How To Clean A Kettle From Limescale?

Have you ever seen your electric kettle covered internally with a dull white patina? The coil no longer shiny and, in the most extreme cases, white, chalky bits on the bottom, walls or even in your cup? It’s all the fault of limescale!

It happened to me regularly at first too then I figured out the trick to prevent the problem and make a good cup of tea: water. Commonly, in fact, we are used to using tap water to make tea. However, it is often rich in limestone, which settles and accumulates over time inside our kettle. As I reminded you here instead, the best water for making tea is natural mineral water with low fixed residue. It improves the flavor of our drink and does not affect our tools. Since following this rule, I have not had any problems.

However, I happen to be a guest in apartments (the plus and minus of traveling with cats). I arrive in the kitchen, see the kettle and feel at home. But then I open it and discover that it is full of lime scale inside. This happens in 90% of cases and it is a shame. Also because cleaning it is really easy, cheap and sustainable. And no detergents are needed. Of course, there are those who prefer to take advantage to replace it with a state-of-the-art one, but if that’s not what you have in mind follow my advice.

Goodbye limescale!

As I mentioned, it is difficult for limescale to form using bottled water. However, if you have a kettle that is already covered in patina it is best to clean it first and then start new habits. How? I will explain a trick that my mom taught me and that other people in the industry have confirmed: white wine vinegar. It is a totally natural, inexpensive and affordable method because I think all (or almost all) of us have a bottle of vinegar in the house. It also sanitizes and removes odors.

How is it done?

I put about 4 heaped tablespoons of vinegar per liter of water and fill the kettle with room-temperature water (tap water is also fine in this case), so that not only the bottom and coil are cleaned, but also the walls. I let it sit overnight and rinse well with running water. Usually, after two/three rinses the smell of vinegar disappears and I safely return to brewing tea with no sour smell in the cup.

If the fouling is quite resistant, I increase the doses of vinegar: 100 to 150 ml of wine vinegar per liter of water. After a night’s rest, your kettle should shine again, and all without the slightest effort or strange tools. Increasing the doses may also help you remove scale more quickly. If you don’t want to wait an entire night, fill the kettle with one part water and one part vinegar. You will see that in a couple of hours your faithful ally will be as good as new. You may also use only vinegar (“just enough to cover the bottom of the kettle”) and a level teaspoon of baking soda, no water. And the kettle is ready to be rinsed after a few minutes.

With this method, I have never even needed to scrub it with some sponge or do other mechanical removal operations that, in my opinion, risk scratching and ruining our tool, which is essential for making tea.

Baking soda, lemon juice or citric acid?

I read on the internet that some people mix vinegar, baking soda and water or use lemon juice. I have always taken advantage of wine vinegar and have never regretted it. I find it easier to have it in the house and use it for other purposes. Whenever I buy lemon for some recipe I find myself using one half and throwing the other half away after weeks of sitting and shriveling in the refrigerator.

A friend of mine told me his secret: 1 teaspoon of citric acid dissolved in 250ml of water and rest overnight. Citric acid can be purchased on organic household products sites, on Amazon, or can be ordered from pharmacies.

For enthusiasts, a question might arise: since it is acetic-based, can I clean the kettle of limescale with kombucha? I read on the Reddit that the answer is yes. Maybe you use what for some reason (vacation, sudden heat, oversight, etc.) you have fermented for too long and can safely use at home as vinegar.

Do you have other methods to recommend? Tell us about them in the comments.