Water hardness tip no. 1
When washing laundry, observe the dosage recommendations on the detergent packaging. In order to not unnecessarily burden the waste water, only use as much detergent as is really necessary.
Hard on the Outside, Soft on the Inside
Berlin's water contains many essential minerals, which is why it is called "hard". This is good for the human body, but irritates coffee machines, dishwashers etc.
In general: the higher the mineral content, the harder the water or the higher the degree of "water hardness". This is measured in "degrees of hardness" (°dH) and classifies drinking water according to hardness ranges:
| Total hardness [°dH] | Water attribute |
|---|---|
| less than 8.4 °dH | soft water |
| 8.4 to 14 °dH | water of medium hardness |
| more than 14 °dH | hard water |
Berlin's water is very rich in minerals and, therefore, has an average hardness of 14 to 25 °dH. According to the scale of the regulations on detergents and cleaning agents (WRMG), Berlin's drinking water is considered to be "medium hard to hard". Spandau's water hardness is below average (15.4 °dH), Hellersdorf's water hardness is above average (21 °dH).
The water quality is not influenced negatively by the water hardness, in fact the opposite applies: The many minerals contained within have a positive effect on the human body and are an essential component of a healthy diet. For this reason, water softening is unnecessary.
Water Filter, no Thanks!
In Berlin additional treatment processes to improve the drinking water's quality are not necessary. However, water filters can be useful in order to protect the drinking water installation from limescale. Therefore pay attention to the DVGW approval mark when buying appliances.
What Do I Need to Observe when Using Hard Water in my Household?
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Water hardness tip no. 2
Special salts are available for dishwashers who soften the water and prevent limescale deposits on the dishes or inside the machine.
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Water hardness tip no. 3
Only regular cleaning prevents limescale deposits in the kitchen or bathroom - household remedies such as vinegar or citric acid facilitate the cleaning process.
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Water hardness tip no. 4
Calcified coffee machines require decalcifiers. The same effect can also be achieved using vinegar essence or citric acid.
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Water hardness tip no. 5
Tea enthusiasts prefer soft water. But with a little trick, even hard water quickly becomes soft: Simply boil it two to three times. This causes the limescale to deposit at the bottom of the kettle.
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Water hardness tip no. 6
Steam irons can be filled with normal or boiled water. Due to its altered pH value, distilled water corrodes steel, which makes it unsuitable for use in irons.