Consumer advocacy teardown
Clearwater Multifunction Chlorine Tablets alternative & active ingredient dupe
Stop paying £42.00 for Clearwater. The bulk active is TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g) — 43% less per working litre than a typical pack.
- Active
- Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)
- CAS
- 87-90-1
- Dupe
- TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g)
- Saving
- 43% / L
Saving is per litre of working-strength mix versus a typical pack price, not versus the DIY kit total. Shop prices move — always check the listing.
The Marketing Claim & The Catch
A typical 5 kg pack of Clearwater Multifunction Chlorine Tablets is about £42.00 in pool & spa. That is a snapshot, not a live Amazon price — listings, sizes and deals move. The marketing line is that you are buying a finished lifestyle product, not a weighed chemical.
On the pack: Slow-dissolve sanitiser for spas and pools; Multifunction — clarifier and algaecide in the tab; and Convenient 200 g tablets.
The catch: The tablet is 90% TCCA — the same stabilised chlorine used in bulk 200 g pucks. ‘Multifunction’ is a pinch of clarifier and a lot of packaging. Buy TCCA, dose from an SDS, and keep cyanuric acid in range.
- “Slow-dissolve sanitiser for spas and pools”
- “Multifunction — clarifier and algaecide in the tab”
- “Convenient 200 g tablets”
Proprietary Blend & Dosage Breakdown
The labelled active is Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) at 90%. Everything else in the pack is stabiliser and tableting aids.
Even when the pack is sold as “pure” or ready-to-use, the dose that actually does the work is Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA). The rest is how they get it into a bottle you will pick up.
Branded working strength is whatever comes out of the bottle. The bulk alternative is 90% TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g), mixed to 2 g/m³ as Cl2 (guide).
- Labelled active
- Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)
- 90%
- Carrier
- Stabiliser and tableting aids
- Retail pack
- 5 kg · £42.00
The Active Chemical Alternative (Dupe Stack)
The dupe stack is TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g) at 90% bulk. Indexed as CAS 87-90-1, formula C3Cl3N3O3. Buy it as 5 kg for about £24.00 from Amazon UK.
Working strength: 2 g/m³ as Cl2 (guide). Indicative cost £0.00 per diluted litre — 43% below a typical branded pack on a per-litre basis, before you reuse leftover bulk.
Follow the mixing method and the supplier SDS. Wear the listed PPE. Do not mix incompatible oxidisers, acids or ammonia.
- Oxidiser and irritant. Gloves and goggles. Never mix with other pool chemicals in a bucket.
- Dose in a floater or feeder, not mixed dry with shock or acid.
- Typical spa maintenance is a fraction of a 20–200 g tablet — follow a test kit, not a marketing schedule.
- Watch cyanuric acid (stabiliser) build-up; drain and refill if CYA climbs out of range.
- Store cool, dry, and away from organics and acids.
Mixing desk
Dilution calculator
Switch between filling a sprayer and covering a measured surface. Figures are educational estimates from the listed ratio — always check the SDS.
Formula
TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g)
- Concentrate
- 5 g
- grams of solid
- Water
- 1,000 L
- carrier volume
- Batch cost
- £0.02
- 1,000 L working solution
- Saved vs retail
- £0.02
- 43% · retail £0.04
Estimated coverage at the listed rate: 0.8 m².
Side-by-Side Price & Potency Comparison
Head-to-head comparison
| Measure | Retail brandedClearwater | Raw active dupeDupeStack |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Clearwater Multifunction Chlorine TabletsAmazon UK search — listing, not a confirmed seller | TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g) |
| Pack / unit | 5 kg · £42.00 | 5 kg · £24.00 |
| Active | Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) at 90%Carrier: Stabiliser and tableting aids | 90% bulkC3Cl3N3O3 |
| CAS number | Not disclosed on pack | 87-90-1 |
| Working strength | Ready-to-use pack | Dilute 2 g/m³ as Cl2 (guide) |
| Cost per litre | £42.00 / pack | £0.00 / L mixed from bulk |
| Headline saving | Baseline | 43% cheaper |
| COSHH / PPE | Follow the branded SDS | Gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)Eye protection. Indirect-vent splash goggles — not ordinary spectaclesVentilation. Use outdoors or with mechanical extraction |
Active ingredient and cheaper alternative — FAQ
What is the active ingredient in Clearwater?
Clearwater Multifunction Chlorine Tablets is labelled as Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) at 90%. The carrier is Stabiliser and tableting aids. Pack size: 5 kg. The bulk equivalent we index is TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g) (CAS 87-90-1).
Is TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g) safe on the intended surface?
Used at the listed working strength (2 g/m³ as Cl2 (guide)), the dupe is the same chemistry as the branded pack for pool and spa water once dosed from a test kit. That is not a blanket all-clear: read the supplier SDS, wear the listed PPE, keep acids away from hypochlorite, and follow UK HSE/COSHH rules. Wellness teardowns are supplements, not medicines.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Clearwater Multifunction Chlorine Tablets?
Yes. The bulk equivalent is TCCA 90% chlorine tablets (200 g) (CAS 87-90-1). Indicative saving 43% per working litre versus a typical £42.00 pack. Working strength: 2 g/m³ as Cl2 (guide). Live shop prices move.
How do you mix the Clearwater Multifunction Chlorine Tablets dupe stack?
Oxidiser and irritant. Gloves and goggles. Never mix with other pool chemicals in a bucket. Dose in a floater or feeder, not mixed dry with shock or acid. Typical spa maintenance is a fraction of a 20–200 g tablet — follow a test kit, not a marketing schedule. Watch cyanuric acid (stabiliser) build-up; drain and refill if CYA climbs out of range. Store cool, dry, and away from organics and acids.
DupeStack provides chemical concentration data and educational mixing guides. Always review official manufacturer Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and comply with UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and COSHH regulations when handling concentrated substances. Some links on this site are affiliate links.
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£38.48indicative kit · Amazon cannot add a mixed search kit as one basket