So, to summarize: expect to buy one 40-pound bag of salt every month for a family of four. That’s about $10 to $15, depending on where you shop. That’s cheaper than a pizza, and it saves your pipes from a mineral-crusted apocalypse. Is it worth it? Yes. Because hard water makes your hair look like a straw wig and turns your shower glass into a foggy crime scene.
And here’s a final surprise: the salt isn’t in your drinking water. The softener only adds a tiny amount of sodium—about the same as a slice of bread per glass. So you won’t turn into a human salt lick. Unless you also eat six bags of potato chips. In that case, that’s on you, not the softener. Now go buy your salt, keep your bouncers happy, and enjoy a life of soft, silky water—and a monthly trip to the store that feels like you’re smuggling a bag of instant ocean.
