The Difference Between Hard water and Soft Water
Rainwater is soft water. However, it turns into hard water as it passes through the ground and rocks. Also, the water we get from wells and sometimes city water supply is hard water. Hard water contains large or small quantities of minerals like lime, chalk, magnesium, and calcium. Worth noting is that hard water has essential minerals which are healthy for your body. The only ion in soft water is sodium. Salt water is usually too salty and not so tasty to drink. However, it is difficult to use hard water for general cleaning in the home, and that’s why it is usually treated to remove the minerals in it and turn it into soft water.
Advantages of Soft Water For Body and House Hold Cleaning
There are many disadvantages of using hard water over soft water. Unlike soft water, hard water has mineral deposits that clog pipes and utensils damaging plumbing systems, coffee pots, kettles, and hot tubs. Besides, hard water doesn’t lather easily while soft water has a rich lather. Therefore, soft water is better for bathing or cleaning up because it uses less soap. Further, when you wash clothes, dishes, and tubs with hard water, it may have a gloomy look and stain tiles and glasses. Also, the effect of using hard water to wash any part of the body can be felt with the hair getting a gloomy look and your skin feeling greasy and soapy.
More so, hard water uses higher temperatures to heat up costing you more in terms of energy.
Treating Hard Water
Hard water can be treated with or without softeners. The primary goodness of a water softener system is that all your water will be automatically converted into soft water and you won’t need to keep having to worry about the effects of hard water. However, installing a water softener will require an initial investment which may be expensive. Water softeners also use energy and require salt which is expensive in the long run.
Three Proven Ways to Treat Hard Water Without Softeners
Using a Water Filter Pitcher
Buy a water filter that is designed for softening hard water. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use it. The minerals will be filtered by the device to give you soft water.
Using Vinegar
Vinegar converts hard water into soft water easily. Therefore this method is recommended for use in the dishwater and laundry machine only. Turn the hard water into soft by adding a cup of vinegar in the rinsing water, this in effect removes all the mineral deposits on your dishes and clothes. If you are concerned that your laundry will smell vinegar, also use an excellent scented fabric conditioner in the final rinse. Unfortunately, using vinegar is limited and may not work for your piped water system because the water is not recommended for drinking.
Boiling Hard Water
If you need to use a small amount of water, it can be boiled to change its state to soft water. However, this method may prove to be cumbersome and expensive for large amounts of water or water that has to pass through the piping system. When the water is boiled, the minerals settle down, and you can use the water and leave the bottom water behind, which has the mineral deposits.
Conclusion
Did you like our article? Feel free to ask us any questions related to the above subject. You are also free to get back to us with your feedback on whether you used these methods and how best they worked for you. Also free to share this information with your friends and family.