Hard water is more of a nuisance than a danger; however, this nuisance can leave your appliances, faucets, and drains looking unsightly, no matter how well you clean them. Hard water also strips your skin of moisture, leading to itchy scalps and flaky patches on your face. The best way to avoid these scenarios is to watch for these five signs you have hard water in your home and then do what’s necessary to remove it.
Your Hair Has Lost Its Luster
If your hair looks like it’s given up, you may have a hard-water issue. Hard water leaves behind mineral deposits everywhere it goes, including your scalp. That buildup causes flat hair with no shine. It also leaves hair dry and brittle.
Your Skin Is Dry
Occasionally experiencing dry skin is normal. But if it’s constant—even in the humid months—it’s likely from hard water. Even eczema and psoriasis tend to affect hardwater households more than other households. That’s because the roughness of hard water breaks down our skin’s protective barrier, leaving it prone to dry and itchy conditions.
Appliances, Faucets, and Drains Have Lost Their Shine
Remember when your appliances were brand new, and you regularly buffed them to make them glimmer? Good times. Sadly, no amount of cleaning and buffing can compete with hard water. After enough use, your appliances, faucets, and drains grow a thick coating of mineral deposits from hard water, and it’s very tough to remove.
Your Dishes and Drinkware Are Spotted
We love polka dots on dishes and drinkware when they are there intentionally. However, spots from hard water are just annoying. You’ll notice them even after thorough cleaning and drying. No one wants a glass of wine in a water-spotted wine glass.
Your Clothing Is Stiff
You can’t see it, but mineral deposits are accumulating on your clothes every time you wash them if you have hard water. That buildup leads to itchy, stiff clothing that doesn’t feel comfortable. Your clothes will also fade more quickly with hard-water washing.
How Do You Fix Hard Water?
What can you do if you find some of the signs you have hard water in your home? Thankfully, you don’t have to accept it. The best advice is to install a water softener and then find out how often you should refill the salt in your water softener so mineral buildup issues don’t reoccur. Water softeners remove hard mineral deposits so your clothing, hair, skin, and appliances all look and feel their best.
