We have many modern conveniences, especially when it comes to kitchen gadgets and appliances. They either shorten the time to get the job done or set it and forget it. The electric kettle definitely falls under this category of kitchen magic, yielding boiling water in a matter of minutes while also turning itself off if it is forgotten about.
I remember when I was little, my grandparents would make tea, and I always sat by the counter (for what felt like forever) waiting for the kettle to steam and whistle. I get nostalgic when I think of those times and how I wish I could have any one moment of that time back. It seemed like such a chore as a child to wait so long for that kettle to whistle. I would give anything to get that time back and relish the time spent with the family members who are no longer with us. Anyone else?
What is Descaling?
Descaling is the removal of mineral deposits and limescale caused by hard water. This mineral build-up is notorious for occurring in appliances that use hot water. While limescale won’t harm your health, it will shorten the life of your appliances – in this case, your electric kettle.
Your tap water isn’t just made of H2O, as we learned in school. It contains other things like calcium, iron, magnesium, and lime, just to name a few. When the water is boiled, the minerals collect and form deposits on the walls of the kettle. Each time you use the kettle, deposits are left behind even after you pour the water out. When the deposits dry, they harden. Each time you run the kettle, you gain a little more of those mineral deposits inside. If you remember from science class, there is a scale of alkaline and acidic. Luckily we know that the mineral build-up is alkaline-based, so we just need a mild acidic solution to remove it.
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How Often Should You Descale Your Kettle?
If you have used your electric kettle for a month or longer, then you likely need to descale. Take a peek inside your kettle, and you will notice a white-ish or even brownish residue on the bottom and sides. It can be a bit difficult to remove the limescale deposits if the kettle has never been descaled before.
So how often should you be descaling your electric kettle? The answer is, it depends. If you only use the kettle occasionally or have a water softener, then you will need to descale about every three months. However, if you are like us and use your kettle daily, you will need to do it every 1-2 months. The hardness of your water should also be taken into account. If you have hard water, you will need to descale once per month.
How to Clean the Inside of an Electric Kettle
Now that we know what the flakey white stuff inside the kettle is, let’s talk about how to get rid of it. Both ways I’m going to explain are natural descaling methods that won’t hurt you if you don’t rinse thoroughly and they are ingested. That being said, there are store-bought descaler solutions you can buy specifically for descaling kettles. We won’t cover how to use those in this article, but I at least wanted you to know they exist if you prefer to use something store-bought.
NOTE: As always, be sure to check your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before you begin. Read through all of the warranty information as well. Some manufacturers are explicit about what you can and cannot use in their kettles, while others are more vague.
This is a general guide on how to clean an electric kettle. The one we have and use in our home is stainless steel, so what works well for stainless steel may or may not work for another material. You may have to experiment a bit with measurements, but the general idea for using a mild acid to remove limescale is the same.
Descaling an Electric Kettle with Vinegar
For those of you that have read any of our other articles on the topic of cleaning, you will know that we are huge advocates for vinegar. It has so many amazing uses in the house for cleaning. Descaling is no different. Vinegar is on the acidic side of the pH scale and will naturally breakdown the limescale mineral build-up on the kettle. Remember, as previously mentioned, make sure you can safely use vinegar in your kettle. Some manufacturers will void the warranty if vinegar has been used to clean the kettle. Double-check your manual to be sure.
You’ll Need:
The process is pretty simple. Just follow these steps.
- Empty any remaining water from the electric kettle.
- Remove extra attachments inside the kettle like filters or screens. Then set aside. There will be instructions on how to clean these later in the article.
- Pour in equal amounts of white vinegar and water for a 1:1 ratio. Fill the 50/50 mixture to the max fill line of the kettle. You can do this in a separate container and pour it into the kettle or directly in the kettle.
- Ensure the kettle is on the heating base and turn it on. Let it run a cycle and boil the solution.
- Once the solution is boiling, turn off the kettle and unplug it from the wall.
- Allow the kettle to cool with the solution inside for 20-30 minutes.
- After the solution has cooled a bit (read: cool enough to touch without burning the skin), take a washcloth and dip it in the warm solution. Use the cloth to clean the exterior of the kettle. If your kettle is stainless steel like ours, this will remove water spots.
- After the allotted time of soaking and cooling, pour 3/4 of the solution into the sink. Leave 1/4 of the solution still in the kettle.
- Take the non-abrasive dish scrubber and start to scrub the inside walls of the kettle. Be methodical and focus on one area at a time. Work your way around the kettle. Dip your scrubber in the solution to help remove any build-up.
- Once all the deposits have been cleaned off the kettle, pour the remaining solution into the sink.
- While at the sink, rinse the kettle out a few times.
- If you see any leftover build-up, use your scrubber to remove it. Continue to rinse until the interior of the electric kettle until it is clean.
- Fill the kettle to the max fill line.
- Run the electric kettle to boil the water.
- Once the water is boiling, pour the hot water down the sink. Be careful not to burn yourself!
- Repeat steps 13 to 15 one more time to ensure the kettle has been adequately cleaned.
- If your electric kettle has filters or screens, move on to the instructions for how to descale screens and filters below.
That’s it! Your kettle is now descaled and ready to use. If you followed the process and you notice that mineral deposits still remain, don’t worry. You may have to repeat the descaling process using a stronger vinegar/water solution. Rather than using a 1:1 ratio, you will use a 1:2-1:3 depending on the amount of limescale mineral deposits left to remove. The stronger vinegar solution should do the trick.
Descaling an Electric Kettle with Lemon Juice
If you can’t use vinegar in your electric kettle, lemon juice is the next best natural option for removing limescale. The process is very similar with a few minor adjustments.
You’ll Need:
The process of using lemon to descale an electric kettle is very similar to using vinegar. There are a few modifications, in the beginning, depending on if you are using fresh lemons or lemon juice. This method is a great alternative to using vinegar when your manufacturer says not to use vinegar or you just don’t like the smell of vinegar. Either way, this method works.
- Empty remaining water from the electric kettle.
- Take out extra attachments inside the kettle like filters or screens. Set them aside. There will be instructions on how to clean these coming up next.
- Fill your kettle halfway with water.
- Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the kettle. If using lemon juice, add ¼ cup.
- Slice up the rest of the lemon and put the slices in the kettle. Ignore if using lemon juice.
- Fill with water to the max fill line.
- Turn on the electric kettle and let it boil the solution.
- Once the solution is boiling, turn off and unplug the kettle.
- Allow the kettle to cool with the solution inside for a minimum of one hour.
- After the allotted time of soaking, remove the lemon pieces, and pour out 3/4 of the water into the sink. Leaving 1/4 of the lemon water still in the kettle.
- Take the non-abrasive dish scrubber and start to scrub the inside walls of the kettle. Focus on one area at a time and work your way around the kettle. Dip your scrubber in the solution to help remove any tough build-up.
- Once all the deposits have been cleaned off the kettle, pour the remaining solution into the sink.
- Rinse out the kettle a few times with running water in the sink.
- If you see any leftover build-up use your scrubber to remove it. Continue to rinse until the interior of the electric kettle is clean.
- Fill the kettle to the max fill line.
- Run the electric kettle to boil the water again.
- Once complete, pour the hot water down the sink.
- If necessary, repeat steps 12 to 14 one more time to ensure the kettle has been thoroughly cleaned.
Cleaning the Inserts or Screens
Our electric kettle has a screen at the pour spout that collects mineral deposits or debris that might be in the water and keeps it from ending up in my drink. Cleaning the screen is fairly straightforward, so let’s get into it.
You’ll Need:
To save time, I do this step at the same time as when I make the vinegar/water solution for cleaning the kettle. This way, everything is clean and ready to go at the same time.
- Create a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar into a bowl. Make sure there’s enough liquid to fully submerge the screen.
- Place the insert or screen in the solution.
- Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, use a non-abrasive brush or your fingers to gently rub away the deposits that are on the screen or insert.
- If stubborn deposits remain, allow the screen to soak in the solution for another 10 minutes. Repeat step 4.
- Rinse under water to clean off any remaining vinegar.
- Put your clean screen or insert back into the kettle.
After your kettle has been cleaned, you can then put it back in the heating base. You’re all set for your next batch of hot water.
Extending the Life of Your Electric Kettle
All appliances have a limited lifetime. We all know this fact, and we expect it. However, you get a double whammy when the appliance uses hot water because mineral deposits can affect the functionality over time, leading to a much shorter life. Let’s just say they don’t make them like they used to. If you are a regular user of an electric kettle, they only last one to two years on average. If you are an infrequent or occasional user, then they may last a little longer. Here are some quick tips on how to extend the life of your electric kettle.
- Pour out leftover water: Don’t leave water in the kettle when you are not using it. We used to be terrible about doing that until we realized we were making more problems for ourselves.
- Regular cleaning: Regularly cleaning your kettle will minimize mineral deposits, and keep it running efficiently. When the kettle doesn’t have to work as hard to heat due to mineral deposits, the less energy it uses, and your water will boil faster.
- Water softener: If you have extremely hard water that causes all sorts of mineral build-up and limescale problems in your home, then you may want to consider a water softening system of some kind.
- Filter your water: You can also slow the limescale by filtering the water before using it in the electric kettle. Brita filters work well and are an inexpensive option.
Learning how to clean your electric kettle will not only keep it looking fresh and clean but it will also increase the kettle’s lifespan. Remember, if you haven’t ever descaled your kettle, the build-up may be significant, and you may need to run through the process a few times. After the initial deep cleaning, you will only need to do the descaling process once, and you’ll be good to go.
Do you descale your electric kettle regularly? Do you know of a more efficient way to descale? Leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
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