How do you know if you have hard water or you remove hard water deposits ? Some clues are bathtub rings, crusty deposits on faucets and shower heads, streaked or cloudy dishware. Typically in hard water you need more soap to create the lather up reaction for your soap. This why if you live in an area with soft water you don’t need as much soap to wash dishes and or do the laundry. Soft water is also easier on dishwashers, water heaters and washing machines and they will last longer. If you live in an area with hard water you may want to look at installing a water softener.
What type is your water? The Water Quality Association of the United States defines hard water as having dissolved mineral hardness of 1 GPG (grain per gallon) or more. Here is a helpful table to show the hardness of water:
Soft Water- less than 1 gpg
Slightly Hard- 1-3.5 gpg
Moderately Hard- 3.5-7 gpg
Very Hard- 7-10 gpg
Extremely Hard- over 10 gpg