Whether or not you suffer from sensitive skin, we can all the tell the difference between fresh fluffy, new towels and the hard, old scratchy ones that live at the back of the cupboard.
Those hard, old towels were once young and soft too, so why is it they lose their softness with age? Many people assume it’s simple wear and tear, but the truth lies in the washing process.
Washing in hard water areas significantly decreases the life of your laundry and it’s not just your towels that are affected. Everything, including your clothes and bed linen are all subjected to that dull, starchy feeling when continually washed using hard water.
Too much of a good thing
The reason is an over use of detergent, which is necessary in hard water areas, due to the soap reacting with the compounds in the water. Trace elements of calcium and magnesium found in hard water prevents soap from lathering up sufficiently in smaller quantities to achieve a good clean.
Naturally we counteract this by using more detergent, which in turn leads to a sticky, starchy residue being left on our fabrics and contributing that that itchy, scratchy feeling many of us experience with ‘over washed’ linen.
A simple solution to a sticky problem
Softened water requires a lot less detergent to achieve the same results. By installing a water softener, which removes the ‘hard’ elements from your water as it enters your home, you can significantly increase the life of your fabrics and use up to 50% less detergent!
Fabrics washed in soft water are free from this starchy, aging residue and so retain their softness. It’s not just your fabrics that last longer, the life of you washing machine is also extended as components don’t get clogged with limescale. This result is that you save money; on the cost of detergent, the cost of upgrading and replacing regularly washed items and also on the cost of repairing your washing machine.
To discuss how this small change can have a big impact on you and your home, talk to us on 01202 983858.