Molly Ayala
Electric kettles are convenient and stylish, but they can be a pain to clean. Over time, the natural minerals present in water can build up inside your kettle, leading to limescale deposits or kettle furring. This can affect the taste of your water and slow down your kettle. Luckily, there are several ways to remove limescale flakes from your electric kettle, including using vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid, or baking soda. You can also use a descaling solution or install a water softener to prevent limescale buildup. To keep the outside of your kettle clean, you can use a damp cloth to wipe away any residue and then dry and polish it with a soft cloth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of cleaning | Daily |
| Interior cleaning | Use 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water, boil the mixture, and let it sit overnight before emptying the solution. Repeat the process twice to remove any vinegar odor or taste. |
| Exterior cleaning | Use a damp cloth to remove water splashes and residue, then dry and polish with a soft cloth. |
| Descaling | Use equal parts vinegar and water, boil the solution, and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing. Alternatively, use lemon juice or citric acid. |
| Removing grease | Use a mixture of dish soap and water, wipe the kettle, and then use a clean cloth with just water to remove soapy residue. |
| Polishing | Use olive oil on a microfiber cloth to gently rub over the exterior of the kettle. |
| Water type | Soft water is preferred as it has a lower mineral content and reduces limescale buildup. |
| Water softeners | Help remove calcium and magnesium from water, reducing limescale residue. |
| Filter cleaning | Remove the filter and run it under water, then wipe it with a clean cloth. |
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What You'll Learn
Use vinegar to descale your kettle
Vinegar is a great way to descale your kettle and remove limescale buildup. The mild acidity in vinegar helps break down mineral deposits in your kettle, which can affect the taste of your drinks and slow down your kettle.
First, ensure your kettle is unplugged and there is no water left in it. If there is, pour it out, being careful to avoid any hot water splashes. Next, fill your kettle with equal parts white vinegar and water. Close the lid and bring the mixture to a boil. Allow the solution to sit for 20 minutes to one hour, depending on the thickness of the limescale. Then, rinse your kettle a few times with water to clear out any dislodged limescale. You may need to repeat the rinsing process a few times to completely remove the vinegar taste and smell.
If you want to avoid the vinegary smell and use a stronger alternative, you can try a shop-bought kettle descaler. However, these options tend to be more expensive and may leave a strange taste if you don't rinse your kettle properly.
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Clean the outside with a damp cloth
To clean the outside of your kettle, start by mixing a small amount of dish soap with water. Dip a cloth into the soapy mixture, wringing it out so that it's just damp and not soaking wet. Wipe down the exterior of the kettle with the damp cloth to remove any grease splatters, sauce stains, or water residue.
Once you've removed the stains, dip a clean cloth in water and wipe down the kettle again to remove any soap residue. Dry the kettle with a dish towel or a dry microfiber cloth.
If your kettle is made of stainless steel, you can polish it with olive oil. Pour about a teaspoon of olive oil onto a soft microfiber cloth and gently rub the cloth over the exterior of the kettle. This will give your kettle a lustrous shine.
Be careful not to use an abrasive sponge or cloth when cleaning or polishing your kettle, as it could scratch the finish.
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Use lemon juice to descale
Limescale, or calcium carbonate, is present in hard water, and the flakes get left behind when the water evaporates. It is not harmful but can make your tea taste metallic and give you flakes or a film on the top of your brew.
Lemons contain citric acid, which can help dissolve mineral deposits and remove limescale buildup from the interior of a kettle. This method is often effective for mild to moderate residue and is gentle on most kettle materials. It may be less effective for heavy buildup or stubborn stains.
- Fill your kettle halfway with lemon juice. You can buy bottled lemon juice from the cleaning aisle.
- Fill the rest of the kettle with water.
- Boil the mixture and let it sit for 20 minutes to 30 minutes until the limescale starts to dislodge.
- Pour out the lemon and water.
- Rinse the kettle thoroughly with clean water.
- For heavy deposits, use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe away the limescale.
- If your kettle has a filter, remove and run it under water to clean it, then wipe it with a clean cloth.
- Boil the kettle with just water to ensure any lingering lemon taste is gone.
For a more intensive clean, you can also slice one whole lemon into thin rounds and put them in your kettle before filling it with water and boiling. After boiling, leave the lemon slices in the kettle for 30 minutes, then boil a second time. Remove the lemon slices and rinse the kettle with clean water. You can also use the lemon slices to scrub the outside of the kettle, such as the spout or the rim of the lid.
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Baking soda for descaling
Descaling your kettle is important to keep it in top condition and to prevent limescale buildup, which can affect the taste of your drinks. One way to descale your kettle is by using baking soda.
First, empty the kettle of any water. Then, add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to the bottom of the kettle. Next, fill the kettle with fresh cold water, leaving enough room for the water to bubble and fizz when it reacts with the baking soda. Place the kettle on to boil and leave it to cool for around 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, empty and rinse the kettle. To make sure all of the baking soda is removed, boil the kettle with clean water twice more and empty it.
If you still see limescale buildup, fill the kettle with baking soda again, bring it to a boil, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, pour out the solution and rinse the kettle.
Baking soda can also be used to clean the exterior of the kettle. Mix baking soda with water to form a paste. Then, use a damp cloth to apply the paste to the outside of the kettle, scrubbing away any residue. Finally, rinse and dry the kettle.
In addition to baking soda, limescale buildup can be removed using vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid, or a descaling product.
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Clean the filter
If your kettle has a filter, most manufacturers recommend that you remove it and run it under water to clean it, then wipe it with a clean cloth. If there is any remaining scaling, scrub the inside with a soft sponge. If there are any stubborn mineral deposits, dampen a soft, non-metallic sponge or microfiber cloth and scrub the inside of the kettle. Then, simply rinse your kettle out with water once or twice. Do not use an abrasive scouring sponge inside your kettle as it can damage the lining.
If you don't like the smell of vinegar or want something stronger, there are shop-bought kettle descalers. The best kettle descalers are made to break down limescale quickly and work well if you follow the instructions. However, they cost more over time and may leave a strange taste if you don't rinse your kettle properly.
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Frequently asked questions
Flakes in your kettle are likely due to mineral buildup, which can be descaled using vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid, or baking soda.
Fill your kettle with equal parts vinegar and water, bring it to a boil, then let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
Lemon juice is another effective method for descaling. Fill your kettle with water and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, boil, then let it sit for an hour before rinsing.
This depends on how hard your water is and how often you use your kettle. Typically, you should aim to descale your kettle once a month or per the manufacturer's instructions.
Use a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior of your kettle, removing any water splashes or residue. Then, dry and polish with a soft cloth.
