3 Water Softener Benefits That You've Been Missing

Jan 19
10:50

2012

Antoinette Ayana

Antoinette Ayana

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If you don't think a water softener and conditioning system is worth the price, then may not have learned about the benefits. There are three main ways your daily life can be improved.

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Investing in a water softener system has a variety of benefits that you will notice after just a few weeks of use. In the United States,3 Water Softener Benefits That You've Been Missing Articles it is estimated that over 80% of households use hard waters, which may be the main reason why not many people realize the improvements that are possible by switching. In fact, few people are probably even aware of how harsh the minerals can be. The feel of a conditioning system takes some time to get used to, but eventually you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Soap Scum

If you have to spend several hours scrubbing your shower door or have to buy special products to clean them off, you probably have excessive soap scum buildup due to the minerals. It can be so extreme that a dark ring is left around the tub. Scum develops when droplets hit a surface and then evaporates. The scum that is left behind is just the minerals. They can appear like streaks, splotches, or even an even scaling (depending on how the surface is struck) across a variety of materials. This "scum" is actually called lime scale. Soap particles, shampoo, and conditioner then stick to these areas causing the unsightly appearance. Water softeners cause less residues to be left behind, so any spotting is minimal and easily cleaned up. Soap isn't attracted to it like a magnet.

Lime scale

While soap scum may be more noticeable, a bigger concern is the lime scale that causes it. Lime scale is just another term for a white, chalk-like substance that forms due to calcium residue from hard waters. While generally harmless, it can build up on or inside surfaces after a period of time. Eventually the lime scale can clog faucets, drains, and other appliances, rendering them non-functioning in extreme cases, or at the very least causing decreased performance. To remove it, a lot of elbow grease is needed in addition to some heavy chemicals. Maintenance is important to help keep kettles, washing machines, and pipes all running properly.

Body Scum

As disgusting as it may sound, just like your shower walls can get scummy, so can your body and hair from the harsh minerals. People who first use water softeners will complain at first that they feel slimy or their hair feels overly greasy. It does take a bit more scrubbing to remove any cleaning substances because normally the lye in soap clings to body fats making it easier to rinse away. However, any slipperiness isn't because you're dirty. In fact, sometimes it may not even be residue that's left on your skin but rather the natural oils of your body. Hard waters strip these away, which over time can be as damaging to your skin as it would be any surface. After using a water softener system for a while you may soon discover that your skin and hair is better moisturized and you actually need to use less beauty products to get a shower-fresh glow.