Water is an important resource in daily living.

While most people don’t think much about their water, if you’re concerned about the quality of water coming into your home, then you’ve probably heard of confusing terms like some water being soft or hard.

It’s just water–a liquid– so, how can it be soft or hard? This post will take a closer look at what makes water soft or hard and why you should choose soft water for your home.

Hard Water Vs. Soft Water: Which Is Which

Your home’s water isn’t as simple as it may seem. Although it’s usually crystal clear, water actually contains miniature mineral particles, including magnesium and calcium, that can’t be seen by the naked eye. These mineral particles determine the ‘hardness’ of your water.

Untreated water with higher levels of these minerals is generally called hard water. In contrast, lower levels of these minerals in your water make it soft water. While soft water is naturally occurring in some areas, most people use a water softener system to reduce concentrations of minerals in the water that flows into their houses via their pipe system.

The Benefits Of Having Soft Water In Your Home

Most people can safely use and drink both hard and soft water. But there are convincing reasons why you should start treating your water and use soft water instead. Continue reading to learn more.

1. It Contributes To Healthy Kidneys

The primary minerals in hard water are sulfate and carbonate salts of magnesium and calcium. Most of the time, these extra minerals in your water are good for your body. But it may also pose health issues, especially in your kidneys.

These minerals proliferate in your body and can result in an increased risk of high urinary magnesium and calcium levels. This, in turn, can result in the formation of kidney stones. Using soft water means less mineral intake, so it doesn’t contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

2. It Softens Your Hair And Skin

In addition to a healthier kidney, soft water can be quite beneficial for your hair and skin. The minerals in hard water are notorious for drying out your hair and skin in the shower by removing the natural oils present.

Water with fewer minerals allows the skin to pick up and hold moisture better. Plus, it helps balance your hair’s pH level to prevent a frizzy appearance while brightening your hair color.

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Further, soft water means fewer mineral ions that limit your soap’s solubility. This means that you can enjoy a deeper lather and increase the efficiency of your soap by allowing ingredients to go deeper into your skin. Once you switch to soft water, you’ll soon notice softer hair and more moisturized skin.

3. It Cleans More Efficiently

Water is a critical source in most household chores, especially cleaning–whether you’re washing the dishes or doing the laundry.

By switching to soft water, you can have a more efficient cleaning. With soft water, there are fewer minerals present in your water, preventing build-up and creating an annoying cloudy appearance on dishes once dried.

It also helps ensure fewer minerals that leave deposits when washing your clothes. This prevents color fading in the fabric while also allowing dissolving detergent more effectively for better lather and cleaning action.

4. It Protects Your Home’s Plumbing System And Appliances

Switching to soft water is beneficial for your home’s plumbing system as well. Minerals in hard water travel through your pipes, causing scale buildup that clogs your pipes over time and causes costly damage to your plumbing.

Since soft water has fewer minerals, it’s far gentler and results in less strain on your plumbing system, and helps increase your plumbing’s lifespan. Soft water helps reduce the frequency of plumbing maintenance and upkeep required too.

In addition to your pipes, soft water can prevent the negative impact of hard water on your washing machines, dishwashers, thermostats, water heaters, and any other appliances that use water. With soft water, you prevent scale buildup on your water-using appliances. Not only does it help in extending the lifespan of your appliances, but it also ensures better working efficiency which can result in lower monthly electric bills.

Takeaway

All water isn’t created equal–some can be hard; others are treated to be soft. And while it’s easy to brush off the seemingly small details between the two, the nature of your water can impact numerous areas of your life and home living.

And as you can see from the pieces of information mentioned above, switching to soft water and stripping away the extra minerals can offer numerous benefits–from providing healthier drinking water to extending your home’s plumbing system. So, what are you waiting for? Invest in a water softener now and enjoy the many benefits of using soft water.