hard water = scratchy laundry?

[Angelorum]

When I was first married we lived in a place with soft water. I never used any dryer sheets or fabric softener, and my laundry was just fine. Now for the past couple of years we've lived with hard water and everything is scratchy and stiff feeling, especially my towels and diapers. The diapers are cotton prefolds. Everyone says they just get softer with use, but when I was switching sizes, the smaller ones that had been washed more were much scratchier than the newer ones.

I've tried adding vinegar to the rinse, but haven't really noticed a difference. I tried stripping my older newborn size diapers with Calgon water softener, and while I did see some suds in the water, they didn't really feel softer afterwards. I don't want commercial fabric softeners as that would probably build up in the diapers. Any ideas?

[Alyantavid]

We have hard water and nothing's scratchy. If I don't use a dryer sheet, everything's staticy, but still soft.

[orangefoot]

We have hard water here too and I know what you mean. I use vinegar in the rinse and I do feel a difference but you may have a build up which will take longer to shift.

Have you tried doing a hot wash with vinegar in the wash and the rinse? I have no idea if it would work or not but it might be something to try.

[naturalmom8]

I have read that hard water makes laundry stiffer and less clean. I don't know if a softener would make a difference.

[grahamsmom98]

It might be the laundry detergent you are using (I like 7th Generation). Have you tried adding borax to the wash? It is a natural water softener.

Could you invest in a central water softener system? I know they are expensive (our's cost around $1,500), but the joys of soft water make it so worthwhile!

[anniegirl]

I know exactly what you mean!

Try switching detergents, there might be a particular ingredient that makes it worse. For our water I *think* it's washing soda and/or oxygen bleach. Those both make the laundry much, much scratchier.

I like 7th gen liquid a lot, at least softness-wise anyway. But lately it doesn't seem to be getting things clean.

[mom0810]

Yes, hard water will make your laundry stiff and scratchy. Ours does that, I can tell if our water softener needs to cycle because our clothes (and my hair) get stiff and scratchy and don't feel clean.

A water softener will help a lot.

[Angelorum]

we are renting a basement unit right now, so unfortunately the water softener is a no go. I've been using Sun free and clear, because it was the only diaper friendly detergent I could find in the stores around here. Anybody want to chime in on what detergent they use successfully with their hard water? I was using oxygen bleach regularly, but I noticed that one load came out particularly scratchy after I had soaked several stained items with extra oxyclean.

For those that use vinegar, how much do you use?

[naturalmom8]

I just use a few tablespoons of vinegar. Works great and kills 99% of all germs.