Hard water is a common problem in many households. From clogged pipes, dry skin to dull hair, there are a plethora of woes that hard water brings along with it. That is why softening hard water is important for a seamless living environment. The good news is that there are many natural ways in which you can soften hard water at home.
Intrigued to know more about this? Keep reading to learn about 6 easy ways in which you can soften hard water at your abode.
Hard water has high levels of dissolved minerals. You may see these minerals in the form of hard water stains usually seen when the water evaporates and leaves behind mineral deposits on the surface.
There are two primary types of hard water: temporary and permanent hard water. Temporary hard water is caused by the bicarbonates and carbonates of calcium and magnesium. This type of hardness in water can be easily removed by boiling the water. On the other hand, permanent hard water contains chlorides and sulphates of calcium and magnesium and requires chemical treatments to soften.
There is a common misconception that hard water is bad for you. However, that is not the case. Hard water is not unhealthy. In fact, the minerals present in the water increase your daily intake of recommended minerals and in turn protect you from various kinds of diseases. On the other hand, even though hard water is good for your body, it may not necessarily be good for your home utensils, electrical appliances, and pipes. Although hard water is good for health, drinking hard water in abundancy can be problematic in the long run. The minerals present in the water are not suitable for all the human beings alike. As such there are no major hard water effects on health, but a sore throat and constipation problem is common. There two ways to tackle these problems, use a softener for hard water and exercise regularly.
Physical activities increase metabolism and uses extra minerals, so the minerals from hard water balances your body’s drain of essential minerals like calcium, sodium etc.
The water may leave behind white residue on glassware, dishes, and sinks.
The same residue may result in a buildup inside pipes. Other problems may include reduced effectiveness of cleaning agents as well as an increase in rusting. The above buildup in the pipe may also result in your plumbing system as well as water heater using up a lot more energy. This excess usage in energy will eventually lead higher electricity bills.
We have simple yet effective treatments for hard water solutions at home. From vinegar to water purifiers, here are 6 tips on how you can fight the effects of hard water.
Water Heaters and Geysers have a huge amount of mineral sediment at the bottom of the tank. Keep flushing your water heater to reduce the amount of junk present at the bottom of the tank. Make sure you buy an energy efficient geyser for hard water. Or else, you many be paying huge electricity bills even for the best water heater for hard water.
Since hard water contains huge quantity of Calcium, it is effective to use vinegar. It is 8th grade chemistry that acetic acid reacts with minerals above Hydrogen in the Reactivity Series. Vinegar is very effective in dissolving the calcium, magnesium, and other mineral deposits of hard water. The added advantage is that it kills bacteria, mold, and other germs. Using vinegar as a softener for hard water is a simple hack to treat hard water at home.
Soap up your dishes and glassware to minimize hard water deposits. To remove soap scum, add a combination of one part of apple cider and three parts of purified water.
Water purifier is a great method to treat hard water at home. RO water purifier dissolves all the minerals in hard water and kills all the bacteria. Whereas, UF water purifier ensures that all the unwanted minerals like zinc, lead are filtered while purifying hard water for drinking. Get a good quality hard water purifier for your home. This will eliminate all the unnecessary salts and minerals from the hard water, and let you enjoy the taste of purified, soft water.
Baking soda can help to soften your hard water. This is because the alkaline properties of baking soda help to neutralise the excess of minerals in hard water. Wondering how to use it? Simply add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to a gallon of water, stir it well and let it sit for a couple of hours before you use the water. Remember to use baking soda sparingly and not overdo it to avoid excessive alkalinity.
Lemon juice is naturally acidic in nature and it helps to neutralise the minerals in hard water. Squeeze lemon juice from one lemon into a gallon of water, stir and let it rest for a couple of hours before you use it. The best thing about this natural hack is that lemon juice will not only soften your water but also add a fresh smell and slight flavour to your water.
With the above hard water solutions for the home, you can soften your hard water and improve the quality of your water. Remember that naturally softening your water may be a temporary solution.
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