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[Desert Lily]

I had a water softener installed in my new house a couple months ago. I remembered soft water as the soap sudsing more & the silky feeling left behind. But I don't get good sudsing with soaps that are creamy, like Philosophy's Fresh Cream or with my shampoo that has conditioner in it. Does this sound right to you?

(Separate Background Story)

A subcontractor electrician said he had installed water softeners in a few of the other new houses here, so I bought one online at HD & had it delivered. That electrician was pulling my leg: he didn't know how to set the computerized top, he had 2 big leaks at the top, he was going to drain it into my sump pump (a big no-no), he put the filter after the softener instead of before, he didn't know how to bypass my outdoor spigots, he said he needed a part & was gone 3 hours, etc. When he was "done", I asked him to show me how it worked. Water shot out everywhere. He just stood there and didn't know what to do. I turned the water off, water off to the softener, and pulled the plug. He ruined the computer at the top (it filled with water/condensation) and burst the resin beads. Geez. No, I didn't pay him; he cost me the price of the water softener that he destroyed.

Then, I had 2 plumbers come and give me estimates. I liked the setup with the filter one had, and went with him. He's 3rd generation in the family plumbing biz, and he did an excellent job of removing the old mess, installing the new setup, bypassing, draining, and he labeled everything for me. He has decades of experience & with the brand he used. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with the softener or the amount of salt he started with and recommended.

If you have a softener, do you get the extra sudsing with creamy soaps & conditioner shampoos?

[new nickname 4]

@Desert Lily , my Culligan water softner is old, so not much help with your question.  However, when it was first installed, I too remember the silky feeling.  Now not so much, possibly due to it's age.

I also wonder though, I used to have Culligan deliver and replace the salt, now they don't so I have to go to the local stores and buy it myself.  I try to buy Culligan, but often times I have to settle for Morton brand.  The pellets are awful, and don't seem to desolve well.  

And sadly the soap sudsing has been decreased by the soaps being made.  I firmly believe my laundry detergent was much better in the previoius years, but they have changed the formula to be better for the environment, but not necessarily better for cleaning clothes.

[Imaoldhippie]

I think products put less fillers in their products today that create less suds, which really does nothing but make one think all that suds in a good thing.  The suds does nothing but look good.

How long have you been using your softener?  And Im not sure what you mean by creamy products.

  The softener we have at our home in Ohio softens everything and our water is from a well with lots of iron in it.  The salt we use has to be iron out or everything will turn bright orange.

[Patriot3]

I wouldn't be without a water softener.  I don't know about soaps other than Dial that I use in the shower, Bath and Body Works foam soap that I have at my sinks and ALL free and clear for laundry.

They all have the silky feeling.  The ALL does not suds much because it's not supposed to, but still has the silky feeling.

I don't use a conditioning shampoo.  I have used Dial soap with a wash cloth, line dried, for more years than I can remember.  Never bought special soap for my face either.  The wash cloth exfoliates.  No one believes my age........good genes help, too

[nycalady]

I've used fresh cream in homes with and without water softeners, the only time I got the suds shown in the QVC demos is in a jetted tub with the jets running, I love the fragrance & continue to use it regardless.

[brandiwine]

Be sure to cut the amount of laundry soap by about 50%. If not you will have lots of soap residue. Same holds true for bubble bath.

[Foxxee]

@Desert Lily 

Sudsing has been very puzzling to me.  Initially, I had a Culligan in this house that sudsed so much, I had to rinse off before getting out of the tub.  We used Culligan and Lowes salt.  No difference.  

Now, I have a Kinetico.  It doesn't suds very much, but the water feels slippery...what others call "silky." Tests show the water is very softened. Used Lowes salt at first, now Kinetico.  No difference.  

I have no idea what's going on.  Maybe, formulas have changed by soap and detergent manufacturers.  Fewer sudsing agents for environmental reasons.  

[RedTop]

I second cutting back on laundry detergent or you will have a lot of soap residue in your laundry, especially towels.  

[brandiwine]

I had to quit using dishwasher pods as well.  I now use dishwasher gel and only fill the container half full.  Was having an excess suds problem there.

[AuntG]

I wonder if it has something to do with regulations put on items (like washing machines that determine how much water to use and toilets that flush on 1.5 gallons). Our town mandates that our softeners get checked so that they don't expel too much salt. You might not get as many suds, but if you don't have a soapy residue, I think it's working.