Latest news with #hardwater
RNZ News
11-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Local politician continues fight for better drinking water for Waiuku
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King A local politician is questioning why Watercare isn't investing in water softening treatment in its upgrade of the Waiuku treatment plant. Watercare's plan for Waiuku does not include water softening treatment for hard water, which Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes said has been a long-standing issue for the community. Watercare maintains drinking water in Waiuku meets the safe drinking standards. "Watercare's response misses the point entirely," Holmes said. "While the water may meet basic drinking standards, it is demonstrably failing to provide Waiuku residents with the same level of value and service enjoyed by most other parts of Auckland." Hard water is water that contains dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. Soft water contains lower concentrations of these minerals. The amount of these minerals in a city's water supply varies by region, depending on both where the water comes from and how the water is treated. According to Watercare, hard water is moderately hard in Waiuku, Bombay, Warkworth, Helensville and Pukekohe. Holmes said what Waiuku residents' need for better water wasn't about luxury, but about fairness and ensuring they weren't bearing excessive costs. Watercare's new era of financial independence was the perfect opportunity to address the significant financial burden placed on Waiuku residents, he said. "Now, with their new ability to borrow in their own name, without support from council or the government, Watercare has even less excuse to neglect the needs of Waiuku residents." Holmes said Waiuku residents have been forced to shoulder the financial burden of installing their own water treatment systems, frequently replacing damaged appliances, and even incurring costs for items like water cylinders at a much higher rate than other Aucklanders. "Watercare claims 'fairness and equity' in its service provision across Auckland. "But, where is the fairness for Waiuku residents who are forced to pay more out of their own pockets for essential water-related infrastructure and maintenance, simply because Watercare is unwilling to invest in a solution that would benefit the entire community?" Holmes said in a recent survey he conducted, widespread dissatisfaction with Waiuku's water quality and the resulting financial strain was revealed. Key findings included most households reporting spending thousands of dollars on appliance repairs and individual softening systems. "The survey responses paint a clear picture of frustration and financial burden. "Residents are tired of replacing appliances, battling limescale buildup, and feeling like second-class citizens when it comes to water quality and the associated costs." Watercare head of water Sharon Danks said like a third of the country's drinking water, Waiuku's water supply came from a groundwater source. These water sources tend to contain higher elevated levels of minerals that have dissolved from surrounding rocks, commonly referred to as hard water, she said. "We are committed to providing the Waiuku community with safe, high-quality drinking water that meets the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards. She said the hardness in Waiuku's treated water was in the 'moderately hard' range, and well below the guideline recommended in the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards of 200mg/L. "As all of our water meets Drinking Water Standards for hardness, we have no plans to add water softening treatment, which comes at significant cost." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Amazon slashes Calgon washing machine tablets from £28 to £13 for Prime Day – save 54%
BARGAIN hunters are racing to Amazon to claim an incredible Prime Day deal on Calgon washing machine tablets. The retail giant has discounted a 75-tablet 'XL Pack' from £28 to just £12.99 - that's just 17p per tablet. 1 Calgon 4-in-1 Washing Machine Cleaner and Water Softener Tablets x75, £12.99 (was £28) BUY FROM AMAZON The impressive Prime Day deal has already caused a rush to buy the tablets, with thousands of shoppers flocking to Amazon to take advantage of the exclusive offer. If you're meticulous about keeping your washing machine in tip-top condition, this is one deal Prime members won't want to miss. The offer becomes even more impressive when you compare it to supermarket prices. Tesco's largest pack of Calgon is a 30-tablet box for £10.50, which works out to 35p per tablet. Asda offers a slightly larger 45-pack, which currently costs £11.98, making each tablet 26.6p. At just 17p per tablet, this Amazon Prime Day deal is unbeatable. Those who remember Calgon's famous jingle — "washing machines live longer with Calgon" — know that this product is nothing short of essential for those living in hard water areas like London, the South East, and East Anglia. Hard water can cause limescale to build up in your washing machine, leading to unpleasant odours, reduced efficiency, and costly repairs. Calgon tablets help your washing machine in four ways: They remove limescale and other harmful hard water deposits They soften water, protecting your washing machine and clothes They prevent rust They neutralise bad odours Reviewers have highlighted how effective Calgon is at keeping their machines in working order. One customer wrote: "Third time ordering. UK water is hard, so it makes your drum in your [washing machine] smell, this helps a lot and it also softens the water for softer washing. Good value for money". A second said: "I bought a new Bosch washing machine in January 2011, have used a Calgon tab in every wash for the last 15 years and it's never missed a beat, still going strong — brilliant price for 75 tabs, can't be beaten anywhere." And a third shared: ''Wouldn't be without Calgon Washing Machine Tablets. I always use these to keep my drum and machine clean. Good price for 75 tablets.'' Hunting for more Prime Day deals? We've got you covered. BUY FROM AMAZON
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
CleanTok Says Dishwasher Rinse Aid Causes IBS. Actually, That's False.
Rinse aid is a liquid that can be added to a dishwasher to help prevent water spots on glassware, which are especially persistent if you have hard water. You add the rinse aid to a compartment in your dishwasher about once a month, and the rinse aid dispenses in small amounts (usually around 3 to 5 mL) toward the end of each wash cycle. The rinse aid compartment is often located near the detergent dispenser in your dishwasher door. Andrea Barnes/NYT Wirecutter Rinse aid contains surfactants, or surface active agents. When rinse aid meets water, these surfactants break water tension, allowing droplets of water to sheet off dishes and glassware. This expedites drying and helps glassware dry without spots. Rinse aid also aids in drying, picking up some of the slack from the machine's drying system, which can help save time and energy usage in a typical dishwasher cycle. The mug and bowl on the left were dipped in food coloring and water, while the mug and bowl on the right were dipped in the same solution with a half teaspoon of rinse aid added. Andrea Barnes/NYT Wirecutter The bowl on the left was dipped in a solution of water and food coloring. The bowl on the right was dipped in the same solution with a teaspoon of rinse aid added. The rinse aid helps water glide off surfaces, leaving the bowl on the right with fewer water droplets. Andrea Barnes/NYT Wirecutter The mug and bowl on the left were dipped in food coloring and water, while the mug and bowl on the right were dipped in the same solution with a half teaspoon of rinse aid added. Andrea Barnes/NYT Wirecutter The study making the rounds online was published in 2022 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, a peer-reviewed journal. Scientists at the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), part of the University of Zurich in Switzerland, wanted to explore how common dish cleaning products might impact the gut. Specifically, they were interested in epithelial cells, the cells lining the intestines, which are thought to be a key component of the immune system's defenses. Researchers washed dishes in both commercial and residential dishwashers and then examined them for residue. They then directly exposed epithelial cells in vitro (outside of the body) to various dilutions of professional rinse aid and other detergents in water to see how they responded. Professional rinse aid was shown to impair epithelial cells after being exposed for 24 continuous hours, and the study pinpointed alcohol ethoxylates as the main culprit. The study found that cups washed in household dishwashers had undetectable concentrations of detergent, context that social media posts often fail to mention. Instead, the findings being highlighted on social media are from studying residue on dishes washed in commercial dishwashers with professional rinse aid. Here's the catch: professional rinse aid is highly concentrated and meant for use in commercial dishwashers. It isn't rinsed as thoroughly, due to the speed at which dishes must be washed. Commercial kitchens need to sanitize dishes quickly to satisfy health department requirements, and dishes must be dried quickly to keep up with demand. Professional rinse aid makes quick drying possible. Household dishwashers, on the other hand, have longer cycles and a final rinse of clean water. The rinse aid used in homes is also less concentrated. Because of this, the likelihood of similar amounts of alcohol ethoxylates remaining on your dishes at home is far lower than what might happen in the commercial settings that the experiment was studying. This is a commercial dishwasher, which is meant to wash dishes much faster than a typical household dishwasher. Andrea Barnes/NYT Wirecutter But whether the dishwasher is commercial or residential, the rinse aid dilutions used in this study do not reflect a manufacturer's recommended use, noted Joseph Zagorski, a toxicologist and associate professor at the Center for Research on Ingredient Safety, a toxicology research center at Michigan State University. 'When used as directed, with the proper dilution, alcohol ethoxylates are considered safe for use. The referenced paper uses dilutions that are outside of the manufacturer's requirements,' said Zagorski. But what if a small amount of rinse aid did manage to make it onto your glass and you accidentally ingested it? Would it reach the protective barrier of your intestines? 'The odds are pretty stacked against it,' said Thomas Wallach, MD, chief of pediatric gastroenterology at SUNY Downstate, whose research focuses on the gut's epithelial barrier. (Epithelial cells are cells on the surfaces of the body, such as skin and the inside of your intestines. ) At the very least, it's unlikely to occur at the concentrations of alcohol ethoxylates reflected in the study. Here's why: For a person's epithelial cells in their intestines to be exposed to the level of rinse aid described in the study, not only would there need to be an unusually large amount of rinse aid left on their dishes, but trace amounts of previously dried rinse aid would then need to make it through saliva, the esophagus, and then the stomach and its enzymes and acids, before finally reaching the intestines. There, it would need to penetrate the gut's mucus barrier, which Wallach described to me as highly unlikely. Emerging research studies like this one are designed to highlight subject areas where more research (and funding) is justified, said Wallach. 'I would look at this as the beginning of a process,' he said about the 2022 rinse aid study. 'I would definitely not consider this a conclusion.' I have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine, and I often wonder what might have triggered the gene lurking in my body. Was it a viral illness, an allergic reaction, or perhaps chronic exposure to a chemical or contaminant? I, and the medical establishment, don't know. And that's what's tricky about studies like this one. They pose more questions than they answer, and that's the point: These studies are designed to show areas we should continue to explore. Hopefully you're not still worrying about using rinse aid, but if you're wondering about alcohol-ethoxylate-free alternatives, you have options. Not all rinse aids are formulated with alcohol ethoxylates. Though we don't recommend a specific rinse aid at Wirecutter, in my own home, I use Ecover Rinse Aid, which is citric-acid-based and happens to contain no alcohol ethoxylates. This alcohol-ethoxylate-free rinse aid leaves streak-free dishes and spot-free glassware. But it's among the pricier rinse aids available. If you're concerned about rinse aid agents in some dishwasher detergent pods, these agents are formulated to be rinsed off by the final cycle. But if you prefer to avoid them altogether, you can switch to either of our powder detergent picks, Cascade Complete Powder or Dirty Labs 2-in-1 Bio Enzyme Dishwasher Detergent + Booster, which don't contain rinse aid. And of course, if you don't mind spots on your glasses, you can forgo using rinse aid altogether. This powder detergent is free of dyes, allergenic fragrance, PVA/PVOH, and plastic packaging. It cleans very well, but it falls short on grease and glassware, and it's the most expensive powder we tested. This affordable and powerful powder detergent wipes away baked-on and greasy foods, but you may need to use more than the recommended dose to get the best results. Some people recommend vinegar as an alternative to rinse aid. Vinegar will likely help prevent mineral deposits on glassware, but at Wirecutter, we don't recommend the prolonged use of vinegar in your dishwasher. Ongoing exposure to the highly acidic liquid could eventually cause issues with internal components of the machine. Rinse aid is a safer, more effective bet. If this entire study has you wondering what simple ingredient swaps you might be able to make for dishwasher detergent, too, I cannot emphasize this enough: I do not recommend making your own dishwasher detergent, for safety concerns as well as effectiveness. A vintage ad for Cascade detergent shows that the desire for spot-free glass solutions has been around for some time. Photo courtesy of Procter & Gamble Heritage Center & Archives. Unlike your average DIY dishwasher detergent recipe, the dishwasher detergents we recommend are designed by chemists and other cleaning experts. This year, I toured Procter & Gamble's dishwasher detergent testing labs and saw firsthand the level to which products are tested and researched for both safety and efficacy. Conversely, many DIY dishwasher detergent recipes call for borax, or sodium borate, a cleaning agent that is banned in the European Union and can cause potential harm if ingested. Besides the possible safety concerns, DIY dishwasher detergent just isn't that effective. We mixed DIY dishwasher detergent in-house for our dishwasher detergent guide using washing soda, borax, and citric acid; it made me sneeze repeatedly, and within a month or two it had caked into a solid brick that we couldn't break open. (We ended up using water to dissolve it.) It also did not clean dishes very well, especially when compared with our two powder detergent picks. I love a satisfying CleanTok as much as the next person (rug restoration, anyone?), but I have learned to think twice when a talking head tells me to be scared of a common cleaning product. It would be awesome if you could cure gastrointestinal issues by swapping out cleaning products, but is anything ever that simple? Based on what we know now, the answer is no — so I happily continue to use rinse aid. This article was edited by Katie Okamoto and Megan Beauchamp. Dishwashers save water, time, and energy. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your machine. Dishwasher detergents are better than ever, and after testing over 30 of them, we've found that Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs deliver the best overall clean. Inexpensive doesn't necessarily mean bad. Cascade Complete Powder costs just pennies per load and is the best powdered dishwasher detergent we've tested. What I Cover I research and report on dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and laundry. This involves touring factories, visiting showrooms, attending trade shows, speaking with appliance-brand representatives, interviewing experts, studying patents and schematics, and reading manuals. I am based in New York City, and I test appliances in our Long Island City office.
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
What's that film inside my electric kettle, and how do I get rid of it?
Q: What is the soft buildup on the bottom of my electric kettle, and what's the best way to remove it? A: Mineral deposits, also known as limescale, can coat the bottom of an electric kettle with a white or gray film that can seem chalky or crusty, depending on how thick it is. The minerals, typically calcium and magnesium, are left behind when water boils and evaporates because only pure water turns from liquid to the gas we know as steam. The deposits are inevitable, unless you heat only distilled water in the kettle. With tap water, how quickly the deposits form depends partly on the mineral concentration in the water. Deposits form quickly if you have so-called hard water, which has such a high concentration of minerals that soap doesn't lather well. Deposits also are more of a problem if you use a kettle frequently. How you refill the kettle also matters. If you routinely top off water that's in the kettle, rather than emptying and refilling it each time, you will gradually increase the mineral concentration in the kettle and need to remove deposits more often. Mineral deposits are easy to ignore, but a thick crust can affect the taste of the water and block heat transfer. If water seems to be taking longer to boil, or if the kettle switches off before water boils, excessive mineral buildup is probably the culprit. Another sign that it's time to deep-clean: If your kettle has a replaceable filter behind the spout that's clogged with grit. The grit is almost certainly bits of the deposits, which you can remove by lifting the filter out and rinsing it in running water. Wipe with a cloth or use a soft brush to dislodge stubborn bits. KitchenAid, a manufacturer of electric kettles, recommends monthly cleaning to remove deposits, but you can adjust that timing to match what you see or experience. Although it's possible to remove mineral deposits by scrubbing with an abrasive pad, doing that on the inside of a kettle could scratch the interior. It's much safer to use simple chemistry to break the bonds holding the deposits in place. The deposits are usually alkaline, so acids are the way to attack them. You can use a commercial limescale remover, such as Oxo Brew All-Natural Descaling Solution, or try one of several acids you may have on hand (if not, you can buy them in a grocery store). Suitable cleaners include lemon juice, white vinegar, citric acid and cream of tartar. Advice varies about what concentrations to use and how long to let the solutions soak. And cleaning regimens will depend on the thickness and chemical composition of the deposits. There's considerable wiggle room: Within reason, you can use a more potent concentration or let the solution sit longer. Be aware that you might need to repeat whatever process you choose to get a clean kettle. White vinegar is probably the most commonly recommended cleaner. Cuisinart says that if you aren't using a commercial descaler, you should pour enough white vinegar into the kettle to cover the base ½ inch deep, then heat the vinegar until it boils. 'Repeat with cool vinegar until all deposits are removed,' then rinse several times. KitchenAid recommends using one part white vinegar to three parts water, enough to cover the deposits. Heat until boiling, then let it sit overnight. Drain, then fill with water alone. Boil and drain. Refill with water and boil a second time, then a third. Although these instructions differ in details, they all advise repeated rinsing. That's because vinegar has such a strong smell that any remnant can work its way into the first batch or two of tea or coffee you make after cleaning the kettle. Plus, while you're cleaning, the smell can make your kitchen seem like a pickle factory. If a lemon scent is more appealing, you can switch to a solution recommended by Fill the kettle one-fourth full with lemon juice, then add enough water to make it three-fourths full. Boil, let it cool enough so the water won't burn your skin, then pour out the water and scrub the still-hot interior with a cut piece of lemon. Electric kettles often have a capacity of 1.5 to 1.7 liters, or around 6 to 7 cups, so this solution may require as much as 1½ cups of lemon juice. You might need up to two pounds of lemons (about 10 to 12). If lemons are too expensive, head over to the store's section for baking ingredients, bulk spices or canning materials and price out citric acid and cream of tartar. Citric acid, a powder that's manufactured by fermenting a type of mold to match an acid found naturally in citrus, is used to adjust the pH of tomatoes and other produce during home canning. It's also used to add tang to recipes. Cream of tartar is made from tartaric acid, a natural by-product of the winemaking process. Among the reasons it shows up in recipes: It keeps whipped egg whites from deflating prematurely. If your grocery store sells spices in bulk, that's probably where you can purchase these powders most economically. Although both have an extremely tart taste, as you'd expect from an acid, they create only a slightly tangy smell, hinting at lemons or vinegar, while cleaning a kettle. For citric acid, KitchenAid recommends adding one tablespoon to enough water to cover the deposits. Bring it to a boil and pour out, then rinse and dry. Bon Appetit offers a slightly different recipe: Add enough water to cover the deposits, bring to a boil, then stir in a rounded teaspoon to a rounded tablespoon of citric acid, depending on the amount of water. Let sit 10 minutes. Rinse and swirl, and rinse again. If deposits are still visible, repeat this process, but wait longer, even overnight, before you empty and rinse. For cream of tartar, Hamilton Beach recommends putting ½ teaspoon of the powder into the kettle and adding enough water to fill it halfway. Bring to a boil, let cool, then empty and rinse several times. Whatever solution you choose, you get the idea: Dilute an acid in water. Use heat and time to make the cleaner work better. Repeat the process if you need to. Rinse well. And next time, don't wait as long to clean so you have less to remove. Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@ Put 'How To' in the subject line, tell us where you live and try to include a photo.
