Water Softener Myths Debunked
Common misconceptions about water softeners and the truth behind each.
Myth: Softened water tastes salty
The amount of sodium added is minimal. At 10 GPG hardness, a softener adds about 20 mg/L of sodium per glass. A slice of bread contains 100-200 mg. Most people cannot taste the difference. If sodium is a concern, use potassium chloride salt instead.
Myth: Soft water feels slimy
The "slippery" feeling is actually your natural skin oils functioning normally. Hard water leaves a soap scum residue that creates a "squeaky clean" feeling, which is actually mineral residue. Soft water rinses cleanly, which feels different but is actually cleaner.
Myth: Water softeners waste water
A modern high-efficiency softener uses 20-35 gallons per regeneration, typically once per week. That is 0.5-1% of total household water use. The energy savings from a more efficient water heater and the reduced soap/detergent use more than offset the water cost.
Myth: Softeners remove healthy minerals
Calcium and magnesium in water contribute a negligible percentage of your dietary intake. A single serving of broccoli contains more calcium than 10 glasses of hard water. Removing them from water has no meaningful nutritional impact.