Hard Water...What to do?

[Crag]

I may not be posting this the right forum so move it if necessary, but my question is...

I have super hard water, and I'm having a hard time creating a good lather with anything but Spiek cream. I have read that it is very hard to create sufficient lather when hard water conditions exist...so what do I do short of using bottled water or buying a water softener?

Any suggestions are welcome~

Matt

[Padron]

Dang Matt,

That sucks...I have moderately hard water too ( 8 grains per gallon ), but I am still able to get decent lather....I think you answered your own question, either use bottle water or buy a water softner.

I have to use bottled water for our espresso machine as the heat inside would cause rapid scale buildup :( and perhaps failure....

I have been looking at a 32K Water softner unit, not cheap ( $500 - $700 ) especially with the installation fees ( $300-$400 ), which may prompt me to do it myself...only thing thats stopping me is a finished ceiling and walls in my basement...and I hate to start cutting holes, but I guess they will have to cut them anyways.....

Good Luck :)


EDIT: There are units that are available for your shower, they attatch to the shower head supply line, that may be an option if you wish to shave in the shower......

[qhsdoitall]

I have a really stupid question. What would happen if you added a couple of drops of liquid laundry softener to your shave water? I can say from experience though that a whole house water softener pays for itself by keeping your pipes cleaner, less detergent, less cleanup of lime and scale deposits and less appliance failure or cleaning.

[Crag]

I have a really stupid question. What would happen if you added a couple of drops of liquid laundry softener to your shave water? I can say from experience though that a whole house water softener pays for itself by keeping your pipes cleaner, less detergent, less cleanup of lime and scale deposits and less appliance failure or cleaning.

I dunno! I think it's worth a try tho. I wonder why the Spiek is the only cream that lathers so well? I think I'm leaning toward the water softener. It won't be a selfish expenditure, and at just over 1 a $1K, it would be a nice home improvement. I think it speeds up showers and things, too. And the one I saw last night at Home Depot comes with a years supply of Tide Detergent.

[Issy]

I have a really stupid question. What would happen if you added a couple of drops of liquid laundry softener to your shave water? I can say from experience though that a whole house water softener pays for itself by keeping your pipes cleaner, less detergent, less cleanup of lime and scale deposits and less appliance failure or cleaning.
a pinch of borax will help lather in hard water

Issy

[qhsdoitall]

a pinch of borax will help lather in hard water

Issy

Now we're getting somewhere. :cool: