Detergents That Soften Hard Water

Symptoms

• The water in your laundry may be too hard if you notice that your clothing is yellowing or graying, is marked with white or gray streaks, feels unusually stiff or scratchy, or is more prone to tear. Hard water tends to stop soap suds from forming, so if you notice unusually few suds during your laundry cycle, this may be a symptom that your water is too hard.

Using Detergent to Soften Hard Water

• A common reaction to the lack of soap suds caused by hard water is to add more detergent to the laundry cycle. While this is somewhat effective in softening water, it is expensive because you can use more than twice as much detergent as you actually need to clean your clothes. Adding too much detergent to your laundry also may add to water pollution if the detergent contains phosphates.

Household Water Softeners

• The simplest and most effective household solution to hard water is to add baking soda to your laundry cycle. Depending on the hardness of the water, add between one teaspoon to 1/4 cup of baking soda directly into your laundry water. You can either add the baking soda as powder, or first mix it with a small amount of water to form a paste to help it dissolve faster. In addition to softening your water, adding baking soda to your laundry also will help remove stains and neutralize odors.

Commercial Water Softeners

• Another way to soften your water is to purchase a commercial water softener. This may be an effective approach for you if you are experiencing severe effects of very hard water. Commercial water softeners can be very expensive, so it is advisable to arrange a consultation before purchasing a specific product.