1. Chlorine will turn your blonde hair green.
Chlorine actually does not cause your hair to turn green. High copper levels are what contributes to this. This is why it is smart to use Sequa-Sol weekly in order to keep your metal levels down. Green hair can be fixed by using a shampoo that strips the color or by conditioning the hair BEFORE swimming.
2. Chlorine burns your eyes if you open them under water.
Chlorine is not what is burning your eyes from opening them underwater. What causes this is a low or unbalanced pH level.You want to pay very close attention to your water chemistry and make sure that your pH level stays between a 7.4 to a 7.6. Anything below this can cause burning eyes, itchy skin, and even ear infections!
3. There's no chlorine in saltwater pools.
A saltwater pool is not a chlorine free pool. In order to sanitize a salt water pool, salt water is forced across a special metal cell that is charged with an electrical current. This process is called electrolysis and creates chlorine. Another misconception about saltwater pools is that you never need to shock them. Shocking your saltwater pool is still necessary for sanitized water.
4. A clear pool is clean and safe.
You should never trust a pool based on its appearance alone. You should consistently check the chemistry of the pool water and trust that. A clear pool can be acidic, which can lead to damage of your pool and discomfort for swimmers. Always know the water you decide to jump into.
5. Chlorine is bad for your health.
In small amounts, chlorine is beneficial, and aids in sanitizing your water. There is chlorine in your tap water, the same water you bathe, drink, and use for cooking. Chlorine can kills germs and prevent harmful pathogens from entering your body and making you sick. That being said, never drink chlorine from the bottle (that WOULD be dangerous). Moderation is everything.
6. Chlorine smell means the pool is clean.
If you walk into a pool and it smells like chlorine, that does not mean it is clean. Chlorine pool smell means that there are a lot of chloramines in the water because the pool has too many contaminants in it for chlorine to tackle effectively. A faint chemical odor is probably ok, but a strong and saturated odor is a warning sign that your pool has too many chloramines and is not being sanitized effectively.
7. You must wait to swim after eating.
A lot of people were told as children that they should wait to go swimming after eating because they might get a cramp. There is no scientific evidence that supports this. Eating within one hour before swimming does not increase the likelihood of getting a cramp. A cramp can occur anytime while swimming, so only swim at depths you feel comfortable and always make sure to keep an eye on children who are swimming.
