Congratulations! You got a water softener! Goodbye, water spots. So long, soap scum. But do you really know what you’re in for? Softened water is dramatically different than hard water. And if you’ve never had soft water before, you need to know how to use it.

Save on Soap

Soap loves soft water. You’ll see it lather and bubble more than before, which means you need to adjust your soap usage. Hard water has dissolved minerals in it like calcium and magnesium that interfere with soap’s ability to clean and make you to use more of it. But now the tide has turned…you’ve got a water softener!

Your new system is removing those “hard” minerals in your water, allowing your water to work with the soap (not against it!) to clean your dishes, laundry, and hair. If you’re still using the same amount of soap that you needed with hard water, you’re using double what you really need. With soft water, it’s best to cut the amount of detergent and shampoo you use in half. Your soap and water are more efficient now, so why not save on soap costs?

Clean Rinsing

You might notice that your skin feels “slippery” with your soft water. This is what it’s like to be truly clean and rinsed! Your new softener removes dissolved minerals in your water, so soap no longer reacts with them to leave scum or residue around your tub or on your body. That leftover layer of soap that couldn’t wash off before is finally gone. What you’re feeling is really rinsed skin.

You’ll also notice better rinsing beyond the bathroom. Just reduce the amount of soap you used with hard water, and you’ll see cleaner rinse cycles with your dishwasher and laundry machine, too! Softened water is better all throughout your home, and even helps protect your appliances. With the hard minerals gone from your water, soap is more effective, water does a better job of rinsing, and you’re left with a complete clean.