Every water source contains one of two different types of water: hard or soft. Hard water is water that contains a high amount of minerals, the most common being calcium, manganese and magnesium. Hard water is converted to soft water through ion exchange, where the sodium ions introduced into the water latch on to the minerals, forming a residue that can be easily extracted. Soft water is cleaner and more economical to use than hard waster. Testing for soft water in a house is simple and easy.

The Shower Test

Testing for soft water is as easy as, well, taking a shower. Because of hard water's high mineral content, when it is converted to steam, it can cause white lime scales to stain many surfaces. Translucent glass shower doors become fogged up with this residue through hard water usage. White lime scale stains can also be found on faucets, shower handles or shower heads. These stains, which can be very difficult to remove, should not be left to accumulate. Systems using soft water will not have this problem. Aside from normal condensation, showers should be fairly clean.

The Soap Test

Another easy way to test for soft water is to see whether water allows soap to lather. Soft water, because of its purity, does not react with soap as much as mineral-rich hard water. As a result, it is able to dissolve a higher quantity of soap for better lathering. On the other hand, when hard water reacts with soap, it dissolves less and creates soap scum or flaky soap residue.

The Washing Detergent

A fun way to test for soft water involves liquid detergent and a closed container. Pour half a cup of water into the container with about a few drops of liquid detergent. Shake well. If the water quickly turns into a foamy soapy liquid, the water is pure and soft. If the water turns into a milky curd or a soap film, the detergent has reacted with the minerals in the water. This is a tell-tale sign of hard water.

Scientific Testing

Certified water-testing laboratories perform scientific tests to determine whether water is either hard or soft. These laboratories measure the mineral content in water against benchmarks. Each U.S. state has at least two laboratories certified for water testing.

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The Hard Facts on Soft Water

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