How to clean a kettle from plaque: an affordable way

The hard water that comes out of most taps in Ukraine causes a lot of problems. One of them is limescale in the kettle. It can damage the appliance and ruin the taste of tea or coffee. That's why you'll probably want to know how to clean the kettle from limescale.

Let's Drink Tea has collected cleaning tips for different types of kettles. But all methods are based on food acids. It is they who destroy limescale. It can be vinegar (preferably white or distilled - it smells less and leaves no aftertaste), citric acid or fresh lemon juice.

What is bad about limescale in the kettle

The calcium bicarbonate contained in water turns into an insoluble form under the influence of high temperature during its boiling and settles on the walls of the container in which the water is heated. On the one hand, this softens the liquid. On the other hand, the lime that settles on the heating elements of the electric kettle takes on some of the heat, so the appliance has to spend more energy to heat the water. And you pay for it. Limescale also accumulates on the lid of the kettle, so it starts to close poorly - this also slows down the boiling process. In an ordinary kettle, lime can clog the whistle. It seems to be nothing, but it is better to get rid of this problem. In addition, the plaque has an unaesthetic appearance.

In addition, water boiled in a kettle with limescale can acquire an unpleasant salty or metallic taste. This has a negative impact on the quality of the drinks.

How to clean an electric kettle

To dissolve limescale inside an electric kettle, simply boil an acidic liquid in it. First, drain all the water from the kettle and wash it inside with ordinary dishwashing detergent. Also, use a sponge to mechanically remove all the limescale that you can remove without difficulty. The less of it remains, the easier it will be to clean later. Next, fill the kettle with a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar, open the lid and switch on the appliance. Let the water stand for a few minutes. You will notice how the limescale gradually dissolves. When the lime has been removed, pour off the cleaning mixture, wait for the kettle to cool down and wash the inside again. The remaining scale should be easily removed from the walls. If not all of it has been washed off, you can repeat the procedure, leaving the hot, acidic water to act for 30-40 minutes.

To get rid of the smell and taste of vinegar, boil water in the kettle several times after cleaning. The outside of the kettle can be cleaned of lime stains with the same mixture of water and vinegar. Alternatively, vinegar can be replaced with freshly squeezed lemon juice or a citric acid solution - the result will be similar. It is good to carry out such cleaning once every 4-6 weeks.

How to clean a steel kettle

If you heat water on the stove in a stainless steel kettle, you can clean it in the same way. Wash it from the inside, fill it with acidified water and boil it, and then scrub off any limescale.

You can also clean a steel kettle with baking soda. Pour about a glass of baking soda into the kettle and cover it with water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat and let it brew for at least 10 minutes. When the water has cooled down, gently scrub the inside with the stiff side of a dish sponge or brush. The coating should come off easily. The remaining stains can be cleaned with baking soda paste. Simply mix dry baking soda with a little water to make a paste and rub it over the stains. To remove any residue, use a cloth dipped in vinegar.

How to get rid of limescale on a glass kettle

Glass kettles are not very popular precisely because they quickly lose their appearance from limescale. However, they are the easiest to clean - the limescale comes off very easily and effortlessly. However, be sure to check the labelling on the kettle before cleaning - not all glass can be cleaned with vinegar. In this case, use lemon juice or citric acid. Two large lemons should be enough for a standard kettle. The rest of the procedure is similar: fill the tank with acidified water and boil it. In the case of difficult soiling, leave the mixture to act for a while. Then wash the kettle well.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told how to descale an iron so that it does not leave stains on clothes.

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