in my pool.…more

Nobody at the pool store seems to give me a straight answer about borates — they either push every product on the shelf or just shrug. My water has this slightly harsh, almost sharp smell to it after I shock, and I keep reading that borates can help with that kind of thing. But I honestly don't understand what they actually do chemically, or whether they're going to create more work for me than they're worth. Is this one of those optional 'nice to have' additions, or am I missing something that would genuinely make a difference in how the water feels and behaves?…more