Category Archives: Soft water

If you notice some hard water stains building up around your faucet after cleaning your granite countertops, it’s vital to know exactly how to get rid of these stains. Use our step-by-step guide below!

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water will be produced when water filters through deposits of chalk, gypsum, or limestone. This water can be high in calcium and magnesium, which can be problematic depending on the setting the water is used in.

The issues arise when the water causes boilers to malfunction in industrial settings or creates a soap formation. This can clog up shower or laundry valves inside your home.

How To Get Rid Of Hard Water Stains From Granite

How do you go about eliminating these pesky hard water stains from your granite countertop? Follow these steps.

Step 1. Clean The Granite Countertops

• It’s always suggested to clean your granite countertops on a regular basis.
• Most homeowners will wipe up spills immediately, but this can leave behind soap scum.
• For this reason, you will need to rinse the area to remove any soap scum that can dull the surface.
• You must dry the surface after wiping.
• Use a microfiber cloth to soak up all the water and avoid scratching the sealant.

Step 2. Use Stone Cleaner

• Choose to use a natural stone cleaner instead of mild dish soap and water.
• Not only will this specialized solvent keep the finish looking shiny and clean, it will also help preserve the sealant.
• This natural stone cleaner minimizes the risk of harm to the granite when applied.

Step 3. Treat Any Water Spots

• It’s crucial to address hard water stains as soon as you notice them.
• Doing so immediately can prevent buildup that leaves behind hard, scaly deposits.
• Simply apply a gentle cleanser to get rid of the stains early on.
• Natural stone cleaner or dish soap and water will work.
• Scrub the solution with a sponge or soft-bristled brush.
• Thoroughly dry the area.

Step 4. Create A Paste

• If the hard water stains have solidified into scales, it’s time to use something stronger.
• You can treat stubborn stains with a paste of baking soda and water.
• Apply this to the affected area and scrub it with a soft-bristled brush.
• Rinse the area with water, then dry it completely.

Step 5. Try A Poultice

• Poultices can refer to any pasty or moist application that’s designed to extract something from a surface.
• You can either purchase granite poultice products or make your own at home.
• You can make this paste using baking soda and water.
• Apply the paste to the affected area, cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 24 hours.
• Wipe the poultice away and reapply, if needed.

Step 6. Use A Razor Blade As The Last Resort

• The use of a razor blade should always be the last resort when attacking hard water stains.
• Always be mindful not to cut into the sealant.
• When carefully scraping away at the mineral deposits, you can get rid of them without causing damage to the granite countertop.

Step 7. Seal Regularly

• While maintaining the sealant on the granite won’t stop hard water stains, it will help protect the granite from any long-term damage.
• This damage can be caused by mineral deposits that linger.
• Seal your surface regularly.

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At Salt Works we strive to meet the salt delivery needs for the entire Phoenix valley. Proudly serving the great state of Arizona for over 20 years, Salt Works has become a leading provider for salt and water treatment needs by earning the trust of our valued customers. We promise to build on our strong foundation and reputation through exceptional customer service and quality of our products. Contact us today!

Using occasional soft water on your plants is okay as long as the plants get plenty of rainwater. A plethora of soft water is not recommended, however. Let’s take a look at soft water and how it impacts plant growth.

What Is Soft Water?

Fist off, it is important to distinguish between softened water and soft water. Naturally soft water, deionized or reverse osmosis water, needs minerals, the universal solvent. Softened water, where ion exchange replaces hardness mineral ions with ions that are more soluble, will not be aggressively corrosive.

It’s also important to understand soft water is not the same as pure water. The TDS (total dissolved solids) of zero soft water is nearly the same as the unsoftened original supply.

Is Soft Water Bad For Your Plants?

If your plants receive a regular dose of rainwater, then some occasional soft water will not hurt. However, watering plants excessively with soft water is not recommended. The majority of water softeners will use sodium chloride, which can cause a gradual buildup of sodium in garden soil.

The use of soft water has the potential to cause plant growth issues. Instead of using soft water, use hard water or reverse osmosis for watering your plants.

Growing Plants With Reverse Osmosis Water

A reverse osmosis filter can greatly reduce contaminants overall. This is quite a popular choice for gardeners with a lot of plant diversity. The primary benefit is creating clean and consistent water. This means you can easily control the nutrients and fertilizer you add.

Gardeners with bacteria, chlorine, or iron problems appreciate the benefits of using reverse osmosis water. Additionally, the pH of reverse osmosis water can be changed easily. So plants with specific acid or alkaline requirements can benefit from the versatility of this water.

Conclusion

Overall, it is okay to use soft water on your plants, but this will not provide any benefits to your garden. Soft water should only be used occasionally on outdoor plants that receive natural rainwater. Otherwise, it’s recommended to use normal tap water for your indoor plants.

Reverse osmosis is considered the best water for serious gardeners. It allows precise control of the nutrient flow directly to your plants. Use this water if you take care of delicate plant life.

Salt Works USA In Arizona

At Salt Works we strive to meet the salt delivery needs for the entire Phoenix valley. Proudly serving the great state of Arizona for over 20 years, Salt Works has become a leading provider for salt and water treatment needs by earning the trust of our valued customers. We promise to build on our strong foundation and reputation through exceptional customer service and quality of our products. Contact us today!

There are several benefits to using a water softening system, but many will wonder if it is safe to drink softened water. The answer is, yes, soft water is safe to drink for the majority of healthy adults.

What Is Soft Water?

Fist off, it is important to distinguish between softened water and soft water. Naturally soft water, deionized or reverse osmosis water, needs minerals, the universal solvent. Softened water, where ion exchange replaces hardness mineral ions with ions that are more soluble, will not be aggressively corrosive.

It’s also important to understand soft water is not the same as pure water. The TDS (total dissolved solids) of zero soft water is nearly the same as the unsoftened original supply.

Is It Safe To Drink Softened Water?

Softened water is considered safe to drink for most healthy adults because it features a minimal amount of added sodium. Plus, the minerals removed are found much more plentiful in a lot of common foods.

However, there are a few important things to consider when it comes to the safety of soft water. For instance, if you have been medically advised to follow a low-sodium diet because of a health concern, drinking soft water could have a negative impact on your overall health. Always speak to your doctor to see if softened water is safe for you to drink.

How Much Sodium Does Softened Water Contain?

The good news is softened water does have a very low sodium content. Even if your water is hard, the amount of sodium that replaces the hardness ions will not be dangerous.

On average, an 8oz glass of softened water contributes to about 1% of your daily sodium intake.

How To Soften Water

Some benefits of soft water include improved lathering, efficient cleaning, and reduced scale buildup. Here are a few ways homeowners can soften their water naturally.

Boil And Cool

Boil the hard water for at least 1-2 minutes to improve its taste. Of course, let the water cool before drinking it. While boiling and cooling the water won’t eliminate minerals, it will improve the overall taste.

Treat With Vinegar

You can soften your clothes during the rinse cycle by adding a cup of vinegar to the wash. For limescale buildup, try soaking faucets and showerheads overnight. This will dissolve minerals and leave the areas sparkling clean.

Use Baking Soda

The use of baking soda can minimize hard water’s impact on laundry. Simply do this by adding half a cup to your washing machine along with your normal detergent.

Add Citrus Fruits

You can also use lemon juice to combat limescale with a pleasant scent. Rub this onto fixtures and faucets, then rinse with water.

Install Water Softener

Water softeners utilize ion exchange to combat hard water. Resin beads within this softener will swap out both calcium and magnesium for sodium. This ultimately reduces the hardness of the water. Use this approach when attempting to prevent limescale buildup and improve soap effectiveness.

Distillation

Distillation involves boiling water to create steam that is then condensed back into liquid form in a separate chamber. This removes unwanted contaminants and minerals from your drinking water. However, this process is not very efficient and requires lots of heat to begin and maintain the boiling phase.

Salt Works USA In Arizona

At Salt Works we strive to meet the salt delivery needs for the entire Phoenix valley. Proudly serving the great state of Arizona for over 20 years, Salt Works has become a leading provider for salt and water treatment needs by earning the trust of our valued customers. We promise to build on our strong foundation and reputation through exceptional customer service and quality of our products. Contact us today!

If you notice your skin feeling slippery or slimy after a shower or the dishes are slipping out of your hands from the dishwasher, it may be because your water is simply too soft. Use our tips below to fix this issue at home.

What Is Soft Water?

Fist off, it is important to distinguish between softened water and soft water. Naturally soft water, deionized or reverse osmosis water, needs minerals, the universal solvent. Softened water, where ion exchange replaces hardness mineral ions with ions that are more soluble, will not be aggressively corrosive.

It’s also important to understand soft water is not the same as pure water. The TDS (total dissolved solids) of zero soft water is nearly the same as the unsoftened original supply.

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water will be produced when water filters through deposits of chalk, gypsum, or limestone. This water can be high in calcium and magnesium, which can be problematic depending on the setting the water is used in.

The issues arise when the water causes boilers to malfunction in industrial settings or creates a soap formation. This can clog up shower or laundry valves inside your home.

What Causes Water To Be Too Soft?

After installation of a water softener, some homeowners may find that the water is too soft overall. Typically, this is the result of one of the following issues.

Using Too Much Soap

One of the many advantages of a water softener is that you can use less soap than normal and still get an efficient cleaning. When you have a water softener installed at home, you can often use only half the amount of soap or shampoo that you used prior to installation.

Incorrect Hardness Settings

It’s quite possible that the water softener default setting is much too high for your family. This could result in excessive sodium in the water after the regeneration which causes slipperiness. Be sure to have your settings checked to see if you are getting optimal programming for your water softener.

Salt Works USA In Arizona

At Salt Works we strive to meet the salt delivery needs for the entire Phoenix valley. Proudly serving the great state of Arizona for over 20 years, Salt Works has become a leading provider for salt and water treatment needs by earning the trust of our valued customers. We promise to build on our strong foundation and reputation through exceptional customer service and quality of our products. Contact us today!