I moved to Virginia in 2025 and immediately noticed that the water was leaving a strange residue on my skin and hair.
And the water gets worse the further you move from Washington, D.C., into Virginia. and particularly in Fairfax County.
My family recently came to me about my niece’s hair. They said her hair texture was similar to mine and felt rough and dry. I touched it and knew immediately that it was the hard tap water.
Virginia’s tap water is classified as moderately hard to hard. This is due to the calcium and magnesium deposits found in the state’s bedrock and limestone aquifers.
While the water is perfectly safe to drink, it can leave a chalky residue and scale buildup on anything it comes in contact with. This includes your washed food, your body, and even your clothing.
Below are the ways I combat Virginia’s hard tap water.
#1 Get a Filter Showerhead
A filter showerhead is a must! I noticed changes to my hair and skin within days. I also have eczema and psoriasis, so this was a huge game-changer for me!
I combined the showerhead with my regular hair routine (Shampoo > Conditioner > Heat Protectant > Hair Oil), and my hair feels much softer and more manageable all day long.
Filter showerhead brands that I recommend include Jolie and Filterbaby. The filters will need to be changed every 3 months.
I get these Jolie filter replacements on Amazon, and they are much more affordable.
#2 Get a Home Water Purifier eSpring
Most tap and bottled water sources have a pH level of 5.5-6.5. The pH level within your body is 7.5.
A good home water purifier removes hard minerals and chlorine from your water.
I highly recommend the eSpring water purifier because it offers the best-tasting water, uses UV light to disinfect your water, and elevates your water’s pH level to 7.5.
It also prevents Virginia’s hard tap water from leaving a film on your washed fruits and vegetables. You’ll taste the difference. See more
A proper home water purifying system will typically have the following:
The filter will need to be changed annually. You can see the water filter and all its replacement accessories here. It’s cheaper and healthier than buying water bottles.
#3 Adding Baking Soda to Your Laundry
It’s no surprise that Virginia’s hard water is also leaving a film on your laundry.
My remedy for this is adding 3 tablespoons of Baking Soda to your laundry load with a biodegradable detergent.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) softens hard water by neutralizing dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals.
Its alkaline properties force these minerals to form solid particles (precipitates) that settle out of the water, which helps prevent soap scum, improves lathering, and stops mineral buildup on fabrics and surfaces.
Most big box detergents are also filled with harmful chemicals that leech into our earth and sewage systems. They also come in plastic containers, which never truly get recycled and shed microplastics. It’s best to use products that are traceable and good for your body and the Earth.
#4 Install a Whole House Water Softening System
If you can make long-term updates to your home, we highly recommend a whole-home water softener.
This is the most cost-effective and will deliver soft water throughout the home for years.
If you found our post about how to handle Virginia’s hard water helpful, please share this post. Thanks for your support!
Thank you for visiting today! If you found this encouraging or informative, please connect with us on Instagram or TikTok. Sign up for our monthly newsletter for updates and more. We promise we won't spam you! Feel free to unsubscribe anytime. If you're a brand and want to work with us, please visit this page to get in touch.
