Minerals such as calcium, magnesium are the ones that make our water hard. They leave deposits that clog pipes, stain tiles, and glass, leave residue on skin and hair, and prevent soap from foaming. While there is no confirmed health risk associated with using this water, it is an inconvenience. There are several ways to turn your hard water into soft water.
You could use boiled water for your household chores such as cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, brushing, washing your hair, and bathing. That is to better the effectiveness of your cleaning products.
- Boil your water
- Let it cool
- You shall see visible particles of lime and these tend to float on the water. Scoop that layer off before using the water.
- Let the water sit for a little more time so that the particles eventually sink
- Pour out or scoop the water without disturbing the settled particles
- Pour away the water that contains the lime.
Use Lime or Washing Soda
Some years back, homes with hard water softened it using lime or washing soda. They would pour water into open large cans and add a little of their choice substance. The water would stand for some days before the top would get drawn for use.
However, owing to the amount of water needed, the method is not common today
Use Washing Soda, Borax or Ammonia
You need to add one of these substances to your water at the same time you are adding detergent. While the water shall not get soft, the mixture used stops the lime from interfering with the detergent hence allowing for lather to form. You need to follow the instructions on the package of the substance before use.
Put 1 pound of washing soda into a ¼ a gallon of boiling water. Once it has cooled, keep this mixture in a closed container. Add two tablespoons of the mixture to 1 gallon of water for cleaning.
Put a ¼ tablespoon of lye in a cup of water. Mix this into a gallon of water
Use a Water Filter Pitcher With Softening Abilities
These are available in stores in different brands. Some of these pitchers provide water softening that helps water and beverages such as tea to retain their aroma and flavor.
Put a Water Softening Filter on the Bathroom and Kitchen Sink Faucets
That enables water to get softened as it flows through the tap. It is the easiest way to get soft water for cleaning. Some of these filter models have got switch-off valves. That means that you can get water from the tap without it passing through the filter.Read our post to get more info about types of faucets.
Install a Reverse Osmosis System
Install a Mechanical Softener Device That Replaces Hard Water Minerals With Sodium
It is a very effective way to soften that hard water. These softeners increase water heater efficiency, improve the life of your fabrics and other items that are regularly washed , and prevent limescale. You may consider buying a good reverse osmosis system instead, read more in ro-system.org website.
There are many softener units, and they vary in price, effectiveness, and operational costs. Before buying one, you need to test the water it produces.
Install a Magnetic Water Conditioner
This device magnetizes the calcium ions. This alteration prevents them from causing buildups.
A water conditioner is not costly, is easy to operate, and gives you water that is safe for human consumption.
However, conditioners may be ineffective in some areas, and it is not always a guarantee that they shall give you soft water. The degree at which they soften water is lower than that of mechanical softeners.
Softening water reduces the amount of money used on cleaning products. That is because you use fewer products when the water is soft. You might want to check  to read the best reviews for water softeners.
Energy bills also reduce because cleaning things becomes easier and mineral buildup is either no more or significantly reduced.
Your pipes and household appliances can also last longer since there are no more hard water mineral deposits.