The ShowerStick - A True Shower Water Softener

Discover the Shower Water Softener designed to eliminate hard water minerals for healthier skin and hair in your shower.

The ShowerStick is an innovative solution for tackling hard water in your shower, offering significant benefits over traditional shower filters. It effectively removes hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are known to cause dry skin, hair, and scalp issues. This softening process ensures that the water tests as soft, even when using a standard hard water test kit or strips. This is a key distinction, as traditional shower filters, despite removing chlorine, do not have the capability to soften water and eliminate these problematic minerals.

One of the major drawbacks of using only a shower filter is that it may not address the underlying cause of dry skin or hair—hard water. While filters can remove chlorine, which might improve some aspects of water quality, they fail to soften water, which is necessary for true skin and hair benefits.

Additionally, if you’ve ever struggled with stubborn white chalky buildup on your glass shower door, you’re likely dealing with hard water. This buildup can also affect your skin, scalp, and hair, leaving you feeling less than refreshed after each shower. The ShowerStick helps by eliminating these minerals, which not only results in healthier skin and hair but also keeps your shower cleaner for longer.

Though the initial investment in a ShowerStick is higher than a traditional filter, it proves more economical in the long run. When you factor in the recurring cost of replacing shower filters, which can add up over time, the ShowerStick’s ten-year lifespan makes it a much more cost-effective choice.

For more details on why filters can’t soften water, follow this link: Does a shower filter soften water?

HOW IT WORKS:
The ShowerStick installs onto a standard 1/2” American shower pipe. Inside the ShowerStick are thousands of tiny resin beads, just like those inside a whole house softener, but in a smaller volume. Negatively charged resin beads are attracted to positively charged minerals such as calcium and magnesium (and some ferrous iron) so they “capture” and hold onto them which then allows soft water to flow through. To keep the water in the soft zone, the beads need to be regenerated (“cleaned”) with saltwater, so they’ll once again be able to capture more minerals. Regeneration is done by laying the handheld shower head/hose on the shower floor, then removing the regeneration port cap to let the water inside the ShowerStick drain. Add one cup of table salt to an empty one-liter bottle, fill it up with water, shake until dissolved, then pour inside. The resin beads then let go of the minerals they’re holding onto and “exchange” them with salt, so you’ll again have soft water. This process is known as “ion exchange” and it gets repeated over and over. After you re-attach the cap and put the head/hose back in the mount, you can take a zero-grain soft water shower whenever you want to! How often you need to regenerate depends on the hardness of your water, the duration of water usage and water pressure. The hard water test strips (included) will help you determine how often to regenerate. 

Video Installation and Regeneration Instructions for the ShowerStick: Click here! 

Written Installation and Regeneration Instructions for the ShowerStick: Click here!

Before you order, please consider these 2 critical Q&As:

  1. Do you have hard water? To find out if you have hard water, search online for your city’s water quality report (e.g., “Austin Texas Water Quality Report”). If the report lists “hardness,” you’ll know if you have hard water and its level. If not listed, your water likely isn’t hard. You can also purchase water hardness test strips for a quick check or use a hardness test kit from Hach for precise results.
  2. Are you aware of how often regeneration will be needed? The frequency of regeneration depends on your water’s hardness. For example, if your water hardness is 10 grains per gallon (the U.S. average), you’d get about 58 minutes of soft water before regeneration is needed. This varies based on your water’s actual hardness, and your water pressure. Please refer to the chart shown below.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • ShowerStick true water softener PVC body with softening resin
  • Handheld shower head and hose (chrome finish)
  • Shower arm mount (chrome finish)
  • Hard water test strips (1 package of 10)
  • Regeneration port for easy regeneration of the resin
  • Plumber’s thread seal tape
  • 2 red air plugs to seal off the ends when stored or not in use
  • Hanger bar with clamp
  • Coil hose
  • Pipe protector
  •  

SPECIFICATIONS:

  • The ShowerStick body is made of durable 3″ PVC pipe
  • ShowerStick body dimensions: 4″ diameter x 16″ length
  • Fully assembled length from bottom tip of shower pipe to bottom of ShowerStick is 23”. The shower head adds 8″ height from the shower pipe bottom tip. (Measurements apply to standard American shower pipes which protrude 4” out from shower wall.)
  • Weight of ShowerStick when full of water with all additional parts is approximately 7lb, 2oz
  • The lifespan of the resin is up to 10 years if it’s regenerated as needed, protected from chlorine either by adding a KDF shower filter (see below) or by using a whole house filtration system, and backwashed yearly, or 2-3 times a year if you have well water. (Backwashing instructions can be found on our FAQs page). Otherwise, the lifespan may be shorter
  • 1.8 GPM continuous flow
 

EFFECTS OF HARD WATER ON SKIN AND HAIR:

  • Dull, dry ‘straw-like’, brittle, frizzy, lifeless and unmanageable hair
  • Hair loss, breakage and thinning
  • Hair color fading
  • Dry itchy skin (soft water is also great for dogs or other animals who suffer with skin diseases, disorders, or dryness)
  • Skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema (also known as dermatitis) and skin yeast infections
  • Soaps and shampoos don’t lather properly which causes you to use too much of them which contributes to more dried out skin and hair
  • Acne breakouts
  • Can cause blonde hair to turn red or orange
  • Soaps and shampoos leave residue on your skin and in your hair because they don’t dissolve easily in hard water
  • Flaky, itchy scalp (dandruff)

International customers: “Outside USA” Your acknowledgement of our International Shipping Instructions and Terms is required before we ship your order. Please see our Shipping page under “Polices”. For information regarding installation of the ShowerStick in your type of shower, please see our FAQs page.

For optimal performance and longevity of your ShowerStick, it’s important to consider using a KDF filter if your water contains chlorine, and you don’t have a whole house filtration system installed.

Benefits of Using a KDF Filter with the ShowerStick:

  1. Chlorine and Contaminant Removal:
    • The KDF filter is designed to remove 95-99% of chlorine from your shower water. Chlorine can be harsh on your skin and hair, so removing it is beneficial for your health and comfort.
    • The filter also controls the buildup of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, and mold, which can thrive in moist environments like showers.
  2. Protection for the Softening Resin:
    • By removing chlorine and other contaminants, the KDF filter protects the softening resin inside the ShowerStick. Chlorine can degrade the resin, reducing its effectiveness and lifespan.
    • Ensuring the resin stays healthy means your ShowerStick will continue to function properly for a longer period.
  3. Efficiency at High Temperatures:
    • Unlike carbon filters, the KDF filter works more effectively at high water temperatures, making it ideal for use in showers where hot water is commonly used.
    • This efficiency ensures that even during hot showers, the filter continues to remove chlorine effectively.

Installation and Maintenance:

  • In-Line Installation:
    • The KDF filter should be installed in-line with the ShowerStick. This means placing it in the water line before the ShowerStick, ensuring that the water passing through the softener is already filtered.
    • Can also be installed by itself (without the ShowerStick) between your wall pipe and shower head (or mount if you have a handheld shower). 

By incorporating a KDF filter into your ShowerStick setup, you enhance both your shower experience and the longevity of your water softener. This proactive step ensures cleaner, healthier water for you and protects the investment you’ve made in your ShowerStick.

The ShowerStick’s handheld shower hose and head with a flow control valve is an excellent choice for conserving soft water. This feature allows you to manage water usage effectively and extend the time between water softener regenerations. Here’s how it works:

  1. Installation: The flow control value is installed between the wall pipe and mount. This setup is straightforward and doesn’t require any special tools.
  2. Usage:
    • Reduce or Shut Off Flow: When you push the button, you can either reduce the water flow to a trickle or shut it off completely. This is particularly useful when you are shaving, lathering, or shampooing, as it prevents unnecessary water waste during these activities.
    • Resume Full Flow: To resume full flow, push the button back to its original position to resume full water flow. The water will return to its original temperature, ensuring a comfortable shower experience without the need to readjust the temperature.

This feature is beneficial for conserving your soft water and saving on the cost and time associated with water softener regeneration. By reducing water usage during specific parts of your shower routine, you can extend the life of your soft water supply.

Written Instructions:

Written Installation and Regeneration Instructions for the ShowerStick Without the Hanger Attached (purchased prior to 12/9/2024): Click here»

ShowerStick Backwashing Instructions: Click here»