Hard water contains naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium. These are essential minerals and contribute small amounts to your daily intake when you drink tap water. For most people, hard water is perfectly safe to drink and doesn’t pose a health risk.

When hard water mixes with soap, shampoo and body wash, it can be harder to rinse cleanly. This can leave a mineral residue on the skin and hair. Over time, people in hard water areas often notice tighter skin after showering, hair that feels rough or heavy, or products that don’t seem to work as well as they used to.

Appliances and plumbing

Inside kettles, boilers, dishwashers and washing machines, hard water minerals can settle as limescale. This build-up reduces efficiency and makes appliances work harder than they should. Over time, that can mean higher energy use, slower heating, more frequent maintenance — and a shorter lifespan for appliances.

Making hard water easier to live with

We help UK households understand hard water and choose effective fixes for a healthier, happier home.

Hard water explained • products reviewed • limescale sorted

Running bathroom tap with toiletries beside the sink, illustrating everyday hard water use in the home.

Hard water affects your health and home daily

Hard water isn’t harmful to drink — and in some ways, it can even be beneficial. But around the home, especially where water meets heat, soap and appliances, those same minerals can cause everyday annoyances that build up over time.

In-depth reviews

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Curo Skin filtered shower heads shown together, a popular hard water shower filter reviewed for skin and hair benefits

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Reverse osmosis system with 4 stages, surrounded by six tilted glasses. Blue and green geometric background enhances focus.

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Hands holding three glasses of tap water against a patterned background.

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Not sure what hard water is — or why it matters? This beginner-friendly UK guide explains what causes hard water, how it affects your shower, skin, home and appliances, and the practical ways you can deal with it.

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Our mission

Welcome to Hard Water Home your trusted guide to understanding hard water and its everyday impact. Hard water affects around 60% of UK households, showing up as limescale, dry skin, dull hair and less efficient appliances. We’re here to make sense of it all — and help you choose the right solutions for your home.