The Salt Free Water Softener Experiment

So, as gross as this sounds, I decided that I wouldn't clean my bathroom until I monitored what was going on.  Didn't want to get any false observations of removed scale!  Every other day I've gone at the toilet with a toilet brush only, just brushing at the stains on the toilet.  Now remember, previously I would scrub and scrub at these stains with vinegar and Borax to no avail - eventually I would break down and use CLR to remove the scale.

Over the past few days, the scale and stains have become less and less without scrubbing, and with scrubbing (no chemicals) I have been able to remove the yellow stains on the bowl and the thick scale around the jet opening is signficantly reduced (see photos of before and after).

Before - Note yellow stains on toilet wouldn't come off with cleaning 

 After - A SERIOUSLY self-cleaning toilet............well, almost

Here's a close-up of the nasty scale around the jet, you can see it is reducing its thickness by the change in colour....especially right in front of the jet, maybe it is scoured more there.  Still lots of scale at the toilet exit though...

I've also noticed that when I wipe down the taps (kitchen, bathroom) it is taking much longer for them to look dirty again.  Ditto with the sinks.  Both the sinks and toilet are less "scratchy" or "etched" feeling when I wipe them down. 

In terms of operation, well, we've had to nothing!  It just runs and to date no operational hiccups.