Not everyone knows if they have hard water or soft water; however, over time, it might become apparent you have hard water.
Hard water can cause several issues to your body and home. Here are a few things you can look out for.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water has a higher than average mineral count. The groundwater used to provide your drinking water may have percolated through limestone. If this is the case, it will have extra magnesium and calcium in it. They are not bad for you, but the sediments can occasionally carry other harmful bacteria.
You can combat the effects of this with water softeners. There are also water softening attachments you can purchase for your showers and faucets around the home. These are much easier to install. A water softener requires a direct connection to your main plumbing.
Staining
If you find that you have a rust-colored residue in your toilet bowl or left by a leaking faucet, then this could be because you have rust in your pipes. These also come from the iron deposits that are within your water.
To get rid of these stains, a mixture of vinegar and bicarb of soda is ideal. You will need to repeat the process often and include the routine in your cleaning regime.
Lather-less showers
If you have noticed that your shampoo and body wash just are not lathering up how they are supposed to – it is most likely hard water. This type of water makes it more difficult for you to get a lather, as the chemicals in the water react with the ingredients of your soaps and body washes.
It can also leave deposits in the showerhead, and this will reduce the water pressure that you are getting. Another contributing factor to not having a great lather is the lack of water pressure. Make sure to stay on top of the build-up to make it easier each time.
Clothes
If you find that your clothing just is not getting clean even when you have washed them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, you most likely have a hard water issue. This type of water can make your towels rough and scratchy, and some clothing might appear dull. Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle can reduce some of the hardness of your linens and towels.
This is because the soap is not getting rinsed off properly. There are detergents that are designed to work with hard water, and this can help avoid this issue.
When ironing your clothes on a setting that requires water to be added to the iron consider Golyath distilled water for irons. This way, you can reduce staining, and help to prevent furring and scale formation in your iron too.
Skin Issues
If you have moved to a new home and noticed that you or your family members have drier than usual skin or skin that is very itchy – this could be another sign. Hard water can leave a residue on your skin that makes it drier.
Reducing the exposure and using bath oils and bubble bath that is designed to combat the issues that hard water cause will help mitigate these issues. As well, the installation and use of water softeners can also be very beneficial.
These softeners may be an expense in the beginning but will pay for themselves in the long-run. make sure you look into a reliable water softener company to have these installed on your home.
Final Thoughts
There are millions of homes that have hard water, and many do not notice any difference – this is because there are different levels that you can have in your home. In the end, soft water is generally better for our skin, appliances, and clothing.
Do you battle with hard water in your home? What preventative measures have you taken? What are some things you have tried and what has and has not worked for you? Please share your comments below so you can help others.