If shaking a bottle feels too low-tech, buy a water hardness test strip online or at any hardware store. They cost less than a fancy latte. You literally dip it in a glass of tap water for two seconds, wait a minute, and compare the color to a chart.
Don’t be shocked if the strip turns deep purple or dark blue. That’s the “very hard” zone. It’s not a judgment on your character. It’s just the minerals saying, “We’re here, and we brought friends.”
How To Determine Water Hardness In Grains at Leslie Green blog
The scale usually runs from 0 to 25 grains per gallon (gpg). Under 3 is soft. Over 7 is hard. Over 12? You’re basically washing dishes in prehistoric seawater.
What about “Precipitation?”
Another dead giveaway: white crust on faucets. That’s not from your house being haunted. That’s hard water drying and leaving behind a little rock castle. You can scrub it off with vinegar, but it’ll be back like a clingy ex.
Also, if your tea has a weird, oily film on top? That’s the minerals reacting with the tannins. It’s perfectly safe, but it tastes like a disappointing Monday morning.
