The hardness of the water in your home is dependent on where you live. Minerals in the water cling to surfaces including metal, ceramic and glass and heating elements in water using appliances and household plumbing. The result is unsightly white deposits in your kettle, stains and scale on sinks, toilet bowls, around the base of taps and nasty brown deposits that come out of your iron. All ot this means reduced efficiency for your household appliances and taps and showers.