A common misconception about pools is that it’s fine to have anything fall into the water. That is what the chlorine is for: cleaning out any of the germs and chemicals that regular fresh or salt water wouldn’t wash away. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. While chlorine is useful in keeping a pool clean, it’s not a miracle cure for water. In fact, because of chlorine being involved, there are certain chemicals and substances that should never be in your pool.

Dead Skin Cells, Lotions, and Body Oils

We all know those huge signs that are around every public pool, those that are a long list of things you should never do on deck. One of the most prominent items on those lists is to not get into the pool without showering. Why is that the case, though? Your body is covered by dead skin cells, naturally occurring oils on your hair and skin, as well as anything else that may be on your body at the time, like sunscreen. When these substances get in your pool water, the chemicals in your pool water have to work harder, and require more maintenance. On rare occasions, if someone is jumping into the pool without showering off perfume or body lotion, a toxic mixture might start forming within the water.