Tips & Tricks for Washing Clothes in Hard Water

Soap or Detergent

• Both soap and detergent remove soil from clothing and get them clean. However, the type of laundry cleaning product used can greatly affect the quality of cleanliness on clothing washed in hard water. According to the New Mexico State University, laundry soap mixes with the minerals in the hard water and leaves a soapy scum on clothing that can cause graying and discoloration. To prevent this, choose heavy-duty liquid detergent or low-sudsing phosphate detergent to launder clothing.

Hot or Cold Water

• All detergents perform better in both hard and soft water when you use the hottest water temperature allowed for the specific fabrics. Unfortunately, hot water can fade and shrink clothing while increasing your utility bills. Texas A&M University states that you should use hot water whenever possible for laundering clothing in hard water. However, consistent use of hot water can take its toll on fabric. You should consider the positives verse the negatives when using hot water.

Soften Hard Water

• Softening the hard water removes the excess minerals and allows for better laundering results. You can soften hard water before each washing by adding a pack of water conditioner to the washing machine before you add the detergent. Read and follow the directions printed on the water conditioner label. Alternatively, install a water softener system to the water supply line for continuous soft water. This system replaces calcium and magnesium with sodium to soften the hard water.

Considerations

• Test the water hardness with a do-it-yourself testing kit. Inexpensive water testing kits are available at department stores and home improvement centers.

  Remove hard water stains from clothing by soaking the item in a bucket filled with 1 gallon of warm water and 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Let the clothing soak for 12 hours before laundering as you normally would.

  If water conditioner is not available, add 1/2 cup of all-natural borax to the washing machine. Borax softens the water while whitening the clothes.