Crystal care CDA recommendation : Water

CdA recommendations: Water

Water hardness should be measured in milligrams per litre, which is an indication of the level of dissolved calcium that it contains.

To measure water hardness, take a thin test strip, which should have been supplied with your dishwasher or can be obtained from the customer services department of the washing powder that you use.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Allow the tap to run for a few seconds. Place the strip under the water and remove after 3 seconds.

2. Shake the strip to remove excess water. Wait 2 minutes before viewing the result.

3. Note the colours displayed on the strip and compare these to the illustration below; if the strip becomes pink in colour, you need to adjust the hardness of water entering the salt and rinse aid compartments (following the dishwasher instructions).

Very soft water
(0–20 mg/L as calcium)

Soft water
(20–40 mg/L as calcium)

Slightly hard water
(40–60 mg/L as calcium)

Hard water
(80–120 mg/L as calcium)

Could my water be ‘dirtying’ my crystalware?

The quality of your water supply will inevitably impact on cleaning results. It is therefore important to check water hardness.

This makes is easier to find and use suitable washing liquids and rinse aids, but also to control the flow of dishwasher salt into the machine (or water softener). The result will be a better wash and crystalware that shines.

Cautions

Softened water, i.e. water that doesn’t contain calcium, is especially corrosive; it can ruin crystal glasses in just a few washes. If water hardness levels fall below 24 mg/L, the water will attack the surface of the glass. This permanent and unfortunately irreversible damage manifests itself as a bluish tinge (iridescence) followed by a white film (corrosion). On the other hand, water with a very high calcium content can also deposit a white film during the rinsing cycle.

Prevention and cure

Water hardness levels should never go unchecked.
To avoid problems caused by softened water, it is important to adjust the supply of granular salt into the machine to suit the level of calcium present in the water (using the test strip) in order to achieve a level of hardness between 24 and 32 mg/L as calcium. You should also take care not to introduce too much salt into the machine: using a water softener, for example, with 3-in-1 tablets is not recommended, as this will result in soft water combining with an excess of salt.

Damage caused to crystal by soft water is less of a problem as it is temporary. The white film can be removed very easily by simply rubbing the item under running water