The term hard water refers to the concentration of certain substances in it, such as calcium and limestone. If the water you use contains calcium, you can boil it to get rid of the strange taste. To remove other contaminants, you can use filters. To improve water quality throughout your home, you can install an ion exchange purifier. If you want to soften the water for the washing machine instead, you can do it with baking soda and vinegar.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Soften Drinking Water
Step 1. Eliminate impurities by boiling
If the water you drink contains a lot of minerals, especially calcium, you can remedy the bad taste by boiling it. Fill a saucepan or teapot with water, then place it on a stove over high heat. Let it boil for a few minutes.
If you are not sure if the water is hard or if you want more specific information about the minerals it contains, take a test with a strip to measure its hardness. You can find them at the hardware store
Step 2. Put the clean water in a container
Turn off the stove and let the water cool completely. You will likely see some white residue on the bottom of the pot. These are insoluble minerals, which you cannot remove by boiling. Use a syringe, siphon, or ladle to move the water to a clean container.
- While they are not harmful, try not to transfer residues.
- Letting the residues settle allows you to transfer only pure water to another container.
Step 3. Pour the boiled water from one container to another several times
Boiling water can make it taste worse. To improve it, move it repeatedly between two containers, so that it oxygenates again.
Step 4. Eliminate impurities with a drinking water filter
If you often drink tap water directly, boiling it all the time becomes annoying. Instead, try using a filter to purify it before pouring it into a glass. Some devices attach directly to the faucet, while others are installed inside the jugs. Usually, water treated in this way tastes better than boiled water.
- You can buy filters in many supermarkets.
- Look for systems with a secondary filter, such as charcoal or using the reverse osmosis principle, to ensure that contaminants are removed from the water.
Method 2 of 3: Use an Ion Exchange System
Step 1. Install an ion exchange shower filter
It is one of the best tools for removing chlorine and lead from water. Shower filters effectively neutralize even unpleasant odors. They are designed to work specifically at high temperatures and high flow rates.
- You can find shower filters at hardware stores, home improvement stores, and on the internet.
- To find out exactly what minerals are in the water you use, you can test it with a hardness test strip, which you can buy from the hardware store.
Step 2. Install an ion exchange purifier for the entire water supply
These systems usually need to be installed by a professional. The water that comes into the house is passed through a resin to remove contaminants. Purchase a similar system at home improvement stores.
- Whole-home ion exchange purifiers are ideal when water has medium or high hardness. It is the most common solution for improving the quality of water in the home.
- You can test the water before installing the device and take note of the minerals present. Some systems are more suitable for removing certain substances than others.
- The prices of purifiers vary by model and region, but usually cost between € 500 and € 1,500.
Step 3. Maintain your filter system
Many of these systems are simple and require little maintenance. Some need to be regenerated by adding salt, while others have cartridges that can be replaced.
Always follow the instructions in the box to keep the filter system in perfect condition for as long as possible
Method 3 of 3: Soften the Laundry Water
Step 1. Put half a cup of baking soda with the laundry
Pour the powder into the washing machine, then fill it with your clothes and detergent as you normally do. Set the desired wash cycle and start the washing machine.
- Baking soda does not filter the minerals contained in heavy water, but makes it softer to the touch. This way it cleans and rinses better.
- Baking soda is also mildly abrasive, so it helps clean clothes better.
Step 2. Add half a cup of white wine vinegar to the laundry
Keep an eye on the washing machine and add the vinegar before the last rinse cycle. If the appliance has a container for fabric softener, you can pour the vinegar there before starting the wash, so it will be released automatically.
- Vinegar, a natural acid, helps neutralize hard water which contains high concentrations of calcium. Calcium, in fact, is a very alkaline mineral.
- Even though the vinegar has a strong odor, it won't stick on your clothes after the rinse cycle.
- If you want to turn the vinegar into a scented cleanser, add 1.5 drops of essential oil, such as lavender, before pouring it into the washing machine.
- Use only white wine vinegar to sweeten the water. Other types, such as apples, do not guarantee the same result.
Step 3. Dry your clothes as you normally would
Move them to the dryer and start it with the settings you want. When dry, you should notice that the baking soda and vinegar will have reduced the hardness of the water, making the garments softer.
Advice
- Reverse osmosis is a method that can be considered slightly more natural than ion exchange. However, it must operate under special conditions, for example at constant temperature.
- You can install the small reverse osmosis systems directly on the home taps you use most often.
