You may have asked at some point, "How soon can you swim after adding chlorine?" or "How long do I need to wait between adding pool chemicals?"

No matter which type of pool chemical you're dealing with, it's always recommended to carefully read and follow the instructions listed on the product label. This label will include helpful safety and handling information, including recommended wait times before jumping back in the pool to swim. In general, the following recommendations apply to most swimming pools:

After Adding pH, Alkalinity and Clarifier
It is recommended to wait at least 20 minutes to an hour after adding water balancing chemicals.

After Adding Calcium Chloride to Raise Calcium Hardness
You should wait 2–4 hours (or one full cycle through the filter) to swim from the moment you use calcium chloride in your pool.

After Shocking Your Pool
It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours. It is always best to test first!

After Adding Muriatic Acid
Muriatic acid can create a hot spot of acid in the water that could potentially burn or irritate your skin. It is best to wait 30 minutes after adding it to your pool.

After Adding Algaecide
We recommend waiting at least 15 minutes to swim after adding algaecide to your swimming pool. Most algaecides are perfectly safe to swim with.

After Adding Floc
It is not recommended to swim with flocculent in your pool, as it will reduce its effectiveness. Swim only after the floc has settled to the bottom of the pool and been vacuumed to waste.

Liquid Chlorine
Depending on how much you have added and the size of your pool, it is generally safe to wait about 4 hours after adding liquid chlorine or until levels reach 5 ppm or lower.