Hey all!

I was just doing some thinking, and I was wondering how you guys handle working around pools while cleaning surfaces around them. I don't have a job like that right now, but just for future reference, because I know I'll have a couple this season. Are there any chemicals that aren't harmful if they happen to get into the pool?

Thanks,
Dave Geoffrey
South Huron Pressure Washing
Exeter, Ontario Canada

Chlorine is an obvious one. Other than that I'm not sure.

Another obvious chemical that won't affect the pool is muriatic acid. I wouldn't want to get sodium hydroxide or similar chemicals in any water I would get in. You can always refer to your MSDS sheets and instructions on your chemicals, if there are lots of precautions regarding pets, plants, and people, you probably don't want it in the water. I have always stayed with bleach if anything around a pool. Acid is fine for rust stains, etc.

I would like to hear feedback from anyone that knows about this as well. We work around pools a lot and I always wonder about the effects of chemicals getting in the water. We try to recover as much as possible but its hard to keep it all out. Be very careful when working around fish ponds. Large koi fish can cost thousands of dollars to replace if bleach or chems gets in the water. Not to mention one really angry homeowner!

This is not a proven fact, but I would think a little acid in the pool wouldn't be that bad because once it hits the water it is diluted down so much. We often flush acidic cleaners into the grass with no harmful effects because of the amount of water we are flushing it with.