Often we give lots of thought to our laundry routines: what detergent to use, how to sort our loads, how often to wash, which cycles and temperatures to use... But not nearly so often (or at least, not nearly as many of us) give as much thought to our water quality. Perhaps this is due to the fact that we can't really change the quality of our water as it enters our washing machine, but it certainly does interplay with all the other factors in determining how well our clothes and diapers get clean. The terms "hard" and "soft" when applied to water merely refer to the concentration of minerals in the water, such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. Over the long term, these minerals can leave residue in water pipes and stains in your various wash areas (kitchen sink, bathtub), but they can make a difference in the short term too, as the minerals will interplay with your detergent, affecting the outcome. This is why it's important to know what kind of water you have so that you can select the appropriate detergent.  This is also why Rockin' Green has formulated three different types of detergent: Hard Rock, Soft Rock, and Classic Rock. (And of course, it's important to know what scent you like so that you can select the appropriate detergent that way, too!) So, how to do figure out what kind of water you have (unless of course, you have orange-brown stains running from under every tap...)? We've put together various resources to help you out: How to Determine Your Water's Hardness Level List of Canadian Cities and their Water Hardness Levels Color-coded Map of Canada According to Water Hardness So here's hoping your every load of laundry is mineral-residue free and Rockin' Clean! Previous: Eucalan No Rinse Wool Wash