Hard Water Stains On Laundry

Hard water can be a significant issue in certain areas.

Hard water stains on laundry.

If you notice this type of stain on your clothing it can be removed with simple cleaning methods. Water itself doesn t stain fabrics. Washing white clothing with hard water can cause dingy stains on the clothes. Add four times the normal amount of detergent and one cup water conditioner.

Homes on private wells are more likely to have hard water iron and manganese issues whereas public water supplies typically include calcium and magnesium which may not cause hard water stains unless the home s hot water heater has formed rust inside. The mineral ingredients in the water are what cause the stains. If the staining on your light colored fabric is the dull grey or dingy discoloration and stiffness that occurs with calcium deposits you do have a chance of saving some of your clothing. Fixing hard water laundry stains on clothes.

Hard water has the unique ability to make every white article of clothing you have a nice dingy color and depending on how hard the water actually is will depend on how dingy the hard water stains are. Hard water and soft water contain many properties including minerals and chemicals. Hard water contains dissolved minerals usually calcium and magnesium which tend to cause mineral buildup in water pipes. Your solution for the hard water stains is going to depend on the color of the stains.

These show up on clothes when they come out of the washing machine. Washing your laundry in hard water can be tricky since some detergents don t react well with the minerals causing scum to form. One thing you might never expect to stain your clothing is water but hard water can do just that. Agitate just long enough to wet the clothes.

Before you assume your white clothes are ruined realize these stains can be removed with basic household cleaning products such as vinegar. Rusty water heaters pipes or water storage containers cause staining to be more sporadic. Issues such as dull laundry white stains and bad odors on clothing are only some of the problems you could be dealing with. What s actually staining your clothing are the minerals including magnesium and calcium that are present in hard water.

If you have not installed a mechanical water softening system to remedy problems that have already occurred fill the washer with the hottest water appropriate for the fabric.