If your skin feels, dry, itchy and irritated, continual washing in hard water may be contributing to this. The calcium and magnesium minerals in hard water make it difficult for soap to form a soft lather when washing, and can leave behind a scummy residue that can easily block up your skin pores. These blockages prevent natural oils produced by your body, lubricating and moisturising the skin surface. Soft water is gentle on your skin. It forms a quick and easy lather with soap that can clean efficiently, and is quickly washed away, leaving your skin feeling fresh and soft. Your skin would naturally choose soft water.