- Hard water has several effects aside from staining surfaces. The mineral buildup from hard water can clog pipes, faucets, spray nozzles and shower heads, sometimes drastically impeding their water flow. Similarly, hard water decreases the energy efficiency of water heaters due to mineral buildup on the heating element. Hard water also makes lathering soap more difficult, decreasing the performance of hair shampoos, body soaps, washing machines and dishwashers. Clothes repeatedly washed in hard water become rough and dull, as does hair shampooed in hard water. Hard water also reacts with soap to increase the amount of soap scum and film present in bathtubs after each use.
- On cookware, shower doors and faucets and hard surfaces, homeowners may see stains that appear as solid, cloudy, white residue. On shower heads and spray nozzles and inside pipes, homeowners will notice a hard tan or brown substance--these are lime scale or calcium deposits that have formed a ring of solid mass around the inside of piping over a long period of time. In some cases, the entire pipe may be blocked by these deposits.
- Ordinary surface cleaners usually cannot adequately remove hard water stains or hard water deposits. Although there are a variety of cleaners made specifically for removing hard water stains and deposits, homeowners can use natural cleaners as an alternative. Most chemical-based hard water stain and deposit removers, whether they are liquid or paste, will contain sequestrates that bind to and remove the stains. Other cleaning agents are strong acids, such as phosphoric and sulfuric acid. Vinegar and water mixtures and lemon juice can also remove hard water stains and deposits. Homeowners should also remember that the more frequently they clean stains and deposits, the easier they will be to remove.
- Although homeowners can install filters that remove minerals from the water, this is costly and labor intensive and does not prevent lime scale and calcification deposits in pipes. A more cost-efficient method of eliminating hard water and its resulting stains and deposits is to install a water softener. Mechanical water softeners typically attach to the water heater and completely eliminate the level of minerals in the water by introducing sodium chloride, or salt, into the water. The sodium ions simply replace the calcium and magnesium ions. Because water softeners increase the level of salt in the water, some homeowners prefer water conditioners. Water conditioners react with hard water to prevent calcium deposits and lime scale deposits, but they don't remove the magnesium from the water.
- Homeowners should take care not to damage surfaces or cause injury to themselves when removing or preventing hard water stains and deposits. When using a chemical-based cleaner, it is important to read the directions before using the product, as some cleaners may not be suitable for all surfaces. Before installing a water softener, homeowners should beware that softening water too much can damage pipes. Additionally, the sodium that water softeners introduce into the water will increase the amount of sodium they ingest when eating meals prepared with water in the home and when drinking tap water. This may be dangerous for people who have health conditions that are worsened by salt intake, such as hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
