Facts on Hard and Soft Water and How It Affects Laundry

I much prefer eco-friendly laundry detergent and cleaning products, particularly those made for people sensitive skin. Many people think tough chemicals are necessary to get the cleaning done, but that isn’t the case. In fact, natural-based cleaning products actually clean better. However, there are other factors at play that you should be aware of that influence how you get your laundry done. Water type is very important, so here’s a rundown.

Hard Water

Hard water is water with a high mineral content. Hard water makes certain cleaning agents not so effective and reacts negatively with laundry soap, forming a grey soap scum that gets left on your clothes. Additionally, it can lead to clogged pipes. The minerals in the hard water will get left behind in the washer, leading to laundry that fades quickly and has a shortened life span. Because hard water makes laundry detergent less effective, you must use more detergent to get the same results.

Soft Water

On the other hand, soft water does not contain hardness minerals to interfere with getting your laundry clean. It will wash away the dirt and keep your clothes softer for longer. Not only is soft water better for your laundry, it’s also better for your hair and skin as it leaves behind no soap scum. The problem with soft water is making sure you use the right dosage of detergent so it rinses out completely. Start with a low dosage and then build up from there.

Rockin’ Green makes different formulas of laundry detergent for different water types – so there is something for everyone!

• Classic Rock – this is the original formula, and is great for those with moderate hard water, or just those that are battling with stinkies. Comes in unscented and scented varieties.
• Hard Rock – This formula is designed for the most troubling of water types.

All Rockin’ Green formulas are designed with the same great ingredients, and work for all water types. Most people do great with the Classic formula, so when in doubt start off with that formula.

We recommend:

• 60 ppm should use soft rock.
• <250 ppm should use classic rock.
• And anything more than that should use hard rock.