Eco-Friendly and Natural Pool Chemicals

I just got back from a wonderful vacation in the Dominican Republic and among lush green trees, perfect weather, and divine food; what really got my attention was how clean the swimming pools were.

I love to swim but every time I come out of a pool, I smell like chlorine and even after I wash the swimsuits, the smell seems to persist. Curious, I asked the pool staff what their secret was and the answer was simple.

In a beautiful Caribbean accent, he said “we do not use chlorine; we only put natural minerals to keep our pool crystal clear and free from germs”. After I got back home, the first thing I did was some research on natural pool chemicals and was amazed to see how many pool owners are switching from chlorine to eco-friendly choices to maintain their pools.

Seeing this made me curious to know if my company had caught onto the trend and carried alternative chemical choices; glad to report that In The Swim has a wider variety of eco-friendly and natural pool chemicals than anybody out there, and as always our prices are competitive and budget friendly.

natural-chemistry-logo

Natural Chemistry Pool Chemicals are made from enzymes and all-natural ingredients. Now that it is almost time to open your pool, you can’t go wrong with a Natural Chemistry Hassle Free Start-Up Kit which has Pool Magic, PHOSfree and MetalFree to start your pool off right!

For a complete system, look at Natural Chemistry’s Water Treatment System that cleans your water and keeps your pool surfaces stain free. If you use a salt water chlorine generator, try the Salt Water Magic Chlorine Generator Monthly Maintenance Pack.

Want an acid-free pool stabilizer? Treat your pool water to Instant Pool Water Conditioner with a pool friendly pH to stabilize the chlorine in your swimming pool to protect it from the degrading effects of direct sunlight.

Enzyme and phosphate removal chemicals take a big load off of your sanitizer and filter, breaking down oils and organics, and preventing algae growth – naturally!

frog-mineral-systems

Pool Frog Mineral Purifiers use a combination of natural minerals to clean your water and eliminate algae and bacteria. Nature 2 Mineral Purifiers are another excellent choice when you are looking at chlorine-free chemicals. These innovative sanitizers use a cartridge of minerals to destroy bacteria and provide a gentle, natural way to keep pool water clean and healthy.

You still need to shock the pool with chlorine to initialize the 6 month mineral cartridge, and use a low amount of constant chlorine (0.5 ppm), to keep the water sanitary – but it can cut reliance on chlorine by over 50%.

Mineral treatment is one of the most popular and easiest ways to reduce your chlorine use. In addition to Frog and Nature2, Pool Rx is a new type, just drop it into your skimmer basket, for 6 month mineral purification.

seaklear-logo

This is a company that makes clarifiers from ground up crab shells, which contains chitin, a natural clarifier of the seas. They started 20 yrs ago, with one product, their chitin pool clarifier, which was so natural, that trade show reps would actually drink shots of it at their booth, to the delight of show attendees.

Since then, they’ve added enzyme products, such as SeaKlear Free & Klear, and a powerful bacteria-eating product called SeaKlear PRS,  or Particle Removal System, absolutely the best pool clarifier there is – great for clearing up pools in spring, or helping pool filters that are old or a little too small.

eclipse3-logo

A proprietary blend of minerals, clarifiers and pH balancers stop algae growth without using herbicides and algaecides. Reduces chlorine use while clarifying and buffering.

In addition to the Eclipse3 algae control, the company also produces the natural Enforce scale & stain remover, to prevent and remove mineral scale and metallic stains in your pool. Emerge non-chlorine shock completes the Eclipse3 system of pool care, allowing you to be completely chlorine free, like that wonderful pool on my vacation.

nuvo-UV-systems

Nuvo is an ultraviolet light treatment system for swimming pools. Just plumb in the UV chamber into your return line, and plug it in to any grounded outlet. As the water passes through, it is bathed in UV light, sterilizing the water by disrupting the DNA in microorganisms. The result is pool water that has been sterilized to remove nearly all pathogenic substances like mold, viruses and bacteria.

Nuvo UV systems are not a stand alone product, but can be combined with low levels of chlorine, or use it in conjunction with one or more of the other products on this page, and you could go completely chlorine free!

del-ozone-for-pools

Del Ozonators are recognized worldwide as the leaders in ozone treatment for pools or drinking water. Ozone generators kill bacteria, molds, fungus and viruses while also breaking up oils, solids, algae other contaminants in the water – and without any chlorine smell, or fading of swimsuits!

Del ozonators produce ozone with a corona discharge method, and then pump the gas through a small hose and injection fitting, right into the return line. The pump has to be operating for an ozonator to work, and once it reaches the pool, it quickly gasses off the surface. For this reason, it’s not usually considered a standalone sanitation system for most pools, unless it’s combined with mineral purifiers or a small amount of chlorine and regular shocking with either chlorine or non-chlorine pool shock.

Not sure if you are already on the natural pool chemicals band wagon or are thinking of climbing on, but either way you will find a lot of options in our Chlorine-Free & Alternative Pool Chemicals department.

Enjoy a sparkling pool without red watery eyes, itchy skin, stiff hair, or bleached swimsuits. Open and operate your pool with some eco-friendly pool chemicals and natural purification systems and have a better swimming season!

9 thoughts on “Eco-Friendly and Natural Pool Chemicals

  1. Carina Castro

    I just bought an above ground pool 18x9x52. Comes with a salt water filter system. How do I keep the water clean without harsh chemicals or chlorine ?

    • Carina – a salt system is a small chlorine factory, it will make your own chlorine. If you want to reduce reliance on chlorine, you can also use a mineral purifier such as the Nature2 Express system, or use Clarifier and Algaecide weekly, and run the filter non-stop, but you will still need to maintain a 1 ppm minimum chlorine level, all the time, 24/7. There is only one alternative to chlorine, that is called Biguanides, sold under the name Aqua Silk, but I would not say it is not harsh, it is uses hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals, but no chlorine.

  2. Cassidy Sanchez

    Hello I’m starting up my 10ft underground pool soon and would love to find out what I can use instead of chlorine. Interested in natural products and how often I should be using it, thanks!

    • Hi Cassidy, it is possible to operate a pool without chlorine, but it is not cheap or easy. It will cost much more to keep the water sanitary and clear. There is a class of chemicals known as Biguanide, which is a complete alternative system to chlorine, sold as Aqua Silk, Baquacil, Revacil, Soft Swim and other brand names. If you didn’t want to use biguanides, you can still be chlorine-free IF… you have a very large and very effective filter, and you are not afraid to use it (not trying to skimp on electricity and run it only 8-hours per day). It will also require two of the three purifiers Ozone, Mineral Ionizer, UV system, or an AOP system. Third, it will require good attention to water balance (pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness), and weekly shocking of the pool with non-chlorine oxidizer. Fourth, supplemental chemicals may be needed, such as clarifiers, algaecide or enzymes, which are available in natural formulations.

  3. Debbie Rabb

    We have an inflatable pool that is 10’x7’ and 24” deep. What natural water treatment do you recommend and how much and how often do we use it? Thank you.

    • HI Debbie, I assume that your pool has no filtration system, so that would rule out any mechanical mineral or UV systems. You could however, use the Floatron, a solar ionizer (minerals) which we no longer carry. Eko Klor is another similar device. You could use an enzyme treatment like Pool Perfect by Natural Chemistry, that would help keep the water clearer, but would not sanitize or oxidize the water (i.e. kill bacteria and pathogens). You can use Chlorine-Free Shock as an oxidizer however, which is sort of natural, oxygen-based potassium salts. In any case, without a filter, you can keep the water fresher with daily brushing and skimming, and covering the pool when not in use, but still should drain and refill every 2-4 weeks, lacking a filter and circulation.

      • David Boyd

        Hi Davy, I have an inflatable pool that does have a filter and we put a cover on it when not in use. What would you recommend in that case? Thanks!

        • Well, if you can filter the water effectively, and you maintain water balance and good sanitation, you can keep your water fresh without draining the pool every few weeks. If you want to reduce reliance on chlorine, run the filter 24/7, and shock frequently with non-chlorine shock, use Clarifier and Algaecide doses each week.

  4. […] Other filter types, such as ionizers and oxidizers, rely on non-chemical mean of sterilization.  Copper and other metal ions are used in an ionizer, while oxidation employs UV light or electricity to sterilize water.  Another alternative, sonic cleaning, uses ultrasonic waves to destroy living things at a cellular level.  While these methods do away with the use of chemicals, they still require electricity to run the filter.  You may need to do a little research, but there are many different filter types and natural chemicals to choose from.  There are even filters that use sphagnum moss, which is being increasingly employed in commercial-sized pools such as Treasure Island and the University of Maryland.  You can find out more about chlorine-free pool filtration options here. […]

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