The impact of hard water on your washing and your washing machine
The excess minerals present in hard water can create many problems around the home. The calcium and magnesium minerals present can be a big problem for your washing and your washing machine.
How does hard water impact your washing?
One of the problems associated with hard water is its effect on your washing. You may not realise it but your clothes may not be as clean as you believe when using hard water. No matter what detergent you use or washing cycle, hard water can affect the quality of your washing.
After all, when we wash our clothes, we expect them to come out of the machine clean and refreshed. Sadly, when washing with hard water, this is not the case. There are many different effects that hard water can have on your washing. Let’s cover them in more detail.
Stiff fabrics
One problem you may experience when washing your clothes using hard water is that the fabric can appear stiff. This is one of the most noticeable signs of hard water, especially when you wear the clothing. Clothes can feel rough on the skin or uncomfortable.
But why does washing with hard water cause the fabric to stiffen? That’s because the mineral deposits from hard water bind with the detergent to create a residue that sticks to the fabric fibres. This residue is difficult to remove and causes fabrics to lose their softness.
Increased detergent usage
Another issue that can happen when washing with hard water is increased detergent usage. To achieve the same cleaning effect, you will require more detergent than soft water. While not a direct problem with your washing, it will increase the amount you spend on detergent.
However, it’s important to ensure your detergent usage is in line with the recommended amount to avoid damaging your clothing. Too much detergent can result in faded colouring or light patches. In some cases, it can also lead to bad odours and stiff fabrics.
The recommended amount of detergent will depend on the washing machine size and the type of detergent used, e.g. liquid or powder. For areas with hard and very hard water supplies, 30% more detergent may be required to achieve a satisfactory wash.
Off colour whites
Another problem you may experience with white washing in hard water areas is dull or dingy colouring. After washing with hard water, your stunning white fabrics may lose their vibrancy. This is because the hard water minerals cling to the fabrics when heated.
The result is a thin crusty layer that forms on the fabrics of your white washing. This layer is what causes the colour to look off or dingy. Over time, the effects of the discolouration will become more apparent.
Fibre weakening and colour loss
Another problem that can happen when washing your clothes with hard water is weakening of the fibres. In fact, one of the biggest reasons why clothing wears out so quickly is due to hard water minerals.
Over time, exposure to the hard water minerals causes the fabric fibres to weaken. As a result, your clothes are much more likely to rip, tear, or damage. The weakened fibres also cause the colour of clothing to fade or appear washed out.
The colour loss happens during the rinse cycle. The hard water minerals react with the fabric dyes resulting in the colour leeching out from fabrics. However, this happens gradually over a long period and may not be noticed for some time.
How does hard water impact your washing machine?
Now that we’ve covered how washing with hard water affects you, let’s explore how hard water can impact your washing machines. Just like how hard water minerals affect your washing in several ways, the minerals in hard water can also affect washing machines in several ways:
Scale build-up
Most of the issues that hard water minerals cause are hidden, meaning you won’t know about them until it’s too late. The first of these hidden issues is scale build-up. You may think a nice shiny washing machine drum means a clean washing machine.
This is far from the truth. Scale build-up happens inside the machine where you can’t see it, such as the heating element. That’s because when hard water is heated, the minerals solidify to the nearest hard surface. Over time, the scale gets thicker and thicker causing the machine to work less efficiently.
Here is an example of how scale can build up inside pipes:
Blockages
Another part of the washing machine that is impacted by hard water is the gasket and funnels. Scale can also build up inside these parts causing damage or machine inefficiencies. As a result, the machine can malfunction or over-dry your clothes.
Increased maintenance
Another issue that hard water build-up can cause inside your washing machine is the increased need for maintenance and part repair. As mentioned above, scale build-up inside the machine causes parts to wear out much quicker or break. As a result, machines will require much more maintenance to keep the machine operating.
Decreased lifespan
Washing machines that use hard water are also more likely to experience a much shorter lifespan than when using soft or conditioned water. The damage and build-up of scale means that washing machines need to work much harder to achieve the set washing cycle.
The same is also true as piping and the drum become blocked with scale build-up. Gradually, the excess strain of the machine can cause it to break down beyond repair. As a result, you will find it is necessary to replace your washing machine much sooner.
Increased costs
With the increased maintenance, part replacement, and short lifespan, your bank account will also feel the impact of hard water on your washing machine. The increased expense of maintaining and replacing washing machines can soon add up.
What can you do about hard water's impact?
If you have noticed any of the above impacts on your washing or washing machine, it may be time to act. Fortunately, there is an easy and cost-effective solution to allow you to benefit from cleaner washing and improved washing machine efficiency and lifespan.
The solution is an
electronic water descaler. This is a small device that is fitted near your main water inlet to affect the form of calcium carbonate (this is what causes scale build-up).
This is achieved by emitting an electromagnetic field through the water pipe using small coils of wire. The device adjusts the frequency of the field to work effectively at reforming the calcium carbonate crystals. This field is harmless to humans and does not chemically change the water.
There are many benefits to opting for a water descaler, including:
- - Reduce scum residue on water outlets.
- - Prevents scum build-up inside appliances.
- - No maintenance or refilling is required.
- - Do not use chemicals or salt in the water.
- - Saves costs of heating and detergent expenses.
- - Easy to install and is a low-cost solution.
Have you spotted any of the effects of hard water on your washing and washing machine? If you have, now is the perfect time to act and prevent further damage and expenses to your clothing and appliances. By opting for a water descaler, you can benefit from a cost-effective solution that gets to work straight away with little ongoing maintenance.