Smart Shopping for Pool Chemicals
Save $1,000+ per year buying identical chemicals at grocery and hardware stores instead of pool stores.
Smart Shopping Playbook
Save $1,000+ per year buying pool chemicals at grocery & hardware stores
Pool stores sell commodity chemicals at 300-800% markup by slapping a pool logo on the label. The chemistry is identical. The price is not.
Understand the Truth
Pool chemicals are commodities - the same molecule costs 3-8x more at pool stores.
Chemistry doesn't care about the label. Sodium hypochlorite is sodium hypochlorite.
- •Read the full shopping guide to understand chemical equivalents
- •Learn why Clorox bleach = Pool Store 'Liquid Chlorine' (same molecule)
- •Understand EPA regulations ensure identical safety standards
- •Realize 'pool-specific' marketing is just that - marketing
- •Calculate your annual savings potential ($1,000-1,500/year typical)
Stock Your Shopping List
Identify the generic equivalents you need based on your pool chemistry.
Save this list in your phone - you'll use it every shopping trip.
Know Where to Shop
Different stores have the best prices for different chemicals.
Buy chemicals where they're sold as commodities, not pool products.
Read Labels Carefully
Verify concentration levels and avoid additives that can harm your pool.
When in doubt, check the ingredient list - it should have ONE chemical.
Adjust Doses for Concentration
Generic chemicals often have different concentrations - use Poolometer's calculator.
Let the app do the math - just tell it what concentration you bought.
Ignore Pool Store Fear Tactics
Understand common scare tactics and marketing myths used to upsell.
Pool stores are sales businesses, not chemistry labs. Trust the science.
Start Small, Build Confidence
Test the approach with one chemical before going all-in.
Your pool won't know the difference. Your wallet will.
Learn from the Shopping Guide
Read the comprehensive guide for brand comparisons, annual savings, and FAQs.
The guide has everything you need to shop with confidence.
Checklist
- 1Understand that pool chemicals are commodities sold with 300-800% markup at pool stores.
- 2Learn generic equivalents: Clorox bleach = liquid chlorine, muriatic acid = pH down, baking soda = alkalinity up.
- 3Identify where to shop: Costco for bulk, Home Depot for muriatic acid, Walmart for bleach.
- 4Read labels carefully to verify concentrations and avoid additives.
- 5Adjust doses for different concentrations using Poolometer's calculator.
- 6Ignore pool store scare tactics about 'specially balanced' formulas.
- 7Start with one chemical (bleach) to build confidence before going all-in.
- 8Read the comprehensive shopping guide for detailed comparisons and brand reviews.
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