Washing machines and hankies

When I do my laundry I always forget to check my jeans' pockets. Hence, often I find the relics of washed hankies when I hang out the clothes. When that happened in Verona, I would shout and swear while opening the washing machine door. I would see bits and pieces of white wet paper all over my black trousers, shirts and underwear. The sticky tiny bits and pieces would disappear only after prolonged and energetic shaking.

Here in London, I realise that I have left my hankie in my jeans only if I stick my hands in the pockets and find a small soaked grey ball. Once, I found something that resembled more a stone than the confetti I was used to. Despite the relief of an avoided fight with each and every piece of laundry, I wonder: what the hell is there in London water that makes an handkerchief turn into stone in the washing machine?

My ex room-mate, who studied geology, told me that the water in London is very hard. I double checked on the Drinking Water Inspectorate website, which said that tap water in the Thames area is safe to drink, but nevertheless hard.

Hard water -containing high quantities of calcium and magnesium- influences negatively on washing processes, making it necessary to use more detergent (or seemingly, more toothpaste when brushing your teeth). Hard water combines with the detergent's molecules remaining attached on fabric and making it matted.

I suppose this accounts for my hankies turning into rocks when left in the washing machine, sparing me a fair amount of cursing and clothes wrestling. But what about my fabulous wool jumpers then? A good news never comes without a bad news, apparently.