Many homes have hard water in their pipelines. Hard water contains high levels of mineral content, such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfates. When water sits in your pipes and plumbing fixtures for extended periods, the minerals dissolve into the water and make it denser. That is why it is called hard water.
Studies have shown that hard water is healthy to drink. However, it is not so great for cleaning clothes and fabrics. If your washing machine is cleaning your clothes with hard water, it’ll cause a strange residue to show up on them. This residue will deteriorate the fabrics of the clothing and make them appear duller. Sooner or later, you’ll have to buy new clothes because they’ll start to rip or form holes.
The Solution
Most people cannot afford to install a water filtration system into the main pipeline of their homes. That is okay because there is a much more affordable alternative to filtering out the hard water minerals in your pipes. For example, you could add a high-quality laundry detergent to the water in your washing machine.
The best laundry detergent products are formulated to keep your clothes soft and clean, even if you have hard water coming out of your pipes. Look for laundry detergents that indicate that they are formulated for hard water. They have the best chance of cleaning clothes without leaving any residue or soap scum behind.
Another tip is always to use liquid detergent rather than powdered detergent. Liquid detergent does not absorb as much of the minerals in the hard water, leaving behind a smoother and cleaner appearance on the fabric. It is also good to use higher amounts of liquid detergent when you have hard water issues.
If you use double the amount of recommended detergent in your laundry load, it will make it even more difficult for the residue to stick to your clothes. On the other hand, people who use smaller amounts of detergent will generally see more residue on their clothing because the hard water does not get diluted with enough detergent to avoid it.
Laundry detergents can be effective in hard water if you purchase a liquid detergent that is specially formulated for it. That doesn’t necessarily mean you always have to avoid powdered and pod detergents. But the best results will come from using excessive amounts of liquid detergent per load. Whether or not the powder and pod detergents will work well for you depends on the density of your pipe water.