So important is this aspect of the hardness problem that hardness is sometimes defined as "the effect of certain elements which combine with soap to form an insoluble material known as curd."
The list of elements that possess this property of hardness include iron, copper and manganese, all present normally in relatively small quantities. More common, of course, are calcium and magnesium, which are usually present in significant amounts. Clothes washed in zero soft water are free of troublesome hard water soap curd.
For the homemaker water hardness makes home cleaning operations more difficult.
In the laundry, hard water leaves soap curd and detergent deposits on fabrics. This dulls colors and gives a grey or yellow appearance to white fabrics. Also hard water soap curd clings to fabric fibers, causing threads to become brittle and shortening the life of the material.
Hard water wastes soap and synthetic detergents.
Hard water leaves unsightly soap scum rings in the bathtub.
Hard water spots and streaks glassware and dishes.
Hard water builds up scale deposits in all water-using appliances, clogs hot water pipes.
Even more important to the homemaker and to her entire family hard water hampers good grooming efforts.
HARD WATER SCALE
Scale is one of the most serious problems caused by hardness mineral deposits. This particular by-product of water hardness puts many water-using appliances out of service. It clogs hot water pipes and can sharply reduce the heating efficiency of a boiler or water heater. When hard water is heated, scale is formed. This is due to (1) the breakdown of calcium and magnesium bicarbonates, (2) their reversion to the highly insoluble carbonate forms, (3) their precipitation from the water, and (4) their concentration on the interior surfaces of the water heater.
Under certain conditions the deposits form sludges. Both sludges and scale can lead to a sharp reduction in operating efficiency.
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