There are many different ways you can keep your kettle limescale-free, including a few ingredients you may already have tucked away in your fridge or under your kitchen sink.
Here, we explain what limescale actually is and share five effective methods of removing even the most stubborn patches.
What is limescale and where does it come from?
Limescale is a hard chalky substance that's mainly made up of calcium carbonate, which is commonly found in rocks and seashells. It's off-white in colour, but can also be grey, pink or reddish-brown in some cases.
If you live in a hard water area, you'll notice that limescale builds up in your appliances quite quickly. This is because your water supply contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium, which builds up inside your kettle and forms a scaly coating if left untreated.
Limescale occurs completely naturally and is totally harmless to consume. Sure, your tea may not taste the best if it's full of floating flakes, and in particularly bad cases it may even cause a slightly bitter aftertaste, but it's not dangerous.
Some sources try to claim that drinking hard water causes health problems such as kidney stones, but this is untrue. In fact, the main minerals found in hard water (calcium and magnesium) are usually found in the bottled water sold at your local supermarket.
1. Video: how to descale your kettle with vinegar
undefinedLimescale dissolves very easily when treated with a mild acid, and white distilled vinegar is a cleaning cupboard staple in many homes across the country. It's cheap, hassle-free and can be used to tackle a variety of stubborn messes.
Watch the video above or follow the steps below to ensure your kettle is nice and sparkling.
If your kettle is particularly scaly, you can also add a small amount of bicarbonate of soda to the vinegar and water mixture to help shift any rogue flakes. You should only need to add about a teaspoon, but keep an eye on your kettle to make sure it doesn't bubble over.
2. How to descale your kettle with citric acid
If you don't have any vinegar at home or simply can't stand the smell or taste of it, you may opt to use an alternative natural cleaning product such as citric acid. You can pick this up at most DIY shops and it's just as good at removing stubborn limescale.
All you have to do is:
As we mentioned with the vinegar method above, you may find that you still need to do an extra bit of scrubbing to shine up the inside of your kettle, but the citric acid should shift the majority of the limescale.
3. How to descale your kettle with lemon juice
The acid in lemons acts as a natural bleach, making it a great option for cleaning lots of things around your home. It's antibacterial and antiseptic, too, so you can avoid using any harsh chemicals if you prefer.
To effectively remove the limescale from your kettle using lemon juice, you may be better off buying it pre-squeezed to save yourself time and money. You'll be able to find it in most large supermarkets.
4. How to descale your kettle using descaling powder
You can pick up descaling powder in most large supermarkets and it usually comes in a pack of at least two single-use sachets. It's often cheaper if you buy in larger quantities and is widely available online.
The exact method will vary depending on the brand you purchase, but it's normally as simple as popping a sachet into a recently boiled kettle and waiting 10 minutes for it to remove the limescale.
As with other methods we've mentioned, make sure you give your kettle a good rinse (potentially even boiling and emptying it again) before you use it to make a drink. Descaling powder is slightly stronger than most natural cleaners, so always err on the side of caution.
5. How to descale your kettle using descaling liquid
Descaling liquid is a useful product to have in your cleaning cupboard as it can be used to freshen up a range of other household items such as showers, steam irons and coffee machines, as well as kettles.
Some brands claim to dissolve stubborn limescale in as little as two minutes, but you should always take these promises with a pinch of salt. The method will be largely the same as the descaling powder, but be sure to always wear gloves and read the instructions thoroughly before starting.
undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/five-simple-ways-to-remove-limescale-from-your-kettle-aId356v6KWda