DIY Swim Spray to Neutralize Chlorine
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This DIY swim spray helps remove chlorine from skin and hair after swimming. Made with vitamin C, this simple after-swim spray neutralizes chlorine quickly and helps reduce dryness, irritation, and that lingering pool smell.
If you or your kids spend time in chlorinated pools, this easy homemade chlorine neutralizing spray can help protect skin and hair with just a few inexpensive ingredients.
Summer is a time for fun in the sun and fun in the water, which can mean a lot of time at the pool. However, it also means more exposure to chlorine, which isn't so great.
Thankfully, with this easy DIY Swim Spray, you can neutralize some of that chlorine and give yourself more peace of mind regarding your family's health.
We live by a community pool and our boys took swim lessons there for a few years. They were required to shower after leaving the pool, and while I was glad about that, I didn't want my boys using the toxic shampoo at the pool, so I sent them with safer options.
However, I have noticed that the chlorine smell still lingered on them, even after their sometimes prolific showering.
I found out that shampoo and other cleaning products don't wash chlorine off the skin, and that's when we started making this super easy homemade swim spray.
Where Chlorine Exposure Happens (Pools, Showers, and Tap Water)
Chlorine is something that we're all exposed to. It's in our tap water, in bleach used for disinfecting around the home by some, and of course it's used heavily in most swimming pools. If you have the privilege of frequenting a salt pool, your exposure to chlorine can be less, but even that's not guaranteed to be the case.
Clearly, it has its place. I mean, who wants to swim in a pool where some kid might have done something, plus there are all kinds of other things in our water that we don't want on our body or in our drinking water.
However, chlorine in and of itself has health risks.
We all know how when you spend too much time in a chlorinated pool, you tend to have some irritation like red eyes and possibly a rash.
However, the health implications go beyond that.
Health Concerns Related to Chlorine Exposure
Chlorine can:
– dry out hair
– cause breathing problems
– cause dental erosion
– dry out skin
– cause stillbirths (from byproducts of chlorinated water)
– cause bladder cancer
– lead to rectal cancer
– cause cardiovascular disease
– cause allergies due to sensitization
How This DIY Swim Spray Works
- Vitamin C neutralizes chlorine on skin and hair
- Helps reduce chlorine smell after swimming
- May help prevent dry hair and skin from pool exposure
- Takes less than 2 minutes to make
How Vitamin C Neutralizes Chlorine
Vitamin C neutralizes chlorine by converting it to other things via a chemical reaction. In this case, vitamin C donates electrons to chlorine compounds, reducing them into harmless substances like hydrochloric acid and water. Then the vitamin C is oxidized into dehydroascorbic acid (DHA). This chemical reaction is called oxidation-reduction (redox) and it's a very fast and effective reaction.
Vitamin C is used to neutralize chlorine in water systems. It's safe for aquatic animals, and it's also safe for you to use on your skin and hair.
While it won't address chlorine that's been inhaled or absorbed beyond the skin, it can certainly help remove some of the problem.
What This Spray Can and Can’t Do
This DIY swim spray can help neutralize chlorine on the surface of the skin and hair after swimming. However, it’s important to know that it isn’t a complete solution to chlorine exposure.
Chlorine exposure in pools happens through:
- breathing chlorinated air above the water
- absorption through the skin while swimming
- exposure to chlorine byproducts formed in pool water
This spray simply helps remove some of the chlorine that remains on the skin and hair after you leave the pool. While that can help reduce irritation, dryness, chlorine odor, and addresses some of the toxicity issues involved, it doesn’t prevent all potential exposure.
Showering, limiting time in heavily chlorinated pools, and swimming in well-maintained pools are other things you can do to reduce chlorine exposure.
Not all products actually remove chlorine from skin and hair. Many soaps only wash the surface but don’t neutralize chlorine. Here's how common chlorine removal methods compare.
|
Chlorine Removal Method |
Removes Chlorine? |
How It Works |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular Shampoo |
❌ No |
Cleans oil and dirt |
Chlorine smell often remains |
|
Soap or Body Wash |
❌ No |
Cleans surface oil |
Does not neutralize chlorine |
|
Baking Soda Rinse (see baking soda uses) |
⚠️ Partially |
Helps deodorize |
Doesn't chemically neutralize chlorine |
|
DIY Swim Spray |
✅ Yes |
Neutralizes chlorine chemically |
Fast and effective |
|
After-Swim Commercial Products |
✅ Usually |
Often contains vitamin C |
More expensive |
As you can see, most soaps and shampoos don’t actually remove chlorine—they mainly clean oils. Vitamin C works differently by chemically neutralizing chlorine.
Does Showering Remove Chlorine?
Showering alone does not fully remove chlorine from skin and hair. Soap and shampoo mostly remove oils and dirt, but chlorine binds to proteins in hair and skin. Neutralizing it with vitamin C is needed to help remove chlorine more effectively.
Supplies for This Spray
Vitamin C
Two kinds of Vitamin C neutralize chlorine: sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid.
While either version of vitamin C will work for this after swim spray, there are several reasons why sodium ascorbate is the better choice here.
First, ascorbic acid is more acidic, so it can lead to irritation, especially when used often.
Secondly, sodium ascorbate dissolves much more readily than ascorbic acid so it's a bit easier to use.
Bottles
Plastic is the best choice to prevent any breakage around the pool area where bare feet could end up with painful slivers in them, but make sure to choose a high-quality plastic bottle so that the optional essential oils and vitamin C won't be likely to cause leaching of the plastic.
Light will cause the vitamin C to degrade so tinted bottles are best.
Tips for Using Vitamin C Swim Spray
- Shake Before Using: Ensures ingredients are well-mixed.
- Make Small Batches: With time, the solution will degrade, so it's best to only make the amount you will likely use within a few days to a week.
Storage
- Use Dark Glass or Plastic Bottles: Again, this will protect the solution from exposure to light which causes it to lose effectiveness.
- Store in a Cool, Dark Place: Keep away from heat and sunlight, again to help it not lose effectiveness. Storing this spray in a dark bottle in the fridge is a good option.
How to Use This DIY Swim Spray
- Spray generously on skin and hair after leaving the pool.
- Let sit for 30–60 seconds so the vitamin C can neutralize chlorine.
- Rinse with fresh water or shower.
- Repeat if chlorine smell remains.
Optional: spray directly onto hair before rinsing to help reduce chlorine damage.
FAQ
Does vitamin C really remove chlorine?
Yes. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate) neutralizes chlorine through a redox reaction that converts chlorine into harmless compounds.
Can I use this spray on hair?
Yes. It can be sprayed directly on hair before rinsing to help reduce chlorine damage and dryness.
Is this safe for kids?
Yes. The ingredients are very gentle, but you should avoid spraying directly into the eyes.
How long does vitamin C spray last?
Vitamin C breaks down when exposed to light and air. For best effectiveness, make small batches and use within about a week.
DIY Swim Spray for Neutralizing Chlorine
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup filtered water (see my recommendations on How to Filter Water here)
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered sodium ascorbate
- A quality Glass Bottle or quality Plastic Bottle
Instructions
- Using a funnel, add water to a glass bottle or stable plastic spray bottle.
- Add the sodium ascorbate.
- Put lid on bottle and shake to combine.
- After swimming, spray the solution all over, including on hair.
- Rub the vitamin c spray into your skin and massage your hair to cover as much of your skin and hair as possible.
- Shower as usual.
Notes
- Shake Before Using: Ensure ingredients are well-mixed.
- Make Small Batches: With time, the solution will degrade, so it's best to only make the amount you will likely use within a few days to a week.
Don't Feel Like DIYing?
This recipe is so simple to make, but Rowe Casa makes a great Swim Spray that's similar to this recipe, but with added essential oils.
Have you ever used an After Swim Spray to neutralize chlorine?
Hey!! I bought the Now brand Vit C that says Vit C from Calcium Ascorbate. DYK if this will work as a neutralizer? The Calcium Ascorbate is different than the two types you mentioned to buy. I bought the wrong one by accident:/. But I’d like to use it up b/c my kids are on swim team 4 days a week. Thanks for all your help.
From what I have read, that is not a chlorine neutralizer but might work for chloramine.
Love this idea. I have used Vitashower Vitamin C filter in my shower for years. I will be passing this email on to family and friends.
I have stayed out of pols since the local YMCA over chlorinated their pool for senior exercise class and gave me one real bad UTI.
Sounds like a goos recipe to try! However, precaution with essential oils should be used. Peppermint essential oil is not recommended for children under 6. No essential oils are recommneded for children under 2. There is a list of essential oils that are okay for children 2 and up. Frankincense and Lavendar are on that list.
I have bought two products called Ultra Swim and Triswim which are advertised as chlorine removal shampoo and a body wash for gently removing chlorine. After reading the labels I discovered there is NO vitamin C in either product, and other information I have read indicates that only Vitamin C will neutralize the chlorine from pools on the skin and hair. Are these any good for removing the swimming pool chlorine to help prevent adverse skin and scalp reactions such as itching. Nothing I have read indicates that none of the ingredients are good for neutralizing or ridding the body or hair of chlorine. Ultra swim contains Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Urea, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Thiosulfate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Bicarbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-10, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Ext. Violet 2 (309-002; and triswim contains Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice (Organic Aloe Vera), Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) (Vitamin E Acetate), Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A), Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Nasturtium Officinale (Watercress) Extract, Dimethicone Copolyol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Sodium Thiosulfate, Fragrance, Silicone Quaternium 8, DMDM Hydantoin, Citric Acid, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Trisodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Borate, Disodium EDTA, Urea, Red 33 (CI 17200), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)
Hello there. I’m sorry – I haven’t done studies on anything else neutralizing chlorine but I didn’t see anything else mentioned while I was doing the research for this post. That being said, there are many other ingredients in those products that I would not want on my skin like artificial fragrance, artificial colors (I am OK with those in color cosmetics but not for a skin spray that doesn’t need color), I think that there are concerns w/ the acetates causing cancer w/ sun exposure so “no thanks” to that as well. Parabens are a concerns as well. I also think that diazolidinyl urea is a formaldehyde releaser. Pass on that spray for me :(.
Hi William,
Both Ultra Swim and Triswim among the majority of other commercial swim products are using an ingredient near the bottom of that list to neutralize chlorine: sodium thiosulphate. It’s not shown to be as effective in neutralizing chlorine as it is a time-delayed reaction versus Vitamin C which is instant. And sodium thiosulphate can also be a skin irritant because it is a sulfate.
Vitamin C is generally considered the fastest acting chlorine neutralizer we’re aware of. If you’re looking for a commercial body wash/shampoo that uses Vitamin C you’re welcome to check us out over at Solpri. We use a 15% concentration of Vitamin C in our swimmer’s products to neutralize chlorine. Our formula is also paraben and sulfate free among other things. You can find more info at solpri.com.
Hope the extra info helps and you’ve been able to keep swimming.
Jesse
Founder, Solpri.
In addition to chlorine, there are other chemicals added. One in particular is a copper base chemical which absorbs into the skin. Anyone who has copper toxicity or high copper levels may react after swimming. Not all pools use the copper but MANY do.. I published an article about copper toxicity and depression on my blog.
I didn’t know about the copper – do you have any data on that and how it’s absorbed? We are aware of the copper situation. Thanks.
Hi! Thanks for this recipe. I’ve been looking out for one because I swim regularly. I’m wondering if adding witch hazel would help mix the liquids (water and oil) together. Otherwise, you will have to shake the bottle a lot, right? Also, what is the shelf-life of this mixture given that there is vitamin c in there? Would using distilled water make a difference? Thanks!
I don’t think that witch hazel helps to emulsify and I don’t think distilled would make a difference either. Hope you like it!
I tried the spray today on the kids and I – alongside the things that I normally do to help prevent the chlorine from being absorbed. It seems to have helped – we haven’t had the same level of energy drain that comes from being in the pool (it happens even if we’re not really active so I assume it’s just from the chlorine!) If it’s helpful to someone else this is what else we do:
-try not to use exfolate gloves the day we swim (hoping the chlorine is absorbed into the dead skin 😉
-rinse off before swimming (this makes a big difference!)
-rinse off right after swimming (and now we’ll spray vit c)
-use exfolate gloves when we shower at home and wash well
-we’ll spray vit c. again after our shower (if nothing else it’s great for the skin!!)
Oh this makes me so happy!!! My boys actually forgot to take this with them the past 2 days so I’m making sure they do it now. Thank you for sharing. Great tips!!
I did hear that vitamin C can react with the sun leaving you with skin spots. Have you heard about this?
Hello there.
I have not heard of that. In fact, I have heard that vitamin C can treat skin spots.
The vitamin C can leave spots on your skin that look, well, ‘bleached’. I have forgotten the mechanism I learned in science class, but I can verify that if you happen to squirt lemon on your arm while in the sun the parts that got hit will appear much lighter.
Sorry but I couldn’t find much on the internet about it, except for this: https://blog.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/can-lemon-juice-really-help-lighten-your-skin-2/
Have you done it?
We used to lighten hair (in the 60’s) by putting lemon juice on it and sitting in the sun. Vitamin C WILL cause lightening of skin and hair if applied and then being in the sun. Not sure if rinsing off before and/or after would help lessen this…..
Yes, you are supposed to shower after using the spray for that reason. I guess rinsing could help but showering with some kind of soap is better to remove anything off of the skin more easily (combined with some friction).
This would be great for after a shower too for those who don’t have water filters on their showers. There should be a DIY for fluoride since that’s in the water too. These two toxins really mess up your thyroid.
What a great idea!! I don’t know how to neutralize fluoride. I do have a great water filter…..I will see if I can find something out!
My thoughts are that while this spray may get the chlorine smell out of things, it won’t stop it from seeping into our skin as we are in the water. It only takes less than a minute for us to absorb into our skin, the toxic chemicals they come into contact with.
When we bathe with our tap water with chlorine in it, it is a good idea to use vitamin C to neutralize the chlorine in the water, however I don’t see how the efficacy of this would prevent us from the chemical exposure when we are in the pool.
Hi Rebecca. I totally understand what you are saying. However, I would think that if there is still an odor then it is still on the surface of the skin.
I have heard about skin absorption only taking a short amount of time to absorb, but I haven’t found data on that, and I have seen information stating that the chlorine and bromine stick to the skin and this helps remove it. So that’s what this is based off of. I’m for sure going to be using it. Thanks for commenting!
To help decrease the toxicity of the chlorine being absorbed through the skin, take a high dose of vitamin C before swimming. The circulating vitamin C can help from the inside of the body.