What is hard water and how to soften it
Miscellaneous / / September 13, 2021
In some cases, regular baking soda will help.
What is hard water
Hard waterHardness of Water / U.S. Geological Survey Is water with a high content of mineral salts, mainly calcium and magnesium.
Mineral salts are found in any liquid from natural sources, only in different proportionsSoft and hard water / FBUZ "Center for hygienic education of the population" Rospotrebnadzor. So, there are a lot of salts in underground waters, so the water is usually harder. And rain moisture or that obtained from melted snow is very mild, since it practically does not contain calcium and magnesium compounds.
In the Russian Federation, the content of mineral salts in water is measured in the so-called degrees of hardness (° F), they are equal to 1 mg-eq / l. Based on this, Rospotrebnadzor classifies water as follows:
- up to 2 ° W - soft;
- 2–10 ° W - medium hardness;
- more than 10 ° F - hard.
Should I soften hard water
Hard water is not harmfulHardness of Water / U.S. Geological Survey for health. On the contrary: the minerals dissolved in it are necessary for the body. And according to some reports
Is hard water dangerous to drink? / Office for Science and Society. McGill University, drinking hard water even protects against diseases, such as various types of cancer, as well as atherosclerosis in children and adolescents.The assumption that mineral salts can accumulate in the kidneys and lead to the formation of stones has been tested. But no convincing scientific confirmation was found.
Doctors recommend water with a high degree of mineralizationIs hard water dangerous to drink? / Office for Science and Society. McGill University drink for people with type II diabetes (those often lack magnesium) and those who suffer from chronic constipation, since magnesium has a laxative effect. In addition, it may be useful for cooking vegetables. One study foundB. S. A. Haring, W. Van Delft B.Sc. Changes in the Mineral Composition of Food as a Result of Cooking in “Hard” and “Soft” Waters / Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal , that in this case, the concentration of calcium in the fruits increases, although usually cooking gives the opposite effect.
However, hard water also has unpleasant side effects. So, it's more difficult in itHardness of Water / U.S. Geological Survey something to wash or wash your hands. After all, first, the detergent reacts with mineral salts, precipitates them, and only then begins to perform its functions.
In addition, when heated, calcium salts precipitate. Because of this, hard water causes limescale to build up inside kettles, coffee makers and steam irons, boilers and washing machines. Water pipes are also clogged with solids.
How to understand that water is hard
Water hardness is most reliably measured with a variety of instruments, such as a salt meter or test strips. How to do this, we wrote in detail here.
But hard water can be recognized by eye, by indirect signs. Here is some of them:
- The soap foams slightly when soaped.
- Clothes do not wash well and become hard after drying.
- Limescale regularly appears on the walls of the kettle and other heating devices in contact with water.
- You observe a film on the surface of cooled coffee or tea.
- On chrome-plated kitchen surfaces - taps, sinks, sinks - water leaves distinct whitish marks.
Such features allow us to confidently assume that there are a lot of mineral salts in the water.
How to make water softer
There are many ways to remove excess mineral salts. Which one to choose depends on how much and why you need softened water. Note that some of the techniques are interchangeable.
For drinking
To reiterate: from the point of view of evidence-based medicine, drinking hard water is not harmful. However, the abundance of mineral salts can impart an unpleasant aftertaste to liquids. If he confuses you, a household filter in the form of a jug will help.
Such devices purify water from impurities mechanically: moisture passes through the filter element, on which mineral salts settle. From time to time (the regularity is indicated in the instructions) it must be changed.
Water purified in this way can be consumed raw - of course, if it was originally intended for drinking, and does not flow from the dubious purity of water pipes. And you can safely pour into a kettle or coffee maker, without fear that there will be plaque.
For small household appliances
Process water is necessary for the operation of an iron with a steamer or a steam mop. To prevent sediment from spoiling expensive equipment, manufacturers often recommend pouring only distilled water into devices.
If not, you can soften the tap liquid by boiling. When heated, mineral salts will settle to the bottom. Naturally, for such purposes it is better to use an old pot or kettle, which is not a pity.
Let the water cool. Then, being careful not to shake it, pour it into your iron or mop.
For large household appliances
To protect your washing machine or dishwasher from hard water, use special anti-scale products - you can buy them in the household chemicals department. Add such tablets or powder at each cycle of the technique in accordance with the instructions.
For hand wash
You can soften the water by adding 9% vinegar (1 tablespoon per liter), baking soda (½ teaspoon per liter) or citric acid (¼ teaspoon per liter) and stirring thoroughly.
For bathing and washing dishes
The problem of hard water from the tap can be solved by installing a special filter nozzle.
Such filters often perform several functions at once: for example, they remove rust and dirt particles, trap organic compounds, and destroy bacteria. When buying, be sure to make sure that the water softener function is also declared in the device.
For the whole house
For such global purposes, filter systems are used. They are installed on the main pipe through which water enters the house. Filtering systems can be different:
- ion exchange. Such devices remove calcium and magnesium ions from the incoming water - the main cause of scale, replacing them with harmless sodium or hydrogen ions;
- reverse osmosis filters. In them, the liquid passes through a special osmotic membrane, which allows only water molecules to pass through and retains larger molecules of mineral compounds;
- flowing. In these models, liquid is passed through several cleaning cartridges.
Each filter has its own nuances, so for the selection it is better to contact specialists who are professionally engaged in water purification and softening systems.
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