A safe, simple, natural way to remove limescale from a kettle using vinegar as a descaler and how to prevent limescale build-up in a kettle.
Why you need to remove limescale from a kettle
Limescale in your kettle costs you money as you need to use extra electricity to boil the kettle. It also affects the taste and quality of your cup of tea and can reduce the lifetime and efficiency of your kettle. So it's important to remove limescale from a kettle and once you have a clean kettle, make it sure it stays that way by preventing limescale build-up.
How do you know if your kettle needs descaling?
The easiest way to see if your kettle needs descaling is to frequently check inside for limescale. If there is limescale build-up in your kettle, you may find hot drinks have a film on top of them or white limescale bits in them.
How to remove limescale from a kettle
This homemade kettle descaler has just one ingredient. Using white vinegar (not malt vinegar) to descale a kettle is simple and eco-friendly. It also takes very little effort on your part.
- Fill up the kettle by about a quarter with an equal part solution of water and household white vinegar.
- Leave to stand for 1 hour.
- After an hour boil the kettle with the acid solution still in it.
- Pour away the boiled solution which should now contain the offending limescale.
- If limescale still remains, I give it a bit of a scrub with a washing-up brush.
- Rinse out the kettle a few times with cold water ensuring that there is no trace of vinegar.
How to clean a kettle's limescale filter
- Remove the filter.
- Soak it in a little vinegar.
- Rinse with water.
- Use a washing-up brush to remove any stubborn limescale deposits.
Using vinegar to descale a kettle is so easy. Vinegar is a cheap, effective and multi-purpose product so I always have a few bottles under the sink because it's so versatile. If you don't have any white vinegar you could try using lemon juice instead to descale your kettle.
Where to buy household cleaning vinegar
Support your local hardware shop as they often sell white vinegar and other traditional cleaning products or you can get it online from:
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How to prevent limescale build-up in a kettle
- Only boil the amount of water you need and immediately pour away any water left in the kettle as it gives more limescale the chance to build up
- Put a stainless steel kettle descaler in your kettle which looks like a small roll of wire netting such as the Chef Aid Stainless Steel Doughnut Kettle Descaler, Silver
(Amazon)
