How to Soften Water

Hard water contains a large amount of calcium and magnesium. The effects of hard water include corroded faucets, cloudy build up on glassware, bathtub rings, scum build up on shower doors and corroded pipes. When taking a shower in hard water, the soap refuses to suds up and skin feels dry. With soft water, glass sparkles and skin feels soft.

Things You'll Need

• Water softener Water softener salt

Instructions

1. Install a water softener in your home. The water softener unit is hooked to the main water line coming into the home. Water moves through the treatment system before going to the faucets. Water softeners are often located in the garage, laundry or utility room of a home.

2. Add salt to the water softener. Large salt pellets are added to the water softener cylinder. The water that moves from the water supply, through the water softener and to the faucets does not run though the salt. Salt is used to recharge the mineral tank.

3. Turn the water supply on to the house. As the water moves through the water softener it filters through zeolite minerals. Water becomes soft when the magnesium and calcium ions are exchanged for the sodium ions of the zeolite during this process.

4. Refill the water softener tank with salt. After a while, the water softener stops working because the zeolite minerals have been depleted of sodium during the exchange. They need to be soaked in the salt to get recharged.

Resources

• To Soften or Not to Soften
• Softening
• Water Softeners