Water isn't just H₂O. It also contains naturally occurring minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. The more of these minerals your water contains, the harder the water is.
Water hardness varies depending on where you live. Some areas have naturally soft water, while others have very hard water.
Why hard water matters
Hard water can make cleaning more difficult, especially when using traditional soaps like Castile Soap or Coconut Soap.
The minerals in hard water react with soap before the soap gets a chance to do its job properly. This can lead to:
- Less lather
- Soap scum on surfaces
- Residue on sinks, showers and glass
- Cleaning products not performing as well as expected
If you've ever wondered why your shower screen always looks cloudy or why soap seems to disappear without creating many bubbles, hard water may be the reason.
How to check if you have hard water
If you're connected to town water, your local water authority may publish water hardness information online.
You can also use a water hardness test kit, but here's a simple test you can try at home.
How to test
How to measure the results
(Photo credit: Clearwater Arizona) |
How to handle hard water
The good news is that hard water is manageable.
-
Use Water Softeners
Ingredients such as Washing Soda, Borax and Bicarb Soda help soften water and improve how well soap performs. If you're creating your own cleaning products, increasing the proportion of water softening ingredients and reducing the amount of soap can often improve results.
-
Use Distilled Water
It can help reduce issues as it contains less minerals than tap water
The bottom line
Hard water isn't harmful, but it can affect how well soaps and cleaning products work. Understanding your water is one of the easiest ways to improve the performance of your DIY cleaning products and troubleshoot recipes that don't seem to be working as expected.