Take a shiny new penny and rub it across your skin under the water. If the penny leaves a metallic taste or smell, you’ve got hard water.
Wait, that’s not a perfect test. Just ignore that one. But do this: fill a spray bottle with tap water and spray it on a clean mirror. Let it dry.
If you see a hazy white film, your softener is losing the fight. A crystal-clear mirror? Your softener is pulling its weight like a champ.
