Hardness Calcium and magnesium ions contribute to water hardness. When washing, add more detergent. Some of the detergent will be used to tie up the hardness ions and soften the water before the remaining detergent can do the cleaning. Hardness in water could be a problem for your laundry.
Hardness minerals interfere with the cleaning action of soaps and detergents.
It's harder to achieve good laundry results with water that contains the calcium or magnesium ions that contribute to water hardness. Soils on fabrics can also add to the hardness of your wash water. When washing, add more detergent. Some of the detergent will be used to tie up the hardness ions and soften the water before the remaining detergent can do the cleaning. When non-phosphate detergents containing carbonate builders tie up the hardness ions, a white precipitate, calcium and magnesium carbonate, forms and may give clothes white streaks.