The blue crystals in OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover are made of water softener molecules which help your detergent work better.
Tough bathroom stains don't stand a chance against OxiClean™ stain fighters that power through grime and stains on all kinds of surfaces. Say goodbye to soap scum, hard water build-up, calcium, lime stains, grease and gunk. OxiClean™ Bathroom Cleaner does the hard work for you.
Those with very soft water should proceed with caution when adding wash additives such as Oxiclean or Biz, as they often contain some amount of water softener as a “booster.” If you have a very suds sensitive machine, laundry additives can make the problem worse.
Borax, ammonia, trisodium phosphate, and washing soda (sodium carbonate) are some of the additives used to soften hard water for laundry on a small scale. Homemade hard water softeners – such as vinegar – are also sometimes used as the hard water laundry solution.
How to Get Rid of Hard Water. A home water softener is the most efficient way to remove the minerals that make your water hard. Affordable water softening systems are available from a variety of retailers with capacities to fit your home's water usage and hardness.
Boil the Water
The simplest method of softening hard water is by boiling it. When you boil water, the salts precipitate leaving clean, soft water.
Hard water can be softened by adding sodium carbonate (washing soda) or by passing the water through an ion-exchange column.
You can also add 1/2 cup laundry borax to each load. Borax provides water softening by producing a soluble calcium complex (forming a chelate with the minerals so that they are no longer available for reactions) and boosts surfactant performance by preventing precipitation of a calcium/surfactant complex.
Add Baking Soda to Water
A temporary fix, but one that works. In a bathtub, add around ½ cup of baking soda. Although baking soda cannot soften the water fully, it, being alkaline, changes the pH of hard water to make it more suitable for skin and hair.
The process of removing the dissolved magnesium and calcium salts causing hardness in water is called softening. For softening, chemicals such as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), slaked lime (Ca(OH)2), etc can be used. Also, sodium chloride (NaCl) can be used to soften hard water.
A: OxiClean is a detergent itself and would not need to be mixed or added with other detergents.
OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover should not be mixed with Chlorine bleach or household chemicals other than in the wash with your regular laundry detergent.
Mix 1 scoop (2 tablespoons) with 1 pint of warm to hot water. Mix or shake thoroughly. Product will remain active for six hours. Mix 1-4 scoops of OxiClean per gallon of hot water.
Don't use OxiClean on wool, silk, or other off-limits fabrics.
SOAK 1-6 hours depending on severity of stain, some stains may require more time to soak. For best results, soak for 6 hours. WASH as normal with detergent and OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover. Tackle other tough food and drink stains, such as coffee or berries, with OxiClean™.
If you're DIYing a laundry detergent and you want it to be really potent, then washing soda might be the way to go. If you're looking for a gentler detergent, baking soda is a great option. Oxiclean becomes just peroxide and washing soda once it hits liquid.
Soften your kitchen water by boiling: Boiling will make the salts in water sink to the bottom of the boiler. You can then scoop out this water or pour the water in another pot leaving the deposits in the end. Install an ion-exchange filter to your kitchen faucet or use a water pitcher filter.
The most common alternative to a water softening system is a water conditioner. While water softeners remove the mineral ions from hard water and replace them with sodium ions through a process known as ion exchange, water conditioners alter the structure of the mineral ions.
The most accessible water softeners to add to your wash routine are Calgon and Borax. Both can be found in the laundry aisle, and both are effective for softening hard water.
Vinegar is very effective in dissolving the calcium, magnesium, and other mineral deposits of hard water. The added advantage is that it kills bacteria, mold, and other germs. Using vinegar as a softener for hard water is a simple hack to treat hard water at home.
For softening laundry water, it is best to use distilled white vinegar. Other types of vinegar may stain or discolor your fabrics, dishes, and dishwasher. Using inexpensive distilled white vinegar for laundry will whiten, brighten, reduce odor, and soften clothes without typical harsh chemicals.
Give Bathwater a Smooth, Silky Feel
This is because the positive charge of Epsom salt's sodium counteracts the negative charge of the magnesium both in the Epsom salt itself and in the water coming from your faucet. In short, Epsom salt acts as an instant water softener.
If you are considering the best options for introducing soft water into your home – without installing a water softener – there are ways to go about this. Hard water can be softened in various ways – either through boiling the water before use, adding chemicals, or introducing filters.