3 Tips For Doing Your Laundry After Installing A Water Softener
Hard water can take a toll on your home. Not only does hard water leave behind a film on the surfaces it comes into contact with, but hard water can also reduce the life of your water-using fixtures. Installing a water softener will eliminate the minerals that make hard water destructive. If you are considering a water softener, it's important to understand how your laundry routine will need to change once installation is complete.
Here are three tips you can use to more successfully do your laundry after you have a water softener installed.
1. Cut back on your detergent use.
Adding detergent to your washing machine is a great way to ensure your clothes are clean and fresh. While you might be used to adding a certain amount of detergent to your washer, it's important to recognize that you will need to cut back on your detergent use once you start using soft water to clean your clothes.
Your detergent will be able to work more efficiently in soft water because it can lather properly. Using too much detergent after making the switch to soft water could cause your machine to flood, so remembering to limit detergent use will help you avoid disaster.
2. Don't add extra salt.
Many homeowners add a pinch of salt to their washing machine to prevent colors from bleeding during the wash cycle. While this can be a great practice when you are washing your clothes in hard water, you can forego the addition of extra salt after making the switch to soft water.
A water softener relies on salt to function properly, so the water filtered through your new water softener will already contain the additional salt needed to keep your colorful clothes vibrant.
3. Reduce your water temperature.
While you might be used to washing your clothing in hot water in order to get garments as clean as possible, you can reduce your water temperature once a water softener has been installed.
Hard water minerals can adhere to the surface of your clothing during the wash cycle, and these deposits are more easily washed away in hot water. Since a water softener eliminates mineral buildup, you don't need to additional heat to help your clothing feel clean.
The addition of a water softener to your home can be beneficial. Be sure that your laundry habits help you optimize your new soft water's benefits by using less detergent, relying on the salt in the water to keep colors vibrant, and reducing the temperature of your wash water. For more information about water softener installation, talk to a company like Anderson Water Systems.