Did you know that not all water is made equal? Some are better for certain household activities than others. The quality and type of water that you use is essential in keeping your body safe and healthy. Generally, the difference is not so apparent, but certain situations would negatively affect the wrong kind of water.
One way of categorizing water is through hardness. Water is considered soft when ions and minerals are reduced. If it has less than one grain per gallon (gpg), it is considered soft water. On the other hand, hard water has 7 to 10 gpg. The ones that usually come out of your tap is hard water. Whether which one is better for household chores, refer to our short guide below.
Cleaning: Soft
When it comes to cleaning in general, soft water is the better option. You may have noticed that there are times when your soap won’t bubble up no matter how hard you scrub. That is because there are fewer minerals for the soap to react to. It helps reduce your overall expenses because you won’t have to rewash your laundry.
If you want to improve your home cleaning, it’s best to get a softener because most pipes come with hard water. This can cause you to use up more detergent or soap as well as damage your pipes. All the minerals in your hard water can actually be quite hard, causing erosion over time. Switching to soft water can increase the lifespan of your piping. You can also expect to save up on maintenance and repair costs.
As for showering, hard water can actually clog your skin. The minerals will cause your skin to feel slightly dirtier despite having already bathed. It also prevents natural oil from producing.
Gardening: Hard
When it comes to watering your flowers and homegrown produce, it is better to use hard water. This is because soft water tends to have a lot of sodium, which can seriously harm your plants. All the sodium will mess with the balance of the plants and cause them to die eventually.
However, it is important to note that rainwater is naturally soft water, but that doesn’t mean it is harmful to plants. The disadvantages of using soft water are mostly referring to processed soft water. Rainwater, though, won’t have that issue, so it is perfectly safe to let nature do its job for you.
While a few liters of soft water won’t be too bad, but continuous use can make your plants dehydrated. Fortunately, you can fix this by mixing the water with rainwater or distilled water. This way, the plants can get the amount of water that you are giving.
Skincare: Soft
Similar to cleaning, soft water is also significantly better at maintaining bright and healthy skin. Studies actually found that hard water can irritate the skin and contribute to the development of eczema. This is because the water has passed through numerous pipes with harsh substances such as limestone and chalk.
If you have existing skin conditions, hard water can actually worsen your condition. The substances in the water can cause a negative reaction to sensitive skin, so experts suggest switching. Those who use hard water often notice that their skin gets itchier than usual. On top of that, hard water clogs the pores, making it more damaging to the skin.
People with normal skin won’t notice the effects, but it can make your skincare products less efficient. Many have noticed a drastic change in the quality of their skin once they started using soft water.
Drinking: Hard
When it comes to drinking, it becomes a bit more complicated. The consensus is that either is fine, but the sodium in soft water may be an issue for some people. Because hard water has more minerals, it is better at providing more nutrients in your system.
The right amount of hardness also factors in. Water that is too hard will have too much magnesium and sodium, resulting in the opposite effect. It also largely depends on where you live. Some areas have less maintained pipes and water systems, which causes the water to be more contaminated.
The important thing to remember with soft and hard water is always wary of the side effects. If you have tried fixing all other aspects of your task, then there is a possibility that the issue is related to the water that you use. Always check in with a professional to get their professional opinions on the matter.
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