Baking soda works for pool alkalinity — don't overthink it.

Yes, and it’s cheap.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) raises total alkalinity without jacking up pH the way soda ash does. If your alkalinity is low — below 80 ppm — this is the fix.

How much? Rough rule: 1.5 pounds per 10,000 gallons raises alkalinity by 10 ppm. So if you’re at 60 ppm and want 100 ppm, you need about 6 pounds for a 10,000-gallon pool. Check your pool volume first (it’s usually on the equipment or you can measure). Dissolve it in a bucket of water first, then pour around the deep end with the pump running.

Don’t guess. Test after six hours. Overshooting is a pain — high alkalinity locks pH in place and makes it hard to adjust. Go slow.

Future You hates chasing pH, not saving a few bucks on pool chemicals.