[KR258]

I actually know but I'm conflicted on whether ours is hard or soft because I think I get lots of bubbles easily when I wash my hair but there is always white film on our dishes and shower curtain and usually have to rinse twice when doing laundry......

If it is hard water how can I make it soft without spending too much money?? (also we live in an apartment and can't make huge changes)

[Alejandros Mommy]

Take a glass of water and let it evaporate...if the glass has rings you have hard water. My mum and dad have a soft water system. The water feels like it is 'moisturizing' your skin

[KR258]

Thank you for the quick reponse! I didn't expect an answer so soon but I LOVE that. I've been searching for what feels like forever and just couldn't come to a conclusion!

I would say its def hard water. I want to know because I'm trying out Charlies Soap for my cloth diapers but I need to soften it to make it work...so if anyone has suggestions about that?

I must just use lots of shampoo.....

[purelegance]

as far as i know, the only way to soften your water is to by a water conditioner. which aren't cheap, and i'm not sure if you can use them in an apartment. hopefully somebody else has better suggestions.

[bhoneycutt]

We have a Rain Soft system but that was around $5,000 and a unit like that would probably not be ideal for an apartment setting.

I went on eBay and typed in "water softener". I found this thing called an "Electronic Water Softener". It looks like it may work for your situation.

Here's their description:

Tired of hard water lime and calcium build-up? Tired of dishwashers covered with nasty calcium deposits and dishes and silverware that never get clean? Tired of build-up that increases the amount of soap you need to wash cloths or even take a shower and still not feel clean! Tired of paying for and carrying heavy bags of salt for your water softener? Well, here is the answer - Water Zone - The electronic answer to the build-up and deposit of minerals in you water system! Very simply, most water supply from well water or municipal sources has water loaded with minerals that are "sticky". Minerals that stick to every pipe, every dish, your water heater and even your skin. Our Water Zone "Electronic Water softener" treats your water so the water particles become "slippery" and do not stick! The mineral content of your water is exactly the same - no change what so ever except, the molecule is now "slippery" and doesn't get deposited but flows on thru! Includes 110 volt plug in "trickle" unit! Can be uses on PVC, Copper or galvanized pipes!

Don't load your system up with sodium from traditional water softeners, use our "Green" Water Zone and keep the environment clean and safe. Uses just a trickle of electricity. Unit is super easy to install, no pipes to cut, comes with full instructions - Your water can be on it's way to cleaner use within 15 - 20 minutes - Water Zone will increase you water heaters efficiency and comes with a 100% money back guarantee, if you are not satisfied "For Any Reason" - Just return for a full refund less the shipping charge.

**TRY THIS UNIT FOR 90 DAYS - IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED JUST RETURN IT IN THE CONDITION RECEIVED WITHIN 1 YEAR FOR A FULL REFUND LESS SHIPPING*UNIT IS WARRANTEED FOR 10 YEARS*

If you have rusty/brown stains which look like this type and build-up around your basin or toilet bowl Water Zone will also help in this area. If your stains are coming from rusty pipes or the mineral content in your water Water Zone will reduce this by 75% - 90% possibly more! If you are cleaning these stains every week Water Zone will reduce your cleaning to once every four - six weeks and maybe even longer! Give us a try - If you try Water Zone for three months and aren’t satisfied and your unit isn’t damaged, just unhook it and return for a full refund less shipping.


Here's a link to the ad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/WATER-ZONE-Elect...QQcmdZViewItem

I think this may be your answer!

[mollymae]

I think adding salt softens water.

[Samual]

Look inside your kettle, if it is a hard water area, don't remove the minerals! The minerals are what is good for you, it's proven that those living in hard water area have a far decreased risk or heart disease and generally have better health. Hard water is exactly the same as mineral water you buy in bottles.

[DK615617]

Originally Posted by Samual

Look inside your kettle, if it is a hard water area, don't remove the minerals! The minerals are what is good for you, it's proven that those living in hard water area have a far decreased risk or heart disease and generally have better health. Hard water is exactly the same as mineral water you buy in bottles.

That is so true, but won't help her with her diapers!!!

I wonder if there is something that could be put on where the water enters the washer.......

We have well water, and when we got the house, the people before us had just spent $9000 dollars on a system to purify and soften the water. (And to remove the sulfer smell...Yuck) Luckily it works great. No smell, clean water. Although 3 years in the water softener busted.......so we had to replace it and it was $1200 dollars. But I don't think that is something that you could use at an apartment.

Good luck to you!!!!

[MommaColleen]

We have hard water too and have an electronic softener system. We have to put salt (the big pebble sized kind) into the machine every couple of months but beyond that we really don't have to do anything.

[KR258]

I know there are things like Calgon but I don't think its good for the enviornment because it has a high amount of phosphate....Has anyone used Sal Soda? I don't even know where to find it or what it really is...I am confused about it. I think its similar to baking soda but not really the same...so could I just use baking soda?