How to Descale a Kettle

Sooner or later, limescale will form on the surface of your kettle. This deposit makes the performance of the kettle a little worse because it increases the time necessary to boil the water. When it comes to electric kettles, they can break down even faster if there’s limescale on the heating part or on the inside surfaces.

5-Minute Crafts offers you several simple ways to descale a kettle yourself.

What you’ll need to descale a kettle

• Citric acid

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

• Sweet soda

• An apple or potato peel

Way № 1: Citric acid

• Type of kettles: You can use this method on electric kettles made of plastic, glass, or stainless steel — but it’s not good for kettles made of aluminum.

• The degree of limescale: It’s ideal for a medium layer of limescale.

• How to do it: Put 1-2 teaspoons of citric acid in 4 cups of water, pour the mix into the kettle, and let it boil the water. Leave the water in the kettle for 15-20 minutes to let the scale peel off the walls and off the bottom. After that, wash the kettle with a sponge and water. Boil fresh water once and pour it out.

Way № 2: Baking soda

• Type of kettles: You can use this on any kettle.

• The degree of limescale: It should have a medium layer of limescale.

• How to do it: Take a cup of water and add 1 tbsp of baking soda. Pour 2 cups of water and the soda mix into the kettle. Boil the water and let it cool down. After that, wash the kettle with a sponge and pure water.

Way № 3: Vinegar

• Type of kettles: You can use this on glass and stainless steel. Aluminum kettles can’t take aggressive acids well. Also, be sure to avoid using this method on plastic electric kettles.

• The degree of limescale: There should be a lot of old limescale.

• How to do it: Pour 2 cups of water into the kettle and boil it. Add 1 glass of vinegar into the kettle and leave it for 1 hour. After that, pour out the water, wash the kettle, boil new water, and pour it out.

Way № 4: Soda

• Type of kettles: You can use this on electric kettles made of stainless steel. Don’t use this method on aluminum kettles.

• The degree of limescale: There should be a medium layer of limescale.

• How to do it: Let the bubbles out of the drink by leaving the bottle open for 2-3 hours. Pour 2 cups of soda into the kettle and let it boil. After the drink cools down, pour it out and wash the kettle. It’s better to use light-colored drinks because dark soda could change the color of the kettle.

Way № 5: Potato peels and apple skin

• Type of kettles: This can be used on non-electric kettles.

• The degree of limescale: There should be a thin layer of limescale.

• How to do it: Take a washed potato peel or apple/pear skin, pour it into the kettle, add water, and let it boil. After the water boils, leave the peel in the kettle for 1-2 hours. After that, remove the limescale with a sponge.