What is an easy method to soften water?

Softening water generally refers to the process of reducing the hardness, which is primarily caused by high concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions. One effective method to achieve this is by diluting hard water with reverse osmosis (RO) water or distilled water.

When RO or distilled water is mixed with regular hard water, the overall concentration of hardness-causing minerals is lowered. This method works because both RO and distilled water contain negligible levels of these minerals, effectively "softening" the mixture. It is a straightforward approach that can be implemented easily and is particularly helpful in brewing and cooking, where water quality can significantly influence the final product.

In contrast, simply boiling water does not effectively soften it, as boiling can actually concentrate hardness minerals by evaporating water. Filtration systems can vary widely in effectiveness, and might not be sufficient if they do not specifically target hardness ions. Adding mineral salts is counterproductive, as it can actually increase the hardness of the water. Therefore, mixing in RO or distilled water stands out as the most effective and accessible method for softening water.