Hard water and laundry? (how much, dishwasher, colors, cleaner)
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We just moved to an area with very hard water. it even tastes nasty!
I've noticed our clothes have taken on a different hue, like they're not as bright as they used to be.
Short of installing a water softener, what can I do to make my clothes come cleaner? More detergent? less detergent? Clorox 2? Vinegar? Baking soda? Hot, warm, cold water?
Ok, for colors, I did this last night----more water, less detergent, along with Clorox 2. also, ran the wash cycle 2x--caught it before the spin began and re did it. Then, did 2 rinses. Clothes definitely looked better, but hey, that makes for one heck of a water bill!
Also, last night, for towels, I simply washed them in hot water and white vinegar. You couldn't believe the soap that came out! I washed them 3x that way, each time it looked like I'd poured a ton of detergent in. Those towels came out looking brand new, fluffy, colors bright, it was simply amazing how much old soap was in them.
But I hesitate to do that with our colored clothes, for fear of stirpping the remaining color.
it was simply amazing how much old soap was in them.
The biggest problem with hard water is the calcium and mineral deposits. That's what causes laundry to get dingy with hard water.
If you are using a soap based product, then old soap would have been part of the problem.
Make sure you are using a detergent based product instead of a soap based product. Soap based products dont' clean as well in hard water.
Chose a liquid laundry detergent that is for cold water. It can be used in hot water too. But it rinses more easily in any water temperature.
Then, use either of the following as a BOOSTER to your laundry detergent. You won't need to use hot water on colors. Warm water wash and cold water rinse should be just fine.
20 Mule Team Borax
Cascade Dishwasher Detergent
Half a cup of either will be enough.
If you are washing in cold water, you need to desolve powder detergent booster in hot water prior to adding it to the cold wash water.
There is NO REASON to use MORE detergent or MORE booster than recommended for the load size.
Personally I would put in a water softener. You can rent one for about $20/month plus salt. It will keep water spots off your dishes, keep your clothes cleaner, keep water spots off your bath fixtures, etc. You also use about 1/10th of the soap and shampoo you would without one.
I never feel like I can get clean in the shower. Can't get the shampoo and body soap rinsed off, even with using less. My skin and hair just felt scummy to me.
That's probably why the OP got so much soap out of her towels: years of soap build up while she was living in a soft water area and soap not getting rinsed out of her laundry.
Water softener is the way to go. With hard water it stains everything and doesn't allow the detergent to work right, not to mention over time will clog up the washer.
Water softener is the way to go. With hard water it stains everything and doesn't allow the detergent to work right, not to mention over time will clog up the washer.
I never feel like I can get clean in the shower. Can't get the shampoo and body soap rinsed off, even with using less. My skin and hair just felt scummy to me.
That's probably why the OP got so much soap out of her towels: years of soap build up while she was living in a soft water area and soap not getting rinsed out of her laundry.
Actually it is just the opposite-hard water leaves a film on your skin, doesn't rinse as well but if you are not used to soft water you don't have that film so it feels different. If you used soft water for a while and went back to hard water you would feel the difference in your hair and your skin.
Actually it is just the opposite-hard water leaves a film on your skin, doesn't rinse as well but if you are not used to soft water you don't have that film so it feels different. If you used soft water for a while and went back to hard water you would feel the difference in your hair and your skin.
Actually it is just the opposite-hard water leaves a film on your skin, doesn't rinse as well but if you are not used to soft water you don't have that film so it feels different. If you used soft water for a while and went back to hard water you would feel the difference in your hair and your skin.
I totally agree with you-Have always had soft water-no problem. This is our first time with hard water-all the white residue. Even my hair has noticed the difference! I realized it it on vacation where it was soft water.
We are doing a water softener.
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