Soft or Slimy Water? What is Soft Water?

The Reality of Bathing in Hard Water

The short explanation is this … the squeaky clean feeling on your skin after a shower actually comes from soap that hard water was unable to wash away. Most bathing products don’t lather or clean well in hard water, so soap residue gets left behind on your skin.

Imagine the soap scum you notice building up in your tub or that film that shows up on glass shower doors in need of a good cleaning. That’s what’s stuck to your body.

Squeaky clean skin is a straight-up lie. In fact, it means the exact opposite of what you’ve been led to believe. Your skin isn’t squeaky … it’s sticky. You’re not getting clean because the soap isn’t washing away, just like the soap scum on your tub. And, because it’s still on your body, you may get dry, itchy, flaky skin.

You see, the minerals calcium and magnesium are what make water hard. These hard minerals combine with soap to form what’s often called “curd,” which is just as gross as it sounds. The soap curd sticks to your skin and can clog up your pores and cause irritation. That sticky curd can also lead to brittle, unhealthy hair.

Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, at least one bath product brand recognized the reality behind hard water and soap. You may remember commercials for Zest deodorant bar that claimed, “You’re not fully clean unless you’re Zest-fully clean.”

Here’s a clip to jog your memory …

The problem with products like Zest is they’re not soap, or at least, there’s more than soap in them. Zest used synthetic detergents to chemically soften hard water as you bathed. In fact, products like this are actually known as Syndet (short for synthetic detergent) bars, although advertising will compare them to regular soap.

Some products, which have the appearance of bath soap, are actually made of ingredients intended to moisturize skin and not necessarily get you clean.

Syndet soaps may not be the most attractive option if you prefer pure and natural bathing products that are free of synthetic ingredients, but there is another option. The best way to improve your showering experience and truly get clean is to remove those hard minerals with a water softener in your home. Then, use whatever bath products you prefer, because soft water is much more effective with all types of soaps and detergents, including household cleaners and laundry products.