Your own skin is the first witness. After a shower, rub your hands together.
If they feel squeaky clean—like a freshly washed dinner plate—that’s bad. That squeak means hard water minerals are still clinging to you. Soft water should make your skin feel silky and almost slippery, like the memory of a baby’s bottom.
Your hair will tattle, too. Hard water leaves it feeling stiff and coated. Soft water makes it bouncy, fluffy, and ridiculously manageable. If your locks feel like a hay bale, your softener might be napping on the job.
