Shower filter once more

[foraloysius]

After reading the thread about shower filters I realised that was just the thing I needed with my sensitive skin. Unfortunately those filters are not available in the stores here so I did a Google search and found two Dutch sites with shower filters. I decided that my Grohe thermostatic valve deserved a design filter so I chose for the slim filter. It was delivered today. Here's a picture.

 

[mistereric]

What sort of badness does this filter out?

 

[foraloysius]

Mainly calcium and chlorine.

 

[whirlaway]

Badness

Maybe a few old tricks,I could use that one,

 

[toggleswitch2]

You? Old tricks? LOL

ooooh Louis, that is a nice one!

I used to let NYC water sit in the refrigerator for a few days to allow the chlorine to escape/dissipate wihtout the need for chemaical neutralization. (Learned this trick when I had an aquarium; must do it or the chrlorine eats the fish's gills). Now on Long island no one drinks tap water. Nasty stuff.

In terms of sensitive skin, when it gets really cold out I can only use soap on the pits and inseam areas and let other parts (arms legs, etc) get cleaned just from falling shampoo and soap. If I use soap every day my skin eill crack and bleed. Of course the use of a humidifier in winter helps me as well!

At Gadget's house we save the heat and the humidity from his electric clothes dryer. Since his heating system is forced-warm-air, we run the fan to distitribute the humidity evenly. Works well!

Let us know how you like your filter.

:-0

 

[toggleswitch2]

Louis, please pardon the ingnorance, [dont laugh!]but I feel I should ask.

On which side is the hot and on which side is the cold?
Been to Europe twice (four countires overall, including yours), but don't recall.

Here hot on left, cold on right.

Thanks!

 

[foraloysius]

Steve

Until now I am not really impressed but perhaps I should be more patient. Patience is a virtue as I recall... LOL

Overhere it's the same, hot on the left, cold on the right. However, this faucet is a thermostatic one, temperature control on the right and on/off/flow control on the left. This helps me not to shower too hot, I really like hot showers, but it's very bad for the skin.

BTW, I use about the same procedure for showering!!

 

[whirlcool]

These filters really help when combined with a sensitive skin soap like Basis Soap, or Cetaphil. I have been trying not to shower every day in the winter, only when I am working. My last trip took me from SEA to BOS via MSP a few days ago. By the time I got home, I had to go on Bendryl to stop my skin from itching from the dryness I encountered.
I also have a prescription moisturizer from my dermatologist which helps tremendously.

 

[whirlaway]

Dry Skin

I suffer from dry skin also,usually from the water being too hot.I found that french soap really helps,bought some at TJ Maxx.It smells like a french whore,but cleans well.Then I rub down with lubriderm.Talk about a good thread,what do others use in the winter? Thanks Bobby

 

[mielabor]

Does it work?

I have my doubts. For removing calcium and chlorine ions (Do you have chlorine in the tap water in Groningen? Many places in the Netherlands use ozone.) you need either a ion exchanger or a reverse osmosis installation. Both are much larger in size than the filter you have. Based on your filter size I can only imagine that it can remove said ions from a few litres of water and then it will be exhausted. Also, the water flow through the exchanger must be slow. With your filter it should not be no more than that of a dripping tap.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Actually Theo the chlorine filter cartridge I had seen was huge compared to that one. I had the same thought; tiny.

 

[foraloysius]

Theo

Yes, we have chlorine in the water here in Groningen. A while ago we got a letter from the water company that said that sometimes the amount of chlorine in the water would even be increased and indeed on some days you can smell it.

I decided to purchase the filter because in a previous thread people were positive about the effect of shower filters. I took the plunge, I thought it was worth trying for 39 euros. Here's the link to the website where I bought it. There are also details about the filter material. I purchased the smaller one since I am single. And to be honest I also liked this design better than the design of the other models.

http://www.startfit.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=80&osCsid=4f9odutfnepbgcaco7p2nqa7h0

 

[whirlcool]

Louis:

Are you happy with the results you are seeing with the shower filter? Is it helping your skin?

A few weeks ago I took a shower without using the filter. When I was done the bathroom smelled like someone had thrown Clorox all over the walls. And my skin regretted it for three days afterwards too.

 

[mielabor]

Chlorine > chloride

Louis,

I have followed your link and I see that the filter can remove chlorine from the water by converting it into chloride ions. So I am now less sceptical about the effectiveness of the filter in this respect. Removal of calcium isn't mentioned with the types of filter material used.

Amsterdam doesn't use chlorine in the tap water preparation so the shower filter wouldn't make sense here. Many years ago during my study I have visited the Amsterdam water treatment plant and have seen the ozone generators and the mixing of the ozone gas with the water. Calcium is also partially removed during the treatment process. Not all calcium can be removed as the water then becomes too chemically aggressive and can attack metal pipes resulting in high copper and lead contamination at the user.

 

[foraloysius]

Allen,

I will have to see in the long run if this works or not. At the moment I am not really impressed, but then again I do have a very problematic skin and I can't use a humidifier due to my asthma. I do find it worth trying though.

Theo,

At the top of the page it says: "Deze filter zuivert uw douchewater in 4 stappen van kalk, chloor en chemicaliën". I was a bit skeptical since there are only two things in there to treat the water... But although I don't notice a big difference with my skin yet I do see a difference in calcium build up on the bathroom faucet. Because it is flat on top there is always water left behind and when that dries up it is now less white with calcium build up than before.

Overhere in Groningen the water is also softened, before that happened the water hardness was around 14DH IIRC nowadays it is around 10DH.