Hard water contains dissolvedminerals such as calcium and magnesium, while soft water is water that has been treated, in which sodium is the only ion. Rainwater begins as soft, but when it moves through the ground and into ground water areas, it picks up many minerals, including chalk, lime, calcium and magnesium.
When it comes to household chores, however, your particular type of water may cause problems. If your water is hard, your clothes and dishes may not look or feel completely clean, your bathtub may be left with a nasty film of soap scum, and your hair may feel and look dull and dirty. Soap mixed with hard water is less effective because it reacts with calcium and magnesium. Soap lathers much better in soft water, leading to cleaner dishes and fresher, softer clothes and hair. Soft water also saves money because less product is required to produce the desired results.
Many people turn to chemical cleaners to remove limescale caused by water hardness, but these products release toxic fumes into the environment and pollute waste water. They can also aggravate existing health complaints, such as asthma. Instead of conventional cleaners, try green cleaning products that are free from phosphates and other chemicals. You could even try some regular store cupboard items, such as baking soda, lemon juice and white vinegar, to remove limescale and water stains or have a water softener installed in your home or office and eliminate the source of the hardness.
If you need to use a greater amount of cleaning products due to water hardness, going for green cleaning products means you don’t need to worry about releasing potentially harmful fumes into the air. All Pure & Gentle products do not contain any harmful volatile chemicals. Going for 100% biodegradable packaging is another way to live a greener life and reduce your impact on the environment.
