The water running in our homes could either be hard or soft. If you’re learning about these types of water for the first time, soft water basically has higher concentrations of salt or sodium rather than magnesium and calcium, both of which hard water has high levels of.
With less of the minerals magnesium and calcium, soap scum wouldn’t form on your showerheads and faucet nozzles, allowing them to maintain their shine. You may also save money on shampoos and soaps, because soft water produces a better lather, prompting you to use less of those products. But when it comes to our health, does soft water have benefits, too?
Let’s see if a water softener is really worth the investment.
What Makes Soft Water Different?
Other than leaving your showerheads, faucet nozzles, and other appliances free from mineral buildup, soft water will also make your clothes cleaner and less susceptible to wear and tear damage. That’s because there would be no mineral stains that degrade the fabric’s quality.
The water pressure will be healthier, too, because your pipes won’t be plagued by mineral deposits generated by hard water, which decreases water pressure and possibly block the pipes. You may also notice a slight sodium taste in soft water, but it is imperceptible in many cases.
How Safe It is For Drinking?
Soft water is generally safe for drinking just like hard water. However, if you’re suffering from high blood pressure or other health conditions that require you to reduce your sodium intake, soft water may not be for you. But otherwise, if your overall health is good and your diet is already rich in calcium and magnesium, then drinking soft water shouldn’t be risky for your health.
Just remember to consume the recommended amount of daily water intake, because if you’re not hydrated enough, then your health won’t benefit as much, regardless if you’re drinking only hard water or soft water.
Effects of Soft Water on Skin
If you’re suffering from skin issues like persistent acne or eczema, and nothing you use ever improves your condition, then it’s possibly the hard water’s fault.
Apart from calcium and magnesium, hard water also contains copper and other metals that act as free radicals upon contact with your skin. This means that despite your efforts to improve your complexion, if you’re using hard water, then you’re just introducing new issues to your skin.
According to Ming Zhao, co-founder and CEO of Proven Skincare, the mineral deposits disrupt the function of the skin’s outer layer, causing irritation and inflammation. This can aggravate chronic inflammatory conditions or worsen existing inflammations on the skin. In layman’s terms, hard water compromises the skin’s natural barrier, making it vulnerable to problems such as severe dryness or breakouts.
If you use soft water, on the other hand, your skin won’t be subject to minerals and free radicals, making it smoother and less dry. However, soft water may leave a slippery feeling on your skin, which you may mistake for soap or cleanser residue. Remember not to over-rinse when you feel this because that will cause dryness to your skin, too, reducing the moisturizing benefit of soft water.
Instead, just use a gentle cleanser, because its residue is easier to detect, enabling you to determine whether the slippery feeling on your skin is the leftover product or just the water.
Considering all of these facts about soft water, we can assume that though it isn’t drastically different from hard water, it’s still far more beneficial, particularly if you want to preserve the quality of your clothes, appliances, and plumbing fixtures, and if you’re looking to improve your skin. Simply put, water softening is a worthy investment if it will satisfy your goals.
