how do i descale my electric kettle?

Answer 1

2 ounces (50 grams) of citric acid crystals into a kettle half full of boiling water for 10 - 20 minutes should do the trick! Tip it in slowly as this has got a tendency to fizz quite a lot. Once the fizzing has stopped and you can see some deposits of scale still switch the kettle on but only until the water fizzes again. Rinse well and use.

Citric acid is available from wine making shops or places that sell wine making equipment. You will get two treatments out of a 100gram drum. It also costs less than proprietary descalers and is E friendly!

It is safe to use on all kettles including plastic kettles.

Answer 2

Use neat vinegar to descale kettles etc by filling the kettle with vinegar and leaving for several hours. Then pour the vinegar back into the jar, just leaving the last dregs in the kettle. You can then swill out the kettle and give it a gentle scrub if necessary. The vinegar can be reused over and over again - and it is just as effective as ever. Any limescale or other impurities just sink to the bottom. Very cheap, environmentally friendly, and effective. Just make sure you mark the jar 'NOT FOR FOOD' .
Then boil the kettle with max water & do this a couple of times to make sure all the vinegar is gone.
Rinse the kettle a few times.

Answer 3

There are many different commercial products, sold either as powder or liquid. Typically, the powder is added to the kettle, the water brought to a boil, left to sit a while then decanted off. The kettle needs to be rinsed out at least once before use for boiling water for hot drinks.

The descaling chemicals used aren't really nice. They are mildly poisonous at best, caustic and potentially damaging to the environment. You may not like the idea of residues getting into your cuppa. Two more 'natural' alternatives are vinegar and lemon juice. Slightly diluted these can be added to a small amount of water in the kettle, the water gently heated up, and they will get rid of most of the scale. With these products it's best to leave them in a bit longer so they can work as well as possible. The kettle will need rinsing afterwards as well, and some users may still notice the vinegar or lemon juice taste/smell afterwards.

There are steel balls sold to collect scale and keep it off the metal element inside the kettle. These are supposed to 'attract' calcium and keep it from settling on the element. The steel balls need to be rinsed out periodically to keep their effectiveness

Answer 4

How To Descale A Kettle

Answer 5

Use vinegar. Fill the kettle 1/4 full with water add 1 small cup vinegar, you need to boil the kettle twice with it but don't leave it unattended as the vinegar foams and boils over. If your kettle is really bad you may have to empty it and repeat the process After this fill the kettle with clear water and boil and empty to get rid of traces of vinegar. Don't use commercial descalers as these chemicals can be dangerous as can putting anything metal inside the kettle. Do this once a week the inside of your kettle will be like brand new. Good Luck

Answer 6

White vinegar is fab for descaling a kettle, use 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water, boil then leave overnight. You will have to boil kettle a few times 2get rid o the vinegar smell, but it works a treat. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

The easiest and simple solution to descale your kettle is to pour undiluted vinegar into your kettle covering the elements. Then top up with about 1/2 pint water. put the lid down on the kettle and then switch your kettle on and let it boil, leave for about 1/2 hour to stand and then empty it out once boiled. refill the kettle with cold water and boil it again empty it out and it is ready to use.

Answer 8

If you go to wilkinsons or any major supermarkets you can buy kettle descaler that you put in your kettle when you boil it and it descales your element at the bottom of your kettle and makes it good as new

Answer 9

Fill the kettle with water and about half a cup of vinegar(white vinegar is best)Then boil up the kettle and leave for a few minutes, if necessary brush the inside of it to remove any left over scale. Rinse out kettle. Done!

Answer 10

I dont the name but there is a product on the market that does it for you. Most hardware stores will sell it. Apparently you leave it you kettle all the time and it supposed to be like a steel wire brillo that works when it boils and descales it. Never have had to use anything like that, I live in the northwest england and we have very soft sweet water. Sorry I cant help you more.