Oxidisation in your water may sound bad, though it’s actually a very good thing! When you oxidise your water, you’re killing algae, bacteria and other organic material by breaking it down on a molecular level.

So, what is oxidation in pool or spa water?

Oxidisation is the chemical reaction that occurs when a reactive substance (chlorine or oxidisers) interacts with unwanted organic matter (sweat, leaves, suntan lotion, algae, etc). The chlorine you add to your pool is there to attack and destroy unwanted bacteria.

How is it different from Chlorine?

When chlorine reacts to organic material, like sweat, lotions and other organic materials, it can create harmful chloramines. Chloramines are what can cause irritation of the skin and eyes and often leaves an unpleasant ‘chlorine’ smell.

When should you oxidise?

The short answer is weekly, especially when your pool is in use (in Summer).

Oxidising removes the unwanted organic matter before it builds up and becomes a problem. This allows chlorine to focus on its job, killing bacteria.

The best way to avoid these problems altogether and ensure your pool water is always safe and healthy, is to just follow the BioGuard 3-Step Program.

Step 1: Sanitise the water to remove harmful bacteria
Step 2: Use an oxidiser to destroy organic matter and keep the water sparkling clear
Step 3: Treat water with an algaecide to control any algae growth

We recommend having a few of the following products on hand to keep your water clear and healthy.

For salt pools, use Salt Pool Sparkle, and for chlorine pools, use BioGuard Lite. These are perfect for your weekly maintenance program, as they’re fast-acting so you can get back in the water after an hour.

BioGuard Burn Out Extreme provides a convenient and economical means for shocking swimming pools as well as treating pools with chlorine demand and algae problems.

BioGuard Oxysheen is a chlorine-free, stabiliser-free oxidiser treatment for pools, which also allows bathers back in the water one hour after treatment.