Increase detergent or add a softener for hard water

If your household has hard water (high mineral content), increase your detergent dose by 25-50% above the standard recommendation, or add a water-softening booster such as washing soda or borax to each load.

Why It Works

Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions that bind with detergent molecules, neutralizing them before they can clean. This means a portion of your detergent is consumed by mineral binding rather than lifting soil. Compensating with extra detergent or a water softener ensures enough active surfactant remains for effective cleaning.

Tips

• Water hardness test strips are inexpensive and available at hardware stores — worth checking if you are unsure
• Adding 1/2 cup of washing soda (sodium carbonate) per load is a low-cost alternative to using more detergent
• White residue on dark clothes or mineral buildup in your machine are signs of hard water