Thread: Lather and Hard Water

I'm fighting the same problem right now, Michael. I've actually had to stop using my straights for the moment until I get all the variables dialed in. The water at my new apartment complex is not only hard, but heavily chlorinated, with a powerful chlorine smell straight from the tap.

I used to use creams almost exclusively, but I find with this water I just can't get a lather from them. I had to use a ton of cream to get a barely passable lather. I found that by using Tabac or MWF soaps I was able to control the lather making process a lot better. I filter the tap water I'm using through a Pur water filter. This removes the chlorine residue and helps a little with the hardness. I was using distilled water, but I found the filtered water gave me almost identical results.

I'm hoping to get everything worked out, so that I can go back to the straights. Good luck with your problem!

Don

I have hard water allso and I had to repair washers on the sink a lot.I put a softner in 15 yrs ago and I have not had to fix a washer in the sink yet and I only use half the soap doing the laundry and a better shower and shave both...it was worth it.
the pay back is a lot of other stuff + a better shave.

i have the same trouble the area of london i live in very hard water + clorinated + plus what ever else makes it taste terrible personaly i use a britta waterfiler jug and use the water cold to make my lather seems to work great i fill a cup from it and just let my brush soak in that for a while

and this is why I love this forum. I googled "shaving soap hard water" and this thread showed up.

one question for the chemistry minded: My roommate is a Chem major, and has access to a crapload of De-Ionized water. Would this work as well as distilled water? I'm not a total dunce with chemistry, but I'm not exactly a whiz-kid with it either. I'm just wondering if I should go to kroger for a jug of distilled water or send him to the DI tap with an empty milk jug.

Try adding some baking soda. It will soften the water up.

Originally Posted by SupaFad

Try adding some baking soda. It will soften the water up.

how do you mean adding? like sprinkle a pinch in the bowl when I lather or melt the puck of soap and mix it in or put a pinch in the water when I soak the brush?

Originally Posted by 96firephoenix

how do you mean adding? like sprinkle a pinch in the bowl when I lather or melt the puck of soap and mix it in or put a pinch in the water when I soak the brush?

Sorry, didnt give you detail. Use about 1/2 a tsp to a full tsp in a cup of water. Stir till it dissolves. I actually drink this when I feel a cold coming on. A tsp in a glass of water. When you drink it, it feels soft and almost silky. Let me know if this helps.

Originally Posted by 96firephoenix

and this is why I love this forum. I googled "shaving soap hard water" and this thread showed up.

one question for the chemistry minded: My roommate is a Chem major, and has access to a crapload of De-Ionized water. Would this work as well as distilled water? I'm not a total dunce with chemistry, but I'm not exactly a whiz-kid with it either. I'm just wondering if I should go to kroger for a jug of distilled water or send him to the DI tap with an empty milk jug.

De-ionized water from a chem lab is good stuff.
In some ways it is better than distilled water.

One caution ... some labs have serious nasty stuff
on the benches and nothing should not be taken home because
of the risk of contamination. Mostly some organic
solvents would give me pause. If this is a lab tat
it is safe to eat lunch in you are good to go, IMO.

But de-ionized water is used to clean...
and will do a fine job.

Give this guy's method a try
the Glycerin can be found on riteaid and walgreen's website but not in the store.