I'm having some issues with hard water this spring. We moved to a new home last summer that has well water (old house had well water too but in a different area) and this spring I've begun having problems with my white and light items turning orange in the wash. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the orange out of clothes and maybe how to prevent it? We do use the green bag of salt but this is getting so bad that my teenage daughter and I have started noticing out nails, feet and legs turning orange (don't think the guys care to notice). Thanks!
We had well water growing up and had to use a water softener. If my mother ever did a load of white laundry near the time when my Dad was due to soften the water, all the white clothes would get rust stains. There was nothing at that time that could take out rust stains. Good luck.
Try using some Clorox II.......I use great green products, which would work and I can tell you about if you would like to know.
You just need to try to find different detergent that works and soap......just remember whatever you use on you and your clothes goes into you through your skin, so try to stay away from bleach.
Good Luck and take care.
Have you contacted your local water company to do an analysis on your water? usually, they'll either send you a kit in the mail or will come take a sample for free just to make sure there aren't any issues.
You can't go wrong with flushing the hot water tank.
We have horribly hard water here in Indiana and have to use a water softener, too. We prefer Morton's yellow bag salt over others - get them at Sam's Club much cheaper than elsewhere.
We learned that our water softener can't keep up with the volume of water in our house, but it was going to be $4000 to get one that could, so we deal with the lime residue - I've never had problems with nails, clothes, etc.
It would be concerning to me - partly because I'm a cancer survivor, and partly because I've never experienced what you're mentioning with your softened water.
Good luck - hoping you get it resolved soon.
We have not only a water softener (with green bag salt) but also an iron filter that runs twice a week for our well water. The iron filter helps to not have to run the water softener so often. It doesn't completely stop our whites from getting dingy over time, but helps a lot. I also add oxyclean to my white/light loads of laundry.
It doesn't sound like your water softener is functioning correctly. I don't know where you're located, but I've had excellant service from Huemann's Water Conditioning in Johnsburg. They can test everything to see if it's working properly. They told me last week that rather than buy the green bags of salt you should add 1/2 cup of Iron Out on top of each bag you add to the softener (except the last bag you add). That does a better job of keeping the iron out as long as the softener is working properly.
Oh I feel your pain! I lived with that kind of water for 5 years and thought I would lose my mind! I would not even do laundry in that house!
What you need is not only a water softener but an additional system for taking the iron out. Culligan can install the system and even maintain it. It is worth whatever it will cost.
If you color or perm your hair you are going to start having problems if you don't get it fixed. Again I speak from experience.
For clothing stains and for cleaning the toilet/tub in the meantime, pick-up some Wink from the hardware store. It is great and getting the rust out.
Good luck!
We have a house water softner. Isn't the green bag an iron reducer? We only use one bag of green a month. Otherwise we use the yellow Diamond brand.
Have you considered calling a plumber? Is it possible that your pipes are breaking down?
I agree with flushing your hot water heater, as well as your softner system.
M.
Couple of things.
Definitely try flushing your hot water tank.
You can buy water softener powder you add to the laundry, the clothes that are orange use OxiClean.
Replace your shower head for one that contains a filter, they sell them on line, it will help a lot.
Have you tried flushing out your water heater? A lot of times the water heater will get so full of junk, it significantly adds to the orange water problem. Look at
http://www.wikihow.com/Flush-a-Water-Heater
If that still doesn't help it may be time to invest in a really good new water softener. Good Luck!
Definitely the water heater flush. You have no idea when this was last done. We do it once to twice a year, and it makes a HUGE difference.
I'm not sure what the "Green bag of salt" is .....but make sure it's "red out", made to get iron out. Every company has their own name for it!!! Regular salt will cause this......... .......and yes the hot water tank flush, you'll be amazed at what comes out........!! Good luck!!
