- 1). Put on gloves, and wear clothes you do not mind getting soiled. While shocking your pool, some of the treated water might splash on you and bleach your clothing.
- 2). Read the shock manufacturer's specifications to know how much shock to use depending on the size of your pool. Under normal conditions, you generally will need 1 lb. of shock per 10,000 gallons of water, but you will need 2 lbs. of shock per 10,000 gallons of water if algae is present or if the water is cloudy.
- 3). Pre-dissolve the shock to avoid bleaching your pool liner if you are using the chlorine-based shock calcium hypochlorite. Pour the amount of shock you need into a bucket of warm water that is 3/4 full so that you have 1 lb. of shock per 5 gallons of water. Warm water actually dissolves shock more quickly than does cold water. Do not pour water over the dry chemical when trying to dilute the shock. Stir the shock in the bucket of water using a wooden stick.
If using other chlorine shocks such as lithium hypochlorite or dichlor-granular chlorine -- or if you are using the non-chlorine shock potassium peroxymonosulfate -- you do not need to pre-dissolve the shock. - 4). Pour the 5-gallon bucket of calcium hypochlorite shock and water, or the needed amount of another type of shock, around your pool in random areas, following the manufacturer's instructions. If you have some shock at the bottom of your bucket that has not been dissolved, dip the bucket into your pool, swish the water on the shock and pour the mix into the pool. If you need more than 1 lb. of calcium hypochlorite shock in your pool, repeat step 3.
Try to avoid breathing in the fumes or vapors when shocking the pool. - 5). Allow the pool to run undisturbed for eight hours while the shock works. Do not swim in the pool until the eight hours are finished, and keep the pool shock chemicals inaccessible to children. Store the chemicals in a cool, shaded and dry place.