Leslie's Salt Update?

[Snikwah]

I have always used Leslie's bags of salt and have had no issues over the years. We have gotten a metric ton of rain over the past few months and I've gone through all my bags. I went up and bought 3 more bags to have some on hand for the next inevitable deluge and noticed the bags had changed. The salt inside felt different as well. The old bags were super fine and dissolved nearly instantly when dumped in. I just opened one of these new bags and it's completely different. Very large consistency..almost like rock salt. Took forever to get it dissolved brushing it around. Has anyone else noticed that their salt was changed? Just seems odd to change it so radically all of a sudden.

 

[PoolGate]

Just get it from Home Depot. $6.60/40lb bag.

Also I just dump it in and go. I turn off my SWG for a 1/2 day and by the next day it is all dissolved. I have never brushed it around.

Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals Water Softener Salt Crystals 100012454 - The Home Depot

Minimize accumulation of brine tank residue by using this Solar Naturals Water Softener Salt Crystals from Diamond Crystal.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Snikwah]

that reminds me... they also removed the perforations to rip the corner off to pour it in. just bizzare... lol

 

[GoBlue2023]

I have always used Leslie's bags of salt and have had no issues over the years. We have gotten a metric ton of rain over the past few months and I've gone through all my bags. I went up and bought 3 more bags to have some on hand for the next inevitable deluge and noticed the bags had changed. The salt inside felt different as well. The old bags were super fine and dissolved nearly instantly when dumped in. I just opened one of these new bags and it's completely different. Very large consistency..almost like rock salt. Took forever to get it dissolved brushing it around. Has anyone else noticed that their salt was changed? Just seems odd to change it so radically all of a sudden.

I know exactly what you're talking about. And viewing the date you posted this was about the same time I noticed the change. But I brought this up to Leslie's, they acted like I didn't know what I was talking about. So I happen to have some of the older salt and opened that bag along with the newer one and you can immediately see a difference and then showed them the picture I took. Also, the new salt leaves almost like a brownish sea foam on top of the water that does not dissolve right away. Oh, and they raised the price on it as well.

I started buying it from Pinch;A Penny very similar, but not quite as granular. But I think all companies have gone to a less expensive processing method. Hence, a poorer quality of salt. JMO.

Also, as mentioned stay away from Clorox, it has either a cobalt or iron additive in it, and it does stain the bottom of your pool (mine is a white fiberglass). I called Clorox customer service. She was very helpful. She refunded the bags I bought in the form of a visa card and sent me 2 1/2 pounds of acsorbic acid (vitamin C), which does really removing stains. I knew this from some research. I did a few years back. I used to throw a few big tablets of vitamin C into my spa lol.

Glad you noticed this as well.

I just added a pic of Leslie's pool salt from roughly 9 months ago (on right) and the pool salt they sell now (on left). Big difference in the purity and ability to dissolve quickly.

 

[Snikwah]

I know exactly what you're talking about. And viewing the date you posted this was about the same time I noticed the change. But I brought this up to Leslie's, they acted like I didn't know what I was talking about. So I happen to have some of the older salt and opened that bag along with the newer one and you can immediately see a difference and then showed them the picture I took. Also, the new salt leaves almost like a brownish sea foam on top of the water that does not dissolve right away. Oh, and they raised the price on it as well.

I started buying it from Pinch;A Penny very similar, but not quite as granular. But I think all companies have gone to a less expensive processing method. Hence, a poorer quality of salt. JMO.

Also, as mentioned stay away from Clorox, it has either a cobalt or iron additive in it, and it does stain the bottom of your pool (mine is a white fiberglass). I called Clorox customer service. She was very helpful. She refunded the bags I bought in the form of a visa card and sent me 2 1/2 pounds of acsorbic acid (vitamin C), which does really removing stains. I knew this from some research. I did a few years back. I used to throw a few big tablets of vitamin C into my spa lol.

Glad you noticed this as well.

right?? not a fan of the "new and improved" salt from leslies. i don't go through a ton of salt here in texas typically...so i still have 2 bags left of the 3 that i bought back in june. i won't be buying any more from leslies. the removal of the perforations on the corner made me SMH as well. ridiculous.

 

[Snikwah]

@GoBlue2023 have you found any salt replacements that is similar to the old leslie's salt?? i still haven't found any that is easy dissolving like it used to be. i know people say it doesn't matter...but it matters to me.

 

[nick.s]

One of the local stores carries AquaSalt and it is great but not in stock regularly. Recently with all the storms in FL only home depot and lowes has had regular stock but its the lower quality large granules.

 

[arvil]

Someone here years ago wrote that water softener also works for a salt water pool. Still true?

 

[mknauss]

Someone here years ago wrote that water softener also works for a salt water pool. Still true?

True. Plain salt.

 

[revitup]

One of the local stores carries AquaSalt and it is great but not in stock regularly. Recently with all the storms in FL only home depot and lowes has had regular stock but its the lower quality large granules.

Aquasalt is sold on Amazon.

 

[reggiehammond]

@GoBlue2023 have you found any salt replacements that is similar to the old leslie's salt?? i still haven't found any that is easy dissolving like it used to be. i know people say it doesn't matter...but it matters to me.

Home Depot / Lowe's have multiple options for you. Plain softener pellets are fine, they'll dissolve within an hour or so. Or if you want to spend more, you can also purchase rock salt crystals.

But they'll all dissolve and do the same thing pretty quickly so not sure it's worth added expense.