Dirtex for Cleaning

[psciotti]

I know this is a technical question but I figured I give it a shot:

After some issues with low ph, heater, etc. I have stabilized the pool water (15,000 gals) with the BBB method (with much appreciated help from Ben) but now have a dark brown stain on the fiberglass steps and a light brown stain on the liner. Looking through the cleaning cupboard I saw some Dirtex I use to wash the walls before painting.

Dirtex: Powdered Dirtex concentrate is general-purpose household cleaner for all washable surfaces, and is gentle to hands and skin. Mix powdered Dirtex with water to form the appropriate ratio solution. It will leave surfaces clean without rinsing or streaking. Great for cleaning walls and woodwork prior to repainting or rewaxing.

Ingredients from MSDS: Sodium Sesquicarbonate 90-95%
Sodium Meta Silicate 0-5%
EDTA 0-5%

I sprinkled some of the crystals into the water above one of the steps - the crystals sank to the step and immediately turned the step white again where the crystals landed. I am wondering if it is ok to clean the 4 - 4' wide steps with a small amount of this product, based on the chemical makeup, without affecting the pool water or equipment?

Thanks!

[Watermom]

I do not know. Let me run this past Ben. He is pretty busy this weekend so he may not be able to get back to you about this for awhile. I would wait until that time before adding more of this product, though.

[PoolDoc]

I wouldn't put any more in.

Not sure what putting meta-silicate in will do -- and my chemist son just drove off a few minutes ago.

But the general rule is, don't use household cleaners in pools UNLESS you KNOW what they are, and what effect they will have. More often than not, the result is a disaster. Not saying yours will be, but I don't know. You have to keep in mind that most cleaners don't list all their ingredients, and some of the unlisted ingredients can react badly in pools.

Ben

[giroup01]

Sodium sesquicarbonate can be used to increase the TA, 10 ppm in 10000 liters for every 150 grams or thereabouts.
But yes, the safest bet is always use pool products for pools.

[psciotti]

So, having no choice because I had to have relatively clean steps for my party yesterday, I went ahead and experimented a little. I tested the water yesterday morning and then used about a half a cup to clean 1 step. I waited 4 hours and retested the water - no changes in any results. I proceeded to clean 2 other steps with about 1/2 cup each and retested the water just prior to party at 5pm (about 4 hrs later) - again no changes in readings. There was no swimming at party because the weather was only so-so but everything looked good (had a great time otherwise)! I retested the water again this AM and again no changes:

FC - remained constant at 5 (been running high all week due to other issues)
PH - went from 7.2 to 7.4
TA - remained constant at 110
CYA - remained constant at 110 (running high because of other issues)

Don't no what this means in the long term or whether this could cause any other issues (nor do I plan on trying again) but it certainly helped the steps. It doesn't so much clean like a scrubbing agent, but on contact it turns brown to white like pouring bleach on something. Ben, it would be interesting to hear what your son might think.

Thanks ~ Paul

[PoolDoc]

May be awhile; we're at a family reunion -- I'm actually camped out temporarily in the cabin owner's office -- and my son is 'fixing' to go down the Ocoee with some cousins and his girlfriend.

Ben