Pawfly Water Hardness Test Strips 100 Pieces Hard Water Test Kit for Drinking Water Tap Water Well Pool Spa Water Softener Accurate Softener Water Quality Testing Kit for Calcium & Magnesium

I bought these strips to check for myself definitively that a water softener I recently had installed is actually working.As the attached photo shows, there is a very clear difference between water from the softener on the left (strip remains the colour it started off with - green, indicating zero hardness) and previous hard water on the right (strip goes brown, indicating hardness is present). To be doubly sure I didn't happen to pick a 'dud' strip for the soft water, I dried it off with a tissue, then put that same strip in the hard water, and it too then went brown.So for the basic confirmation of softness I was seeking, it was plenty good enough. The actual level of hardness isn't fully reflected though, the colour suggested about 120ppm, but I know the figures from my water company are about 285ppm. 100 strips for £5.99 wasn't too bad.

Very good quick and concise.

After having a water softener installed recently, I was a little curious about the effect it has had on the water and these test strips have been very reassuring. Having checked a drinking water tap vs softened water, I was pleased to see a significant difference.The test strips are very easy to use. They only need to make direct contact with the water for seconds and then left out to dry. The scale to compare against is printed on the dispenser tube. The tube can hold up to 50 strips and there are 3 additional refill packs included in the box. The colour gradient is a little difficult to read. ie: I know I have soft water but placing it on an exact level is difficult as all the soft blues look pretty similar.At £10.99 (at time of review) I think this is good value for the number of strips included, the ease of use and speed of results. I would recommend these if you want to roughly gauge the softness of water, but would suggest looking into different methods if you need to know the exact hardness.

Instructions are obscured by stick on label making the whole thing useless. This label needs to be placed so to leave the instructions visible.Please send replacement that can be used and at the same contact supplier and ensure that future supplies are corrected.

Pros:Ease of Use: Simple dip-and-read design allows for quick testing without needing special equipment.Wide Application: Suitable for drinking water, tap water, pools, spas, wells, and water softeners.Large Quantity: The kit includes 200 test strips, providing great value for frequent testing needs.Clear Range Indicators: Measures hardness levels from 0-425 ppm, accommodating a wide range of water conditions.Portable: Compact packaging makes it easy to carry and store.Cons:Accuracy Limitations: While adequate for general readings, the test strips may lack the precision required for highly specific measurements.Color Chart Challenges: Subtle differences in color on the chart might be hard to distinguish, leading to subjective interpretations.Short Shelf Life: Test strips can degrade if not stored properly, especially in humid environments.

They did what I expected them to do

Used for testing my water softner and normal drinking filtered tap water supply

I tested these strips in parallel with my water hardness meter which gives a digital readout of the exact PPM.These strips turn a different colour based on whether water is soft, hard or very hard. I tested both my local tap water (very hard in excess of 350ppm) and some much softer mineral water and the strips colour agreed with the meter in each case.I'd say that these are an accurate and cost effective way of measuring water hardness.