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Domestic water softeners use salt to swap the calcium ions, (from the calcium sulphate that is the cause of our London water hardness), with sodium ions.
Vinegar might react with the calcium sulphate but would not provide the more soluble metal ion needed to keep the sulphate in solution.
Some plants, (beets), can tolerate a little saltiness.
Do you have any washing soda?
The sodium carbonate is used to remove permanent water hardness in some processes.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonatehttps://thewaterprofessor.com/blogs/articles/what-causes-hard-water-in-london
mespilus
anyone know if it's possible to 'neutralise' hard london tapwater for camellias (eg by adding a tablespoon of vinegar to the watering can)? we're going to run out of rainwater...