First up, the classic soap test. Grab a bar of soap or liquid soap and wash your hands. In hard water, soap barely lathers and leaves a sticky film. In soft water? You’ll get a rich, fluffy lather almost instantly—like a cloud exploded on your hands. If you’re still getting that squeaky, “dry” feeling after washing, your softener might be napping on the job.
Pro tip: Try it on your dishes, too. If your glasses come out of the dishwasher with cloudy spots or a rainbow film, that’s hard water residue throwing a party. Soft water leaves everything crystal clear, like your windows are suddenly invisible. (I mean, who knew your drinking glass could actually be transparent?)
