With more than 25 years experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Terry is a WQA (Water Quality Association) certified water specialist, LEVEL 3, as well as a WQA certified sales representative. Terry currently sits on EcoWater Systems (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) national Peers committee, as a water treatment expert advising other water professionals with less experience on best trade and technology practices. EcoWater Systems of Nebraska is one of the biggest water treatment and water delivery businesses in the state.
If you have recently had a water softener/water conditioner installed in your home, you may have noticed that your skin has a slippery feel after bathing. Some people have reported that after installing a water softener, their water is too soft, and they struggle to rinse soap off their bodies while bathing. You may think this is strange, but this is actually a normal reaction for those new to soft water. 
What Is That Slippery Feeling?
It may be shocking, but that slippery feeling is actually the result of your skin getting cleaned. Hard water can leave an insoluble soapy film on your skin and hair that creates a “squeak” you can hear after bathing. Many of us have been using hard water all our lives, so we only know that “squeaky clean” feeling. Some soap manufacturers perpetuate this with “squeaky clean” commercials, making consumers believe this is what a clean body actually feels like.
Today, we know that “squeaky” is not actually clean. That squeaky feel is due to an invisible film of soap scum on our skin and hair. This can dry out or scalp, hair, and skin, building up and causing it to become itchy. Soft water does not leave a film on your body after bathing, resulting in a fresh but unfamiliar feeling to those who have just installed a water softener.
Is Soft Water Better Than Hard Water?
There is a good way that you can prove that that squeaky feeling is not actually good for your skin. You will notice that hard water leaves a ring around your bathtub, but soft water does not. That ring is made of sticky, scummy residue sticking to the tube, the same residue that can stick to your hair and skin, clogging up pores and making it feel dry and itchy. Soft water doesn’t leave a ring; it leaves your hair and skin clean and hydrated. Since there is no film of scum on your skin to create friction, the water does feel slippery.
Even if you rinse with soft water for 15 extra minutes, that slippery feeling will not go away. However, your soap will be long gone and your skin will be clean. After drying off, you should notice that your skin feels soft. You will also find that your hair feels more bouncy, no longer lifeless and weighed down by a hard water film. It should be easier to style and should keep curls longer.
Although it may take a little getting used to, once you understand that the slippery feeling from soft water is what water should feel like, you can enjoy a wonderfully clean feeling. You can also relax with the knowledge that the scum and film of hard water is no longer accumulating inside your fixtures and appliances. You may even find that you are using less soap and detergent, yet have sparkling clean dishes and soft, stain free laundry. Additionally, since there is a no longer mineral deposit accumulating inside your plumbing and appliances, you could even find that your energy bills decrease. Next time you think about your water feeling slippery, just consider all the wonderful things your soft water is doing for your body and your home.
If you are concerned about hard water and mineral accumulation, you should talk to a water treatment professional. A water expert who is fully WQA certified can help you to choose an exceptional water softener/water conditioner that exceeds industry standards.