Hard water is usually the preferred drinking water because of the presence of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in it.  This type of water has a better taste as well compared to the soft water that is salty.  Some soft water are note even suitable for dinking that is why water tends to have minerals in order to be safe for drinking.  But what is it with most if not household needs to soften water?  Hard water has been observed to have an adverse effect on the cleaning and washing process.

What Hard Water Does:

• Hard water leaves residue and spots on washed dishes.
• Bathtubs will have soap scum rings.
• Appliances that use the hard water will build up on the scale deposit.
• Pipes will clog up eventually with scale deposit as well.
• Hard water will leave hair dull and sticky.
• Washed clothes look yellowed.
• Soap and detergent do not lather as much as when used in soft water.

Soften water that is used for cleaning with simple methods.  Before using a water softener, it is best to found out how hard the water is.  This can be done by having the water tested through a local health agency or a private laboratory.   From there know the options to soften water in your area.  There are quite a few approaches to getting the water less hard because of research and technology.

• A cheap water softening method is by adding lime or washing soda on hard water placed in open kegs.  It takes several days for the washing soda or lime to take effect, which is time consuming for most.
• Adding vinegar to the water that will be used for washing the clothes or dishes.  The ratio is one-fourth vinegar for every gallon of water.  Mix the vinegar before putting in the clothes or dishes into the washing machine or dishwasher, respectively.
• For a more effortless way of softening the hard tap water, it is best to install a water system that softens water.  The automatic water softening makes use of salt to counteract the calcium and magnesium found in hard water that is called sodium ion exchange.
• An alternative to the sodium ion exchange of water softening is the water conditioner.  This system works by changing the ion makeup of the minerals in the hard water.

Hard water may be better for those that are following a low-sodium diet or when watering the plants.  But for cleaning the house, doing the laundry and taking baths, it is best to use softened water.  So if you have hard water, you now know how to lessen the minerals and soften water appropriately.