Lift the lid off your toilet tank. I know it’s gross, but do it for science. Look at the water inside. If it’s clear and clean, your softener is probably working. Hard water leaves a crusty, rusty ring around the waterline that looks like the remains of a forgotten chemistry experiment. A working softener keeps that water pristine, like a bottled spring, because the minerals aren’t there to form deposits.
Warning: If you see a slimy, colorful film on top of the water, that’s bacteria—not a softener issue. Call an exorcist. Or a plumber. One of them will help.
