Zeolites are naturally occurring sodium aluminium silicates having different amounts of water of crystallization.

They are represented as Na2O.Al 2O3.xSiO2.yH2O where x and y varies from 2 to 10 and 2 to 6 respectively.
They are produced synthetically as well. They have the property of exchanging their Na ions for hardness causing
ions like Ca and Mg
++ ++

The reactions taking place the softening process are as follows -

Ca(HCO3)2+Na2Ze→CaZe+2NaHCO3
MgSO4+Na2Ze→MgZe+Na2SO4
CaCl2+Na2Ze→CaZe+2NaCl

Where Ze represents zeolite.

The Ze mineral gets exhausted when all the Na are replaced by Ca and Mg ions.
+ + ++

Now Ze can be regenerated by passing Nacl solution,

CaZe+2NaCl→CaCl2+Na2Ze
MgZe+2NaCl→MgCl2+Na2Ze