Soil testing in garden - ph test strips/vials vs electronic meters?

I'm envious of people who have lovely soft tap water

 

So was I when I lived in Essex.

 

I think there’s a Goldilocks level though - too soft and you can’t seem to rinse soap off properly in the shower .

 

Use less soap @Plantminded. Here in the Highlands most of our water is from lochs so it's soft - it's also good to drink. I was reared in Essex and the hard water there always used to taste earthy to me.

 

I was raised in mid Essex and then moved to the South when I was 18.

There's a noticeable difference between the two areas even though they are less than 30 miles apart.
Limescale used to be white in Mid Essex and in South Essex it stains everything orange.