I'm near quiting :(

Just called the water company about the water hereabouts. Suspicions confirmed. This is the hardest water in the country. I spent 3 to 5 minutes getting a rich lather only to watch it collapse back to big bubbles while left with an aching arm. Useless to shave with. The 3-5 minutes I spend getting a lather leaves my face cold. I despair. Not quite given up but the thought of having to collect rain water or popping down to the nearest stream or river doesn't do a lot for me. This is getting me down. What can I do? Collecting rain water seems to be the answer so far. Any better plans as I don't have a garden.

 

Bottled water from your nearest grocery or discount store should do it.

 

I get spring water (free, from a spring), grab a gallon from the store and give it a shot. It's not expensive and you actually use very little to make a lather, that gallon will last a while. GL

 

Try a very small amount of table salt in your water (talking 1/4 tsp in a handbasin)

 

I agree... the best thing you can do is actually to use sea salt, but table salt will do too. you DONT want to use a whole lot though, the idea is to soften the water not to salinate it. But thats all the water softeners do.

Dont waste your time with bottled water, unless you have money to throw away... in which case, I have a wonderful piece of land I'd like to sell ya

 

I have hard water, too. Two things I can suggest that work for me. Face lather. I find it much easier to build a useful lather on my face than in a bowl. But I've been face lathering for a lot of years. Work it a bit on top of the puck using a wet brush then finish building on you face.

Buy a gallon of distilled water cheap at the grocery store. It works, though I rarely use it any more.

 

Thanks Guys,
I was real annoyed this morning after that episode. Left with arm ache lol then watched the loverly lather turn to bubbles.
I don't have sensitive skin but the razor jumping on my face due to no real lubrication I didn't enjoy at all. That was face lathering some Ingram's after the other lather collapsed.
Elmswell, it turns out is from old English, Elmswella, meaning a well beside elm trees. The well itself is a chalk aquifer and the water for here still comes from there. Super hard :mad:
I've put a pot out for rain water now but in the mean time I buy some spring water and use the kettle.
Its really been spoiling shaves as has my stupid hot water supply. Heating my own water will solve both
Thank for the suggestion's, I'll let you know how it turns out tomorrow.
David.

 

Also, you may be able to use some non-lathering creams. The idea makes me cringe because I am fortunate enough to be able to make good lather, but it beats giving up on shaving.

 

I'd go with a gallon of Spring Water or Distilled Water and try using a shave stick. This might help alot and it will go a long way. Don't give in.

 

I had an Epiphany while I was at work lol, there is a car parts shop in the next village that sells de-mineralized water in 5 gallon drums. That should do the trick I hope.
Maybe even look in the auctions for an nice old wash stand as well,
Quality

 

Sounds like a possible good tip while traveling. I've never had particularly hard water anywhere I've lived, but if I run into it on the road, I generally have a travel saltshaker with me.

 

Thanks for the salt tip. I will give that a try.

I've also heard on this site about adding a little Baking Soda to the water.

We have pretty hard water up here as well. I didn't realize this until I was on vacation down in Florida about 12 years ago. My buddy's apartment building had water softeners installed for all the units. That was one of the best shaves I've ever had with a blade. Almost didn't need shaving cream.

 

Boil your water.

 

I thought so too..... Boiling should do the trick as well

 

Unless you're distilling it, I don't see how boiling would help? Seems to me it would make it worse. You would end up with a greater concentration of particles per volume of water, the very definition of hardness.

 

If it's temporary (aka bicarbonate) hardness then boiling promotes the deposition of the calcium (ie. hardness) as calcium carbonate.

If it's permanent (aka sulphate) hardness then boiling will simply make the water hot.

Spot the guy who remembers chemistry from school 25+ years ago

 

Same idea - adding sodium ions to the water. Washing soda would work too as would caustic soda (but it would have other less welcome side effects)

 

I tried the sodium bicarbonate one this morning. Wow, I had forgotten what soap is meant to feel like. Not only got a nice lather but the slickness thats spoke of as well I didn't fancy using baking soda before but if I have to I guess I have to. I'm right out of funds to go buy the 5 gallon of distilled water, next week I can. In the end I intend to put a water butt in my Mum's garden and collect rain water for shaving with. Bit of a pain but thats ok. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help

 

retrubution;vidication

Yeah. Just calcium carbonate, or baking soda, can do it. As long as you have little devices (i.e. cup holders) to work your magic. That can make all the difference. And your awful situation(s) can be of incredible help to so many...

Let's all become amateur chemists....