I'm Aiden with Upright Water Co. in Weatherford. Customers ask me why their soap won't lather and why the shower glass gets cloudy. The answer is usually hard water.
Why hard water fights soap
Hard water carries calcium and magnesium. Traditional soap reacts with those minerals and forms soap scum, the film on tubs, glass and your skin. You use more soap and get less lather.
What tends to work better
- Synthetic detergent ("syndet") bars and body washes. These cleansers react less with minerals than traditional soap.
- Liquid soaps and body washes generally rinse cleaner than traditional bars.
- Dish and laundry detergents labeled for hard water, and rinse aids in the dishwasher.
- A clarifying shampoo used occasionally to remove mineral buildup.
Check the label. Look for "syndet," "soap-free" or "for hard water."
What doesn't fix it
More soap and hotter water just make more scum.
The long-term fix
A water softener removes hardness minerals before they reach the shower. See our whole-home softener and carbon system. For drinking water, see filtration and reverse osmosis. Questions? Call (817) 857-8218 (8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Sunday).