Your water is hard if it contains high levels of dissolved minerals - especially calcium and magnesium. These minerals are not bad, but they can cause limescale to form on surfaces, hair and skin, and appliances. It is expensive to remove this hard, persistent residue and it can lead to more costly problems if you ignore it.
What does that mean for you? Mineral residues interact with soap to create a film on the skin that disrupts skin barrier and blocks moisturizers. You may experience dryness, itching, or even rashes, despite using superior products. The same residue can be found on hair strands and scalp, which prevents proper rinsing. It can cause tangles and frizz.
In your home, limescale clogs pipes, reduces the flow and makes washing machines and geysers work harder. This increases electricity consumption and shortens appliance life.
How can you tell for sure? You can look for signs that are consistent: white spots in glassware, a gritty feeling on tiles, geysers that are noisy or slow, stiff towels and a "film" after bathing. Simple stovetop tests can be helpful. Two cups of tap water should be boiled until the half volume is evaporated. Hardness is indicated by a chalky ring on the bottom. Compare the packaged water with your baseline for a cleaner baseline.
Here's the solution, without turning your house into a laboratory. Modern water conditioners use ion conditioning instead of adding salt to remove minerals and prevent them from sticking and forming scale. The beneficial minerals are retained, but the sticky behavior is eliminated. The tank-based, drop-in unit treats all taps in your home. It quietly conditions the water for several months without any electricity or plumbing changes. It's a comfort that you can feel, with savings you can count. Clearer fixtures, less white stains, more comfortable showers, fewer hair breaks, appliances that last longer and require fewer repairs.
It is best to condition your water at the tank if you use borewell or well-water. This will fix the problem and not just mask the symptoms, so that your skin, hair and home can finally enjoy a break.