What is the difference between hard and soft water and why it may affect delicate skin?
Rain water is naturally soft but after it has passed through Chalk Downs or Limestone it becomes hard as it dissolves the rock and takes it into suspension. When it is heated the microscopic particle in suspension are released from the water and bond together to form into rock particles again, if you get scale forming in your kettle your are in a hard water area. Soft water by definition has no dissolved solids of Chalk (or Limestone) in it, and hard water has varying levels of dissolved solids (Calcium and Magnesium salts) in it and this amounts to about 60% of the country. When hard water enters your household plumbing system your problems begin, and there are many of them! Blocked pipes, increased water and heating bills, more soaps and shampoo to use, up to 75% more detergent in laundry, damage to washing machines to name a few, but for the time being our main concern is how does hard water effect delicate (or otherwise) skin. Hard water scale and the scum (caused by its reaction w
