Showering In Hard Water — Are You Really Getting Clean?

For many of us, taking a shower is priceless personal time. You’re alone with your thoughts getting ready for the day, winding down from a workout or hectic daily schedule.

You are supposed to get out feeling clean and refreshed. 但如果你在硬水里洗澡，你的淋浴体验肯定会更好.

事实上，当你在硬水中洗澡或淋浴时，你可能没有得到你应该得到的清洁. Here’s why…

How Minerals in Hard Water Keep You from Getting Clean

溶解的矿物质，如钙和镁，使你家里的水变硬. 这些矿物质还会与肥皂产生不良的化学反应, shampoo, and body wash as well as shaving cream.

发生的是硬水中的钙和镁离子与肥皂中的脂肪酸反应形成 insoluble lime soaps, which are ineffective at cleaning.

如果你在化学课上认真听了，这是一个化学方程式:

2 C₁₇H₃₅COO⁻Na⁺ + Ca²⁺ → (C₁₇H₃₅COO)₂Ca + 2 Na⁺

In this chemical reaction, 带正电荷的钙离子取代了洗发水或肥皂中的钠离子，在你的皮肤和头发上留下了浮渣和水垢.

That’s right. If you have hard water, 你总是在浴缸里擦洗的恶心的肥皂渣也在你身上.

要想知道你是否在处理淋浴时的硬水问题，最好的方法就是看看你的泡沫冲洗得怎么样. 硬水会使你在淋浴时打不出漂亮的肥皂泡沫. 当你有软水时，肥皂和洗发水就更容易产生泡沫.

After installing a water softener in their home, 有些人在洗澡后感觉皮肤光滑甚至滑溜.

部分原因可能是你不习惯真正清洁的皮肤的感觉. What you feel might simply be the real you. But you may also be in the habit of using too much soap. You won’t need to use as much with soft water.

How Hard Water Affects Your Hair

你有没有注意到，当你在不同的地方洗澡时，你的头发看起来和感觉是不同的?

Your hair behaves one way after showering at the gym, 当你在度假或住酒店的时候，你会发现另一种方式, 当你在家洗头的时候看起来完全不一样.

这很可能是因为水的硬度因地而异.

If you have hard water at home, 你的头发可能会一直感到干燥，变得卷曲，使它纠缠在一起，难以打理. It may also have a dull, lifeless appearance. 这是因为这些矿物质和沉积物在你的头发中积聚.

家里有了软水器，这些硬水问题就迎刃而解了. 你会发现当你在软化的水中洗澡时，你的头发会有更迷人的光泽. And soft water will make your hair more manageable, so it’s easier for you to style it the way you want.

有时候头发比较细密的人会抱怨软水会让他们的头发变平甚至油腻. 这可能是因为你用了太多的肥皂，没有把它从头发上完全洗掉. 在淋浴中冲洗头发的时间长一点可能会解决这个问题.

在所有的硬水头发问题中，最可怕的是脱发. 钙的积累会在毛囊底部形成，导致头发脱落，并可能阻碍新头发的生长.

How Hard Water Affects Your Skin

Hard water can give you skin troubles too. Let’s start with the scalp.

在头皮上积聚的钙盐会导致干燥和脱皮，也就是头皮屑.

You might assume it’s the shampoo you buy causing dandruff. But hard water may be the real culprit.

硬水也会让你的其他皮肤感到干燥和发痒. 这是由于肥皂残留在你的身体上，堵塞毛孔. Plus, 硬水中的矿物质会吸走皮肤中的水分，使皮肤更加干燥和刺激.

In fact, 某些研究表明，硬水可能会使湿疹和皮炎等皮肤状况进一步恶化. According to the dermatology site DermaHarmony.com:

“While hard water itself doesn’t cause dermatitis, it can irritate the condition or even initiate a flare-up. 硬水与共存的皮炎条件相结合可导致更频繁和严重的爆发.”

即使是在硬水里洗衣服，对那些皮肤敏感的人来说也是有问题的. Hard water leaves soap residue on your laundry too, and that residue is in contact with your skin all day long. If you have sensitive skin, 优质软水机提供的软水可以帮助你避免脱水.

As the American Cleaning Institute 他解释说，肥皂“在硬水中使用时效果会降低.这意味着你不仅洗澡时洗不干净, it will be tougher to keep your house clean as well.

With hard water, 你最终会用更多的肥皂来保持身体清洁，也会用更多的产品来清洁你的家. 从长远来看，较软的水意味着你可以节省大量的金钱和时间.