Does hard water damage clothes? Colour, feel and fixes

What hard water actually is

Hard water carries dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium, picked up as it passes through rock such as chalk and limestone. You see the same minerals as white scale inside a kettle or around a tap. How hard your water is depends entirely on where you live; large parts of England, including London, have hard water, for example, while other areas have soft water. Your water supplier usually publishes the hardness for your postcode or district, and simple test strips give a rough reading at home.

What it does to fabric over time

The effects come from the minerals interfering with detergent and then staying behind in the cloth:

• Detergent works less well. Calcium and magnesium tie up part of the detergent, so less is left to lift dirt and body oils. Clothes come out less clean even though they smell fresh.
• Deposits build up in the fibres. Mineral and soap residue settles into absorbent fabrics such as cotton and lawn, which is why towels and cotton suits feel harsh after drying.
• Whites look grey. Dirt that was not fully removed, held in place by residue, gives whites a dingy cast.
• Dark colours look dull or chalky. A faint film of residue sits on the surface and softens the depth of colour, which can look like fading.

Is hard water really the cause?

Other things produce similar results, so it is worth ruling them out. Too much detergent also leaves residue and stiffness. Drying in strong sun fades colour, and cotton dried on a line feels firmer than cotton from a dryer whatever the water. Hard water is the likely culprit if you have scale in the kettle, soap that is slow to lather, and clothes that feel noticeably softer when washed somewhere else. Our colour-fastness test helps you tell real dye loss from a surface film.

Changes that help

Start with the simple ones, and follow the garment label and your machine’s manual throughout. For settings by fabric, see washing machine settings for kurtas.

• Dose for hard water. Most detergent packs give a larger dose for hard water areas; use it rather than guessing.
• Add a laundry water softener made for washing machines, following the pack. It binds the minerals so the detergent can work.
• Choose liquid detergent for darks and delicates, as it dissolves fully and leaves less residue.
• Do not overload the drum, and use an extra rinse if your machine has one.
• Descale the machine as the manufacturer recommends, as scale on the heater and drum makes things worse.
• Vinegar in the rinse is popular, but check your machine’s manual first, and never mix it with chlorine bleach, as the two together release a harmful gas.

Rescuing clothes that already feel stiff

Wash the affected pieces on their own with a correct dose of detergent plus a laundry softener product, then give them an extra rinse. Several washes like this usually bring back much of the softness and colour. For a suit you care about, washing lawn and embroidered suits covers gentle hand washing, which uses less water and makes it easier to rinse thoroughly.

If you are ordering a new outfit and know your water is hard, tell us. We take your washing routine into account when we propose fabric for Fabric + Stitching, and you can request a quote whenever you are ready.