How To Soften Hard Water – 7 Effective Hard Water Treatment Ideas

Hard water is a nuisance that can be tricky to solve, even for those with tons of experience.

While drinking it isn’t harmful to human health, it can be costly, as well as irritating, if left untreated for too long. But what exactly is hard water, and how can it be treated? 

In this guide, we explore seven ways to treat hard water naturally in your home, as well as the benefits of a water softener. Let’s get started. 

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water is a common issue that occurs due to minerals – calcium and magnesium – dissolving into your home’s source of water.

This happens when the water in your area travels over rocks, taking deposits of gypsum, limestone, or chalk with it, all of which are largely made up of magnesium and calcium sulfates, carbonates, and bicarbonates. 

Some of the issues resulting from hard water include the following:

• Rust Stains: High mineral content in water causes the porcelain to stain with rust over time, which can leave your pristine bathroom or kitchen looking less than impressive.
• An Excessive Buildup Of Scale: Scale buildup and deposits can become prominent in your plumbing. If you aren’t sure what scale looks like, it’s a tough, whitish coating with a hard texture that isn’t easy to wipe away. 
• Clothes That Are Dingy After Washing: Calcium and magnesium tend to leave a dingy film behind when combined with soap, so if hard water is used in your washing machine it can lead to clothing that looks dull- and sometimes just plain dirty – after washing. 
• Fading Colors: As well as leaving behind a dull residue, hard water also causes colors on clothing to fade. 
• Loss of Absorbency: Towels that are washed with hard water lose their absorbency over time and eventually become unusable.
• Non-Lathering Soap: Calcium and magnesium ions can lead to a dingy film, and when combined with soap, it will cause soap scum rather than soap lather. 
• Dull Hair: Because of the reaction between soap and the ions in hard water, your hair will not get the refreshing wash you expect. Instead, you might find your hair turning dull over time because of the hard water in your plumbing. 

Treating Hard Water

These are just a few of the issues that occur due to hard water in your home, but there are actions you can take to treat it.

Installing a water softener is an obvious choice, but if you aren’t ready to take that step, what else can you do? Let’s look at seven ways that you can naturally treat hard water in your home. 

Boil Your Water Before Use

Boiling your water is only suitable for dealing with what is known as “temporary” hard water. This means that the hard water is mostly made up of calcium bicarbonate.

Boiling your water will lead to a dissolution of these minerals, removing the calcium content and leading to softer water.

Whilst it does not solve the problem of “permanent” hardness – relating to water with both magnesium and calcium content- it can make a difference if your problem is not particularly severe.

Distilled White Vinegar

This kind of white vinegar is excellent when it comes to getting rid of some residue left behind by hard water, thanks to its high acid content.

This acid can neutralize the alkalinity of the calcium, which is primarily responsible for the marks and stains left behind by hard water. Allow the vinegar to soak for a while before scrubbing the residue away.

The Appropriate Cleaning Products

Having the right cleaning products is essential for hard water issues, and thankfully there is a wide range of products available for hard water staining.

These products are a great short-term solution, but you’ll need something more substantial to stop the issue of hard water entirely. 

Sodium Bicarbonate Or Washing Soda When Washing Clothes

Sodium bicarbonate – found in washing soda – can remove the magnesium and calcium within hard water. It is also soluble when put into water, allowing for any detergent to lather and clean your clothes more effectively.

Water Filters On Taps

Another solution for hard water is installing water filters fitted to your taps. Some filters can remove minerals from water, which allows soap to lather more easily so you can better clean your dishes, sinks, and other areas. 

Water Softening Products

There are also products that you can pop in your washing machine that make your detergent go further, which leads to cleaner and softer clothes. 

A Water Softener!

Of course, the final option is a water softener. A water softener can solve all the problems caused by hard water in a permanent way, rather than some of the temporary solutions that we have talked about here.

It is the most effective way to soften hard water, though these other options are great solutions while you are waiting for your water softener to be installed.

The Benefits Of A Water Softener

Let’s take a quick look at the general benefits of a water softener: 

• Saves You Money in the Long Run
• Soft, Clean Clothes
• Fewer Stains on Your Sinks and Utensils 
• Better Hair and Skin
• Less Time Spent Cleaning
• Better Tasting Water

These are just a few of the numerous benefits of utilizing a water softener!

Final Thoughts

So there you have some methods of naturally softening water as well as tips on cleaning up hard water issues.

The most effective method of softening water and avoiding these problems is to simply invest in a water softener. 

Softeners can be a bit pricey and they may not be for everyone. Our tips will help those who don’t have or want a water softener.

Hopefully, our guide has given you some useful tips when it comes to softening the water in your home.