Do you have hard water?
Do a quick and easy litmus test and find out in seconds! We'll send you the test for just £2.
You can do a quick and easy test at home to check if your water is hard or soft using a litmus paper test strip. Here’s how:
✅ What you’ll need:
- A litmus test strip - buy yours here!
- A clear glass or cup
- Tap water from your kitchen or bathroom tap
💧 Step-by-Step Instructions:
1) Fill the glass with water
- Use cold tap water
- Fill about halfway (enough to dip the strip fully)
2) Dip the test strip
- Take one litmus strip from the pack
- Dip it into the water for the time recommended on the package (usually just a few seconds).
3) Wait and compare colours
- Remove the strip and wait a few seconds as it changes colour
- Match the strip’s colour to the colour chart provided with your test kit
4) Read the result
- The colour will indicate your water’s pH level or hardness range, depending on the strip type
- Many hardness test strips show results in parts per million (ppm) or grains per gallon (gpg)
🧠 What the results mean:
Hardness Level Grains Per Gallon (gpg) Water Type
0 - 3 0 - 50 ppm Soft Water
4 - 7 50 - 120 ppm Moderately Hard
8 - 10 120 - 180 ppm Hard Water
11+ 180+ ppm Very Hard Water
💡 Tip from us:
If your strip shows 8 gpg or higher, you likely have hard water – and it may be time to consider a water softener to protect your plumbing, appliances, and skin