How can I make my water smell better?

Question

I just moved and my new place is on well water. It smells really bad and turns my walls, shower curtain and clothes yellowish. We have tried adding softener to it but it doesn't seem to be helping. What is it caused from? And how do I fix it?

Answer 1

You can buy a filter that will help, but you will need a water filtration system.  We have the same problem and just have to live with it due to cost.  Our well company told us we can "shock" our well.  Basically you'll need to attach a garden hose to a sink and put the other end in the well ( have to open).  Then you pour 4-5 gallons of bleach into the well.  You run the water for a few hours to clear out the bleach.  You will not be able to drink your water, but I doubt you drink it now.  You need to make sure all the bleach cycles out so it doesn't get on your skin or clothes.  I haven't tried it yet because I haven't had the time.

Otherwise, use baking soda and vinegar on the tub and toilet to whiten and 1 cup of vinegar in each wash to help with color stains.  Wash all colors together and use bleach on all your whites.  This works well with us and my whites come out white not gray/yellow.

Answer 2

Well water has lots of iron in it. That's what's causing those problems. Whole house water filtration (reverse osmosis) is very expensive and takes a lot of room. So, that's probably not an option. Check with some water softening companies in your area. They may have a service available (like Culligan) where they come out every now and then to replace an ion exchange cylinder in an installed water softening system. But, be aware that some municipalities don't allow the kind that uses salt to replace the hard water ions, because of the brine that gets discharged as the unit runs.