Crude oil prices are currently softening and may soften further in future. This is due to the balance between work hardening and annealing (thermal softening). Limewater is used in a process known as lime softening to reduce water hardness. The extracts are obtained by soaking, filtering or softening the plant substances. There was also the gradual softening of and into and the fricative before front vowels. Diffusion filters reduce contrast in addition to softening resolution. This has the effect of further softening any shadows. This agent also causes cervical ripening with softening and dilation of the cervix. Some compounds, such as ethoxylated phosphate esters, have softening, anti-static, and surfactant properties. Neatsfoot oil is used as a conditioning, softening and preservative agent for leather. In food preparation, maceration is softening or breaking into pieces using a liquid. Active cooling keeps plastic parts from softening. The most common examples are water softening and water purification. Furthermore, it is used for softening PVC foils, without risking the migrate of plasticizers. Such treatments can include water softening or ion exchange.