disclosed herein are an electrochemical softening apparatus that is relatively convenient and inexpensive and a washing machine including the same . the softening apparatus regenerates a zeolite compound that has been used to perform ion exchange using hydrogen ions generated using an electrochemical method such that the zeolite compound is repeatedly used . hydrogen ions generated during a re - softening process are used to remove contaminants due to microorganisms and a scale component . the softening apparatus includes a regeneration unit to generate regeneration water containing hydrogen ions and a softening unit , including an ion exchange material regenerated by the regeneration water , to convert raw water containing a hardness component into soft water containing hydrogen ions .