Hard water is a real headache for homeowners. When we say hard water, we are referring to water that has high concentrations of magnesium and calcium. Hard water isn’t harmful to health, but it has a lot of annoying side effects, including:
- Dried out skin
- Hair residue
- Strange water taste
- Clogged up pipes
The best and most effective way to avoid such issues is to get a water softener. Installing a water softener in your home is a good investment. To ensure it works optimally, you must choose a great water softener salt.
Granular table salt is excellent for seasoning your food, but you don’t want to put it in your water softener. Water softener salts help clean the system so your machine can do a great job without hindrance.
If you have sensitive skin and are worried about the effects of adding chemicals to your water, you need to try the water softener salts we have discussed in this post.
5 Best Water Softener Salt For Sensitive Skin
Diamond Crystal 8040117 Natural Softener
This water softener salt is made of 99.6 pure sodium chloride and is very safe to use for sensitive skin because of its natural production.
This water softener salt has been specially designed to prevent bridging and mushing that occurs with the use of softener salts. It reduces brine residue buildup in softener tanks. This softener salt is approved for use by the NSF and leaves no disappointment in performance.
Highlights
- 40lbs bag
- NSF approved
- Ionization and chemical process is fast
- Can be used in vegetable quality grading
- Moisture protection in an easy to open a package
- Expensive
Diamond Crystal Potassium Softener Pellets
It comes highly recommended and is an excellent alternative to some harsh sodium chloride softeners that are harsh on sensitive skin.
You can say goodbye to those pesky rusty yellow stains that appear on your household appliances and fixtures. This softener effectively ionizes water so that even cloth stain removal becomes very easy.
Using this potassium softener pellet in your water will also make bathing and doing dishes easier. Your household valves and pipes will get clogged less often because of the power of this effective softener.
Highlights
- 50lb bag
- Easy open bag design
- Low insoluble water softener crystals
- Soaps and detergents clean better when potassium softener pellets are used
- Potassium chloride pellets dissolve very easily
- Works in any water softener
The packaging is not very strong
Morton Potassium Chloride Pellets
The bag has been designed to be easy to open, lift, and pour out potassium pellets. You can carry the entire 40lb bag easily with the plastic comfort grips. You will experience 20% less chloride discharge when you use this salt alternative.
Highlights
- 99% sodium chloride free
- 40lbs bag
- Very good for sensitive skin. Does not dry out the skin
- Versatile use for home, spa or pool
- Very effective water softener. Softened water can be used on plants too.
- A bit expensive
Morton U26624S Natural Water Softening Crystals
It results in softer water that is not harmful to sensitive skin and great for plants and household appliances alike.
Using these natural softening crystals will make laundry softer, stop hard water stains, and aid your detergent and soap to produce more lather.
Highlights
- 40lb bag
- All-natural salt softener
- Less rust buildup in water appliances
- Provides a softer feeling for hair and skin
- All-natural sodium chloride product
- May cause a sulfur smell in your water
Diamond K.Life Potassium Chloride
Your water softening system will run smoothly on this ow insoluble content crystals as they help to soften without encouraging clogging caused by buildup.
The polybag has been contrasted for easy use and storage. It contains 40lbs of potassium chloride crystals that are NSF certified and recommended for use in any softener.
Highlights
- NSF certified
- 40lb bag
- 1% potassium chloride
- Contains low insoluble content for lesser clogging and a better working softener
- Lifting, carrying and pouring the salt crystals is easy with the innovative bag design
Frequently Asked Questions: Water Softener Salts
Knowledge is power, and having more information about water softener salts will help you make the right choice for your home.
Is a sodium softener different from a potassium softener?
Yes. The two products are made from different ingredients but are both effective in softening water. They can be used combined or interchangeably.
What are softener salts made of?
Most softener salts are made from sodium chloride, a common compound used in cooking. Some water softener salt alternatives are made from less common potassium chloride.
Is it okay to use table salt in my water softener?
No. You are not recommended to use table salt in your water softener. Because table salt has much smaller crystals than softener salts, it is more susceptible to mushing and should not be introduced to your water softener.
Is softened water safe to drink?
Yes. Water softened using softener salts can safely be consumed. In special cases, you will have to watch or discontinue your consumption of such water if your doctor recommends that you limit or cut off potassium or sodium intake.
Can I use softener salts in my bath?
Yes. You can use water softener crystals in baths because their size is perfect.
Can I use softener salts in my food?
Human beings or animals should not consume no. water softener salts.
Can I mix different types of softener salts in one water softener?
There usually is no harm involved when you mix different types of water softener salt. Nonetheless, some water softener models recommend certain salts be used for the best results.
Can softener salts remove odor from my water?
No. There are many reasons why your water can smell. Whatever the cause is, water softener salts cannot eradicate bad odor in water. You must employ different means of purification to solve this problem.
Is it okay to use ice melt salt in my softener?
Because ice melt salt is composed of tiny crystals, it is not recommended for use in water softeners. Ice melt salt is also less pure that softener salts and will not deliver premium results.
Are some softener salts purer than others?
Yes. Not all water softener salts are made equal, but the difference in purity levels is usually so small that it is inconsequential.
Should I clean out my brine tank?
It is generally unnecessary to clean your salt tank. When you are using a low purity water softener salt, or you experience mushing, you may need to empty your brine tank and clean it out. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to handle this.
What is the difference between pellets and crystals?
Water softener pellets and crystals are made from the same sodium chloride. Pellets are made when tiny salt granules are packed together, forming a pillow shape. Crystals are formed when the sun and wind naturally evaporate saltwater outdoors, leaving a layer of salt crystals. You can use pellets and crystals interchangeably in your water softener. Make sure to consult your manual before you do so.
How To Add Salt To A Water Softener?
If you don’t want to have a problem with your water softening system, you must know when to add salt and how to do it. Different factors, including the following, determine how often you will need to use water softener salt and how much you need at a time.
- The model of water softener you have
- The size of its brine tank
- How hard your water is
- How much water your household consumes
Follow the steps and tips below to do it right, so your system runs smoothly.
Examine the brine tank: you need to open the brine tank and look inside to check the salt level. If the tank is less than halfway full or the brine tank looks dry, add some salt to go just past the halfway mark. If the water level surpasses the salt level or the salt looks wet, you should add enough salt to reach the halfway mark of the brine tank.
Know your water softeners age: when did you purchase your water softener system, and how long have you used it? The age of your water softener determines how much salt you will need to use. Models that are 10 years or older will generally require more salt than newer, more efficient models.
Many newer models are designed with an alert system that reports on salt levels. If this is the case, a remote monitoring system or low salt indicator will make maintenance easy by informing you when the salt needs to be refilled. Although it is advisable to check on your water softener regularly, you should expect to add salt to your machine every 5 to 10 weeks if it is a recent model.
Steer clear of bridging: you must carry put a monthly or bi-monthly inspection to ensure a salt bridge has not formed. If bridging occurs, your water softener will not get adequate salt to keep it running smoothly. Bridging becomes apparent when there is hard water flowing through your taps instead of soft water or salt levels remain stagnant after months of use. There are simple ways to avoid bridging:
- Install your water softener is a low humidity area
- Don’t fill up your brine tank more than halfway
- Only use high-quality salt or potassium sodium
Even after meeting some or all of the above tactics to avoid bridging, you still have to monitor your water softener to make sure you correct the problem if it occurs.
Final Verdict
Your home will benefit tremendously when you invest in a water softener. Your shower screen, faucets, and dishes will stop getting stained, your plumbing and water appliances will have less clogging, and your soaps and detergents will lather up easily.
After getting a good water softener, you have also to purchase a good water softener salt to match. It will help recharge your resin bin, eradicate excess minerals and help your water softener function better.
There are many water softener salt brands in the market, but people with sensitive skin usually have to search a little closer to get a product that will not dry out their skin or cause irritation.
Take the water softener salts we have discussed into consideration. They have unique properties that are suitable for sensitive skin, and they also work with all water softeners. This way, you can make sure you get the best performance from your water softener without harming your body.
Meet Nigel Pearson, a water filter enthusiast with a background in molecular biology. He’s all about making sure we have safe drinking water, and he’s got a bunch of interests that tie into it – think science, technology, plants, and genetics.
Imagine someone who loves learning how living things work on a tiny level – that’s Nigel. He’s studied how genes and molecules come together to make life happen. But what really caught his attention is how living things adapt to their surroundings.
Nigel didn’t stop at just learning about this stuff – he decided to use his smarts to help solve a big problem: how to get clean drinking water for everyone. He writes cool blog posts that explain tricky science things in simple words. You’ll get to read about stuff like how plants can help clean water, or how new inventions are changing the way we purify water.
But it’s not just about science and tech for Nigel. He truly cares about people and their need for safe water. Every blog post he writes shows how much he wants to make a difference. By sharing his knowledge, she wants to get more people thinking and caring about clean drinking water.