For households with well water, contact a testing service to analyze your water for minerals and other contaminants.
Use these tips to fix some of the common laundry problems sparked by hard water.
Add more laundry detergent.
Credit: Laura Moss
Laundry, the in-house scientist and cleaning expert for Clorox.
Use a high-quality detergent.
Another option is to choose a detergent that will work harder in hard water.
Credit: Jay Wilde
In general, liquid detergents will be more effective than powdered versions if you have hard water.
Wash laundry in warmer water.
Consider choosing a warmer wash cycle to help combat the effects of hard water in your laundry.
Check care labels carefully before selecting a warm or hot cycle.
Install a water softener.
Hard water can cause household issues that reach far beyond thelaundry room.
Consider installing awater softening systemto remove hardness and scale from the water that comes out ofall your faucetsand fixtures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
Adding a half cup of baking soda to your laundry can help prevent mineral buildup on your clothing.
Castile soapis best for lathering and rinsing with hard water.
Liquid detergents are recommended.
The ingredients in liquid detergent will leave less residue behind than powder detergents would.
Plus, they are less likely to react with hard water minerals.
Drinking Water and Wastewater Laboratory web link.
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
