The water softener cleaner is a liquid or a chemical that will aid you in cleaning the water softener. The method of water softening is a simple conversion of contaminated, hard water, that is full of impurities, into soft water.
The system can get understandably grubby, and full of those impurities that we talked about. This is why it is so vital to clean it, to ensure the water remains soft and safe for use. That’s where a water softener cleaner comes in.
In this article we will be taking you through some of the best water softener cleaners on the market, giving you a run-through of the pros and cons of each, and providing you with an honest overview of them. As if that wasn’t enough, we have also packed with the article with lots of information about water softener cleaners, letting you know what features you should look out for to help you choose the right one, and answering any frequently asked questions you may have. So, without further ado, here is our product list…
Are you in a Rush? Here are our Top Picks
12 Best Water Softener Cleaners Reviews
Here are reviews of some of the most appropriate cleaners. You can use these for your softener cleaning.
| Cleaner Name | Shipping Weight (lb) | Removes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Res-Up Water Softener Cleaner | 9.8 | Iron precipitate |
| 2. Res Care Liquid Water Softener Cleaner | 9.49 | All Purpose |
| 3. Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protect System Water Softener | 50 | All Purpose |
| 4. Res Care All-Purpose Water Softener Liquid | 4.9 | Iron, manganese, silt, metal particles and organic compounds |
| 5. Pro Products RO65N Rust Out Water Softener Cleaner | 4.75 | Iron and rust buildup |
| 6. Whirlpool Water Softener Cleanser Formula | 1 | Harmful deposits |
| 7. Ecopure EPCL Universal Water Softener Cleaner | 1 | Iron, sediment, dirt, and rust |
| 8. Morton MWSC Universal Water Softener Cleanser | 0.8 | Iron, sediment, dirt, and rust |
| 9. Ban-T Alkaline Water Neutralizer and Cleaner | 4.25 | Tannin and iron |
| 10. OUT Filter Mate Water Softener Cleaner and Salt Booster Powder | 1.5 | Light iron build-up ( |
| 11. Pro Products Softener Mate SM65N City Water Softener Cleaner | 4.3 | Limited iron, manganese, silt, metal particles and organic compounds |
| 12. Kenmore 3442707 Water Softener Cleaner | Iron and rust |
1. Res-Up Water Softener Cleaner
Res-Up’s Water Softener Cleaner is the perfect choice when it comes to ensuring the quality of your water softener system remains intact. You can really notice the difference when using this cleaner, especially when tasting the water afterward. Your laundry will be softer and cleaner, and the water itself will be clear as crystal.
This cleaner breaks down iron as well as water contaminants. No longer will you have unsightly stains in your tub and bathroom sink – this product does it all! It restores the resin in your tank, cleaning it deeply. What we love about it is that it is easy to use. Simply pour it straight from the bottle into your tank – it’s as easy as that.
2. Res Care Liquid Water Softener Cleaner
Res Care is by a brand called Pro Products – take note of this name because they feature heavily in this article! They are a trusted brand in the industry, and so you can rest assured that their products will be top quality. Their Res Care Liquid Water Softener Cleaner is a great choice for ensuring your softener system is in tip-top condition.
The fact that it is a liquid cleaner makes your life that little bit easier too, you can just add the liquid into the sat tank and set it to manually regenerate. Easy as pie, right?
It is specially formulated to help remove all of the contaminants in your tanks, such as iron, scale-causing chemicals, and other substances that can not be removed by salt alone. It is compatible with most systems, but of course, you should check its compatibility with your system just to ensure it is the correct type. The result is cleaner, clearer, and crisper water after just one use.
3. Morton Salt 1501 Clean Protect System Water Softener
Simple but effective is the name of the game for Morton’s Salt cleaning solution. The salt is an essential part of your water softening system, as we all know.
However, what makes this one so special is the fact that it cleans and protects your system as well as the water, helping to prevent build up in pipes and all your appliances. It comes in a variety of sizes and puts the focus on prevention to ensure that your system never gets so bad that it stops working or starts producing harmful water.
4. Res Care All-Purpose Water Softener Liquid
Like the Rescare product by ProProducts we discussed earlier, this All-Purpose Liquid is yet another trusted and efficient cleaner. This one works quickly to remove the contaminants from your tank, extending the life of your resin bed in the process.
It can break down the organic compounds and traces of iron left behind to ensure that you do not get odd tastes and odors coming from the tank – no more gross water for you! Using it couldn’t be easier – simply pour it right into the tank and let it do its thing.
If you want, you can also set it up on a continuous feed system to introduce it continuously. The instructions are super easy to follow and it is compatible with most water softener systems.
5. Pro Products RO65N Rust Out Water Softener Cleaner
Yet another Pro Products cleaner graces our article, and this time we have the Rust Out Water Softener Cleaner. As the name suggests, this is the ideal choice if you suffer from a build up of rust. If your main water source is in the form of a well, then it is likely that excess iron is a problem for you.
This is where Rust Out comes in. this cleaner delves deep into the rust build up in your resin bed and breaks it all down. It turns the iron and rust into a clean clear solution that can be washed away with ease when the softer has regenerated.
It makes your life easier in more ways than one – not only does it stop those unsightly red stains in your toilet, tub and sink, but it is also very easy to use, requiring very little effort from you. Simply put it into the brine or salt tank and let it do its thing for a little while. Then you can manually regenerate your water softener, and it will be good to go.
6. Whirlpool Water Softener Cleanser Formula
Next up on our list is this Water Softener Cleanser formula from Whirlpool. This cleanser has been confined in a sophisticated and easy to use bottle. It has a long-lasting effect on removing different contaminants from your softener system as quickly and efficiently as possible.
It also works to help prevent the buildup of iron, metal, and organic compounds in your water softener systems with the help of an active reaction system. This ensures that your home water softener system will work as expected and will deliver the finest results.
Whilst the name suggests it will only work with Whirlpool-branded systems, it is actually compatible with many others – just be sure to check before you use it!
7. Ecopure EPCL Universal Water Softener Cleaner
This affordable, eco friendly option is a great versatile choice that is compatible with many water softener systems. It can get to the resins and contaminants that build up in your system with ease, and dissolve them to give you the best results. From iron to rust, from dirt to sediments, you name it, Ecopure clears it.
It will get your system thoroughly cleaned from the resin bed to the valves, all with one application, making your life easier. The best part is that you only need to use this water softener cleaner every 4 months for the best results. If you use it in the right way then it is said to increase the lifespan of a water softener from one to five years – a worthy investment in our eyes!
8. Morton MWSC Universal Water Softener Cleanser
For good maintenance of water softeners, a product such as Morton MWSC certainly is something to consider. A small amount of this product does a great job of increasing the lifespan of your water softener. Morton is one of the most reliable water softener cleaner companies present in the market which gives more customer confidence when buying their product.
It removes harmful toxins that accumulate on the resin bed or valves. It works well with many water softener cleaners so you don’t have to worry about its compatibility.
All you need is to use this cleaner every four months to increase the efficiency of your water softener. It gets rid of all the harmful substances from the water softener that become a hurdle in its efficiency and life span. These substances include iron, manganese, silt, rust, and organic compounds.
9. Ban-T Alkaline Water Neutralizer and Cleaner
Ban-T water softener cleaner is yet another great option to go for. It comes in powdered form and you have to dissolve it into a solution yourself following the instructions that come with it. You can also choose to put it straight into the tank if you have a salt storage tank.
The cleaner works well in getting to the main parts of the softener and reacts quickly to dissolve hard metals, tannins and other organic compounds that could cause harm to your system, appliances, and even yourself.
And boost up the efficiency of the water softener. It also lowers the pH level of the water it produces. As if that wasn’t enough it is also tough on stains, helping to remove and prevent stains caused by rust – no more unsightly red rings!
10. OUT Filter Mate Water Softener Cleaner and Salt Booster Powder
This product by Out Filter can be used for several purposes which makes it pretty impressive. You can use it as a softener, cleaner and salt booster. This product makes sure to remove hardness from the water resulting in healthy usable water.
Secondly, this cleaner can remove various harmful toxins such as iron build up, rust, tannins, and other organic compounds and debris, that get accumulated on the resin bed or valve-like areas of the machine. This, in turn, results in an increased life span of the product. It is efficient and easy to use – an all-rounder in our eyes!
11. Pro Products Softener Mate SM65N City Water Softener Cleaner
If you are searching for an effective, functioning resin cleaner that can be used if your water runs from the municipal or city supply, then this one’s for you. This cleaner will work efficiently to enhance the working of the softener. The powerful and robust chemical formula of the Pro Products Softener Mate SM65N works amazingly for cleaning the softener from iron and other dissolvable impurities.
Moreover, you can also use it to enhance the working of the salt that you use to clean the water in the softener. When the softener is used for a longer period, without proper cleaning, the competence of the softener is reduced immensely – this product stops that from happening, providing it with the level of maintenance it needs to continue running smoothly and safely.
12. Kenmore 3442707 Water Softener Cleaner
Last but by no means least is this Water Softener Cleaner by Kenmore. We couldn’t not include this, because although it only works for Kenmore systems, given the popularity of Kenmore systems, we know that a lot of our customer base will be interested.
It ensures the longevity of your water softening system, helping to break down harmful contaminants that can cause build up if left untreated. It can restore the resin best and leave all of your appliances clean and free of ugly red stains.
Water tastes as fresh as ever, and all of your dishes and laundry will be squeaky clean. As if that wasn’t enough it is easy to use and only needs to be used every four months, making your life that little bit easier.
Best Water Softener Cleaner – Complete Buyer’s Guide
When it comes to choosing a water softener cleaner, it is important to consider a number of different factors to ensure that you are buying the right one for your needs. There are so many different types of water softener cleaners out there that it can be hard to know what exactly you should go for.
Luckily for you, we are experts, and we have decided to put our years of experience to use and let you know exactly what to look for when you are buying a water softener cleaner. In this section of the article we have broken down the buying process into a number of different factors that you should consider before purchasing a cleaner. Think of it as your own personal Buyers’ Guide.
Compatibility
Compatibility – it is probably the most important consideration to make! You really need to make sure that the cleaner that you purchase is compatible with your particular brand of softener system. Take some of the examples on our list – many are ‘universal’ meaning they are compatible with almost every brand (make sure to check just in case).
Whereas other products on our list are only compatible with their specific brand – the Kenmore product for example should only be used with Kenmore systems. An incompatible product could mean that it will be an ineffective waste of money at best, or could damage your system beyond repair at worst. With all this in mind, we are sure you can agree with us about the importance of ensuring compatibility between them.
Easy to Pour
Most of the time, the water softener cleaners are not as easy to pour down into the softeners with efficiency. That’s because they are stored in bottles that are either difficult to handle like some of the huge ones on this list, or are not ergonomic. That is not to say that all big bottles will be difficult to pour.
As long as you ensure there are handles and easy pour spouts or caps then the bigger bottles should not be an issue. Likewise, if you have a powdered cleaning solution, then you should ensure you can easily decant the amount of powder needed from the container and not have any spillages.
Advanced Cleaning Technologies
The whole point of investing in a water softener cleaner is that it should clean the softener thoroughly. The efficiency of a water softener system can be minimized due to the rust stains that might be there along with contaminations and buildup.
To avoid these problems within your softener system you will need to purchase a water softener cleaner that has got advanced cleaning technologies, proven to cut through all of this build up, dispersing any rust and iron, and helping to prevent future build ups from happening.
Consider what sort of cleaner you need
By this we mean that you need to think about the main problems affecting your water softener system. Do you suffer from metallic tasting or smelling water supplies? Perhaps it smells like sulfur?
Identify whether there is a rust or iron build up or whether the problem is related to mold and bacteria build up. This will then dictate what sort of cleaner you buy. Whilst most cleaners will disperse bacteria and mold, not all of them are as effective against rust, so if your rust issue is particularly prominent you should choose a rust specific cleaner like some that we have listed above.
Go for an Odorless Water Softener Cleaner
This is also important. You need to buy a water softener cleaner that offers odorless cleaning, or at least, as odorless as possible. Just think, this cleaner is going to be inside your water softener tank – the same water softener tank provides tap water, shower water, laundry water and dish water. Ensure it is not going to leave nasty smells (and tastes!) behind.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using A Water Softener Cleaner
Now that you know all about the best water softener cleaners on the market, and know exactly what to look for when you are purchasing one for yourself, you may well be wondering whether it is worth buying one. (Spoiler alert: the answer is yes). We have decided to tell you all about the advantages and disadvantages of using a water softener cleaner to help you decide for yourself if it’s worth it.
Advantages
- In our opinion, the advantages of using a water softener cleaner are glaringly obvious. I mean, who wouldn’t want a safe supply of water for use in their home? Having a clean water supply means that you don’t have to worry about contamination from organic compounds, iron, rust, and debris. Your water will be soft, safe for cooking with, and will not stain your appliances.
- It can stop the build up of scales and unsightly stains. Having hard water can cause scales on the inside of appliances such as your washing machine, dishwasher, and even your kettle and water dispensers. You may think that having a water softener system automatically stops this…and it is – provided it is clean and in full working order. To ensure it is clean and in full working order you need to use a water softener cleaner. This ensures the system can still do its job and provide you with soft water that will not damage your appliances.
- Your water pressure may improve. Having a build up in your water softener system can cause issues such as low water pressure. You know that feeling when you are in the shower and it’s just trickling out, and nothing you seem to do will make the water come out faster? Well, that is a result of low water pressure. The build up in your water softener system blocks the pressure. However, using a cleaner can fix this issue for you.
- Using a water softener cleaner can also help you to have softer laundry. Yes, you read that correctly! Having hard water can cause laundry to be rough and stuff. The water softener cleaner removes scales and builds up, ensuring it can provide you with soft water again. This has a knock-on effect for all of your appliances, and you will certainly notice a difference with your freshly laundered clothes, sheets and towels.
- Using a water softener cleaner could potentially reduce plumbing costs. This is because you will be maintaining your water softener system, and in turn, will be helping to ensure lots of hard water does not begin to damage your internal water pipes and systems. Soft water can prevent harmful build ups of scale and rust throughout your home, and so it is well worth ensuring your water softener system is kept clean, right?
Disadvantages
- Sadly, there are some disadvantages of using a water softener cleaner, and they mostly revolve around the fact that the cleaners are chemicals or corrosives. This could potentially be harmful to our health.
- For example, you should not use these cleaners without protecting your clothes and skin.
- Due care should always be taken when handling liquids in case of spillages that could burn the skin. Powdered cleaners have the potential to irritate your eyes, skin and lungs so you should consider wearing a mask when using them.
- The cleaners can be toxic if ingested. For this reason it is absolutely essential that you follow the individual instructions on each cleaner before using it to ensure that none of the cleaners will be present in your water when you use it. This may involve flushing it out or running the generator manually.
Frequently Asked Questions for Water Softener Cleaners
What can I use to clean my water softener?
As you can probably imagine by now after reading this whole article, we truly believe that the best way to clean your water softener is to purchase a water softener cleaning product. Sure, there are probably lots of DIY ideas out there regarding the cleaning of water softener systems, however, we truly feel that it is best to err on the side of caution and stick with methods that have been thoroughly safety tested, especially since our water supply will be in constant use by you and your family.
Should I clean my water softener resin tank?
You absolutely should clean your water softener resin tank! We think that this is very important, and with the wealth of choice you have from our products above that can clean the resin tank and other parts of the water softener, we don’t see why you wouldn’t want to clean it!
There is certainly a common misconception that you “never” need to service them until the replacement interval of 15 to 20 years. However, in our opinion you should give them a good clean once in a while, especially as you will need to clean the whole system every few months anyway! You can guess when it is due to be cleaned when the tank regenerates more frequently than usual.
When should I clean my water softener?
The answer to this completely depends on your specific needs. We think, again, that it is better to be cautious. Many of the products we have listed above in our product review section state that they need to be used every few months. If you feel that your water supply needs it more often, then try it every other month.
Perhaps your water supply is relatively new and does not need cleaning that often, in which case once or twice a year may suit you. In fact, many of you may not have cleaned it for two or more years – that is fine!
Whatever suits you best is what you should do. Of course, if you are ever in doubt, perhaps because of metallic or sulfuric smells in your water, then there is no harm in giving it an earlier clean than planned!
Final Verdict
As you can see, when it comes to choosing a water softener cleaner, the choice is immense. As we are sure you can see, there is a cleaner out there for all of your needs, whether that be to disperse rust, reduce iron, or just to generally clean it out.
Pick one of our products from the list above to be reassured that you have a great product, or use our Buyers’ Guide and Frequently Asked Questions section to inform your buying choice if you want to choose your own.
Whatever you choose, remember to check how compatible it is with your particular water softener system, and always follow the instructions set on the cleaning product to ensure the safety of you and your family.
We hope this article and guide has proved helpful for you, thanks for reading!
