How can you descale a regular kettle? How to descale a kettle at home? How to descale a kettle

Olga Nikitina

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Any housewife knows that scale Electric kettle No filter will save you. And if thin layer scale will not cause significant harm, then over time the device will, at best, stop working effectively, and at worst, it will break down completely. Scale and rust inside ordinary teapots - metal or enameled - also does not bring joy.

Is it possible to get rid of this problem, and how to carry out global cleaning of the kettle at home?

• Vinegar(method for a metal kettle). Fast and high-quality cleaning dishes without harm to health and the use of “chemicals”. We dilute the food vinegar with water (100ml/1l), pour the solution into a bowl, put it on low heat and wait for it to boil. As soon as the kettle boils, you should lift the lid and check how the process of scale is peeling off from the walls of the kettle. If the peeling is not complete, leave the kettle on the fire for another 15 minutes. Next, wash the kettle well, removing all remaining vinegar and deposits. It is advisable to ventilate the room after cleaning.

• Lemon acid (method for a plastic electric kettle and ordinary kettles). It is not recommended to use vinegar for an electric kettle (otherwise the kettle can simply be thrown away), but citric acid is an excellent cleaning aid. Dilute 1-2 packets of acid (1-2 tsp) in a liter of water, pour the solution into a kettle and boil. The plastic of the kettle will be “renewed”, and the plaque will disappear without a trace, easily peeling off after the acid. All that remains is to rinse the kettle and boil the water “idle” once. Note: it is better not to bring the kettle to a state where it requires harsh cleaning, since citric acid is also a rather serious remedy for household appliances. Perfect option– regular cleaning of the kettle with citric acid without boiling. Just dilute the acid in water, pour it into a kettle and leave for several hours.

• Soda! Do you like Fanta, Cola or Sprite? You will be interested to know that these drinks (taking into account their “thermonuclear” composition) ideally clean rust and scale from dishes, and even carburetors from burning. How? After the “magic bubbles” disappear (there should be no gases - first let the soda stand in open form), simply pour the soda into the kettle (to the middle of the kettle) and bring to a boil. Afterwards, wash the kettle. The method is not suitable for an electric kettle. It is recommended to use Sprite, as Cola and Fanta can leave their own tint on the dishes.

• Impact method (not for electric kettles). Suitable for the most neglected condition of the kettle. Pour water into the kettle, add a spoonful of baking soda (tablespoon), boil the solution, and drain the water. Next, add water again, but with citric acid (1 tbsp per kettle). Boil for about half an hour over low heat. Drain again, add fresh water, add vinegar (1/2 cup), boil again for 30 minutes. Even if the scale does not come off on its own after such a shock cleaning, it will definitely become loose and can be removed with a simple sponge. Hard brushes and metal jaws Not recommended for use on all types of teapots.

• Soda(for metal and enamel teapots). Fill the kettle with water, add 1 tbsp of soda to the water, bring to a boil, then leave on low heat for 30 minutes. Next, we wash the kettle, refill it with water and boil it “idle” to remove any remaining soda.

• Brine. Yes, yes, you can clean the kettle with regular tomato or cucumber brine. The citric acid contained in the brine will also help remove scale. The scheme is the same: pour brine, boil the kettle, cool, wash. Cucumber pickle perfectly removes rust from iron salts in a kettle.

• Cleaning.“Grandma’s” method of descaling. Suitable for light scale deposits in enamel and metal kettles. Rinse well potato peelings, remove the sand from them, put them in a kettle, fill them with water and boil. After boiling, leave the cleaning in the bowl for an hour or two, and then wash the kettle thoroughly. And apple or pear peelings will help to cope with a light coating of white “salt” scale.

Regardless of the cleaning method, do not forget to thoroughly wash the kettle after the procedure and boil the water empty (1-2 times) so that the remaining product does not get into your tea. If the residues after peeling with apple peelings do not cause harm to health, then the residues of vinegar or soda can cause serious poisoning. Be careful!

In any water heating device from time to time we discover a treasure trove of minerals, namely deposits of magnesium and calcium salts from hard water. And if we always try to prevent the occurrence of scale in the dishwasher and washing machine, then what can we say about the kettle, where it not only worsens its performance and leads to breakdowns, but also harms the health of household members.

In this material, we have collected 6 of the most effective and affordable methods at home that will help you descale your kettle. Actually everyone's secret folk remedies very simple:

• Scale in a kettle or electric kettle is afraid of organic and inorganic acids, so almost all methods of removing it at home are based on the use of acid-containing products.

Method 1. How to descale an electric kettle using vinegar

Manufacturers of electric kettles do not recommend using vinegar to remove mineral deposits - after all, it is too aggressive. But sometimes you can’t do without this powerful remedy.

The method is suitable for: plastic, glass and metal teapots with very big amount old scale.

Ingredients: water - approximately 500 ml and vinegar 9% - a little less than 1 glass or vinegar essence 70% - 1-2 tablespoons.

Recipe: pour water into a kettle and boil it, then pour acetic acid into the boiling water and leave the scale to soak in the solution for 1 hour, during which you should periodically lift the lid and check how the process of scale is peeling off from the walls of the kettle. If the scale does not come off on its own, but only loosens, then it will need to be removed with a sponge. Be sure to boil water in a clean kettle once or twice and then rinse it thoroughly to remove any remaining vinegar.

Method 2. How to descale an electric kettle using citric acid

The method is suitable for: cleaning electric kettles made of plastic, stainless steel and glass with light or moderate dirt.

Ingredients: water - approximately 500 ml and citric acid - 1-2 tablespoons (depending on the degree of contamination). A quarter of a lemon can replace powdered acid.

Recipe: we also pour water into a kettle and boil it, then pour citric acid into the boiling water or put a quarter of a lemon and wait until the water cools down for about 1-2 hours (the acid that gets into hot water, “hisses”). If the scale is not old, it will come off on its own. Otherwise, you will have to put in a little effort. Remember to boil water in a clean kettle and then rinse it thoroughly.

Method 3. How to get rid of scale in a kettle of any kind using soda

Enameled and aluminum dishes are afraid of aggressive acids, so the first 2 methods of removing limescale are not suitable for them, but a regular soda solution can help you.

The method is suitable for: descaling both in conventional enamel and aluminum kettles, and in any electric kettles.

Ingredients: baking soda, or preferably soda ash – 1 tablespoon, water – approximately 500 ml (the main thing is that it covers the whole limescale).

Recipe 1: to remove scale from the walls of enameled or aluminum kettle, you must first mix soda with water, then bring this solution to a boil, and then leave it to simmer low heat half an hour. At the end of the procedure, wash off the remaining soda by boiling clean water once, draining it and rinsing the kettle.

Recipe 2: to clean an electric kettle with soda, you need to boil water, make a soda solution, and then let it cool for 1-2 hours. A more gentle way is to pour soda into boiling water, and then leave the solution until it cools completely - during this time, the mineral deposits will become softer, and it will be easier to wash them off by hand.

Method 4. How to descale a kettle using Coca-Cola and Sprite

This method is not the most effective and economical, but why not try it for fun?

The method is suitable for: descaling in ordinary stainless steel kettles and electric kettles, but for enameled and tin kettles - with caution.

Ingredients: any carbonated drinks with citric acid in the composition are suitable - from Coca-Cola to Fanta. But it is better to take colorless drinks, for example, Sprite or Schweppes.

Recipe: First, release the gases from the drink, then pour 500 ml of liquid into the kettle and let it boil, and then cool. The result of the experiment can be seen in this video.

Method 5. How to remove scale from a kettle using apple or potato peelings

This product is suitable either for preventative care or if the limescale deposits are still weak.

The method is suitable for:

Ingredients: apple, pear or potato peelings.

Recipe: place apple, pear or washed potato peelings in a kettle, fill with water and bring to a boil. As soon as the water boils, leave the peel to cool for 1-2 hours, and then wash off the softened plaque with a sponge.

Method 6. How to descale a kettle using brine

Since brine contains organic acids, it can also be used to remove scale and rust. Therefore, if you have cucumber or tomato brine on hand, which, as often happens, has nowhere to put it, feel free to put it to work.

The method is suitable for: descaling conventional enamel and metal kettles.

Recipe: pour the brine into a kettle through a sieve (so that nothing extra remains in it), bring it to a boil, then leave the brine to cool for a couple of hours. Using a sponge, we remove any remaining limescale and rust and, finally, rinse the kettle clean with running water.

Enameled teapot - very beautiful, convenient and the most common type kitchen utensils. Even if there is a kitchen home system filtering water, it is completely impossible to avoid solid deposits on the walls and bottom inside the kettle.

The filter significantly reduces the concentration of impurities and salts of calcium and magnesium, but over time, in the process of heating the water, an insoluble precipitate still forms, raising a completely expected question - how to remove scale from an enamel kettle.

When first heated in a vessel, the salts contained in the water precipitate and first form a loose base. With each further boiling, it becomes more and more compacted, creating a durable layer of plaque.

The most important argument is taking care of your own health. The smallest particles of sediment, falling into a cup and then into the body, clog the intestines and lead to many unpleasant diseases.

How to descale an enamel kettle

The problem is quite common and was relevant many years ago, when there was no talk of filters designed to purify water.

Today, there are three answers to the question of how to descale an enamel kettle:

• Mechanical method;
• Application special means for cleaning devices;
• Use valuable knowledge to clean at home.

Mechanical - at first glance, the easiest way to remove formations, using a metal brush and cleaning pastes. With sufficient intensity, mechanical action will remove even the most stagnant layer of solid deposits.

This method is not without its drawbacks:

• The impact process takes a long time and requires a lot of effort;
• Along with the plaque, the coating is also removed, forming cracks;
• In the future, the scale in these defects will become more firmly entrenched and will be more difficult to remove.

Departments household chemicals They are replete with a variety of cleaning products, the instructions of which clearly describe how to descale an enamel kettle. As a rule, the names speak for themselves - “Antin-scale”, “Antin-scale” and others. These powders contain acids, through which solid sediment is removed. They are easy to use by following the instructions on the package.

Home Recipes

Lime deposits are successfully removed natural means that can be found in every housewife’s kitchen:

1. Lemon acid;
2. Vinegar essence, table vinegar, apple cider vinegar;
3. Baking soda.

Citric acid is an amazing assistant in how to descale an enamel kettle. Excellent solubility, no toxicity and property effective removal hard deposits, crystalline powder is the leader in home remedies to combat scale. In order to remove scale from an electric kettle, you can use the same means.

To do this, you need to dilute five tablespoons in two liters of water. citric acid, and bring the solution to a boil. It is not necessary to boil and after 15-20 minutes you should make sure that the process of peeling off the plaque has been successfully completed.

If the desired result is not achieved, it is necessary to clean again with citric acid. Before you drain old mortar and rinse the kettle, it is necessary to cool the vessel, otherwise the enamel will crack.

After all solid deposits have moved away from the walls and bottom, you need to wash the vessel with a soft sponge and loose particles (if any) will be easily removed. In order to remove the remaining citric acid, you need to boil clean water 2-3 times.

Vinegar works on a similar principle. Acetic acid actively breaks down solid deposits.

• For 2 l cold water you will need a glass of 9% vinegar;
• Leave the mixture for half an hour;
• Then bring to a boil and boil for 5-10 minutes;
• Rinse the kettle thoroughly under a strong stream;
• Boil fresh water several times “idle”.

The only drawback of vinegar is that it is strong specific smell. But at the same time, this is how you can clean a stainless steel kettle.

Vegetable peel

IN potato skins contains a large amount of organic acids, even more than the tuber itself. It is the peel that helps solve the problem of removing scale from an enamel kettle.

To do this, peel the two fruits by placing them in a vessel, adding water and boiling over low heat for 1-1.5 hours. It should be noted that the deep layer of solid particles will soften only slightly, but will not dissolve completely.

Apple and lemon peels are used for the same purpose.

Some recommend using carbonated drinks (Coca-Cola, Sprite, etc.) instead of these products. They are really able to cope with a small layer of gray plaque and all because they add carbon dioxide with the formation of weak carbonic acid.

The concentration is small, so this method is irrational, due to high cost drinks.

Cleaning an enamel kettle from scale using any chosen method is carried out in several stages and continues until a satisfactory result is achieved.

The cleaning procedure should not be delayed - this will be a good preventative measure.

It is more advisable to wash the kettle every two weeks and spend 5 minutes on it, rather than then deal with old, deeply ingrained scale.

How to deal with old scale?

Let's figure out how to remove scale with soda. In this case, soda will become one of the stages in the fight against old plaque. It will not remove it completely, but will only soften the stubborn areas.

• Pour water into the kettle and bring to a boil;
• Add 2-3 tablespoons of soda;
• Stir and let cool;
• Bring to a boil again and drain;
• Without rinsing, pour a new portion of water and add two teaspoons of vinegar essence or a bag of citric acid;
• Let stand for 30 minutes.

After this procedure, solid deposits easily move away from the walls and bottom. To achieve maximum effect, you need to wash the kettle with a soft sponge, rinse well and boil clean water in it 2-3 times.

Video on how to descale an enamel kettle

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Perhaps one of the most frequently used items found in every kitchen is a kettle. It is he who is a certain symbol home warmth and comfort, as well as an integral attribute of a home tea ceremony. During use, dirt and scale gradually form inside and outside. You can clean it using several proven methods that allow you to return its original appearance without unnecessary hassle and financial expenses.

There are a large number of different models made from various materials. But unfortunately, none of them are immune from scale. The main reason The formation of such complex contaminants is due to the high concentration of salts in the water. However, even the use of special filters is not always able to solve the problem. Scale usually covers the bottom and walls of metal and enamel vessels, as well as electric kettles. Because of its appearance, many electrical appliances simply fail.

It is dangerous to ignore the deposits that have formed, because such deposits can not only cause damage to an electrical device, but also lead to overheating, having a small heat sink. In addition, water boiled in such a device can contribute to the development of kidney disease.

If you want to remove scale from a kettle, you can use several proven methods, however, it is advisable to take into account the material used to make this product. Regardless of which model you have to clean, you should remember that after the treatment, the vessel must be boiled 1-2 times and then drained. This will allow you to destroy any remaining funds used.

Homemade ways to clean the kettle from scale and rust inside

If you need to thoroughly clean your device from scale and rust using home remedies, you can use the following methods.

Vinegar

Attention! This cleaning method should not be used for electrical appliances. Vinegar can deprive the heating element of certain properties.

Soda

Lemon acid

Cleansing with citric acid can be done without the boiling process.

How to clean a kettle with citric acid - video

Brine

You can get rid of traces of scale using the brine left over after preservation. In this case, the effect is achieved due to the presence of the same lemon juice in it, which can easily cope with scale.

Fruit and potato peelings

If there is a thin layer of scale formed on internal walls vessel, you can use fruit and potato peelings.

By peeling pears and apples, you can easily get rid of white salt deposits.

Carbonated drinks

You can thoroughly wash the kettle using Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite.

Attention! This method is not suitable for an electric kettle. In addition, colored drinks can leave a characteristic tint on the walls of the vessel. If it is necessary to clean white, it is advisable to use colorless liquids such as Sprite or 7UP.

In the event of the formation of very complex contaminants that accumulate on the walls of the kettle over a long period of time, you can use a more powerful method of cleaning it, which involves the alternate use of several products at once.

Attention! When cleaning, do not use metal scrapers or hard brushes.

When choosing one or another cleaning method, you should consider what materials the vessel is made of. To do this, you can use the table below

Table of home remedies for cleaning teapots made of various materials

How to clean the outside

During operation, pollution appears not only inside, but also outside. If scale can be dealt with using the above methods, then how can you easily and effectively clean the outer surfaces of the kettle? In this case, simple improvised means will also come to the rescue.

Soda

Grease that has stained the surface can be wiped off using baking soda and a damp kitchen sponge. However, with this cleaning option, you should not be too zealous, as scratches may remain on nickel teapots.

You can get rid of old dirt by boiling it in a soda solution.

Advice. Before cleaning the outside, warm up the device. This will make it easier to remove dirt.

Baking soda and vinegar 9%, mixed in equal proportions (1 teaspoon each), will help get rid of dried dirt.

How to clean the outside of a kettle with baking soda and vinegar - video

Activated carbon

Aluminum kettles can be easily cleaned with activated carbon.

Toothpaste

Instead of soda, you can also use toothpaste providing more gentle care.

How to keep your kettle clean

With these simple folk ways You can clean the surface and insides of the dishes from scale, with a lot of effort. Many of them cannot cope with very complex stains, and it is for this reason that in some cases it is more advisable to use products industrial production. However, for people who prefer to avoid using complex chemical compositions in the kitchen, these methods will become the best option. Timely descaling will ensure easier and easier quick cleaning surfaces, and regular prevention of its occurrence will be the key to the cleanliness of the vessel throughout long period time.

Over time, almost all the water in the kettle leaves a limescale deposit. It manifests itself in the form of salt deposits on the walls of the kettle or heating element, if we're talking about about the electric kettle. In any case, this phenomenon has an unpleasant effect on the operation of the ten, appearance products. That is why every owner of a heating device periodically faces the problem of how to descale a kettle.

In addition to the fact that scale looks unsightly and spoils the appearance of the kettle, its presence harms the family budget:

• due to scale, a longer period of time is needed for the kettle to boil;
• the presence of scale will cause the kettle to fail faster;
• if scale builds up, the electric kettle may turn off spontaneously;
• the presence of scale spoils the color of water and affects the quality of drinks prepared from it (tea and coffee).

Methods for descaling

You can remove scale from a kettle in several ways, both traditionally and using special means.

Household chemicals

Household chemical stores offer wide choose detergents to remove scale. Instructions are included with each of them. Most often, the product is added to the kettle along with water and boiled for a certain period of time. The names are almost the same for all: “Anti-scale” or some derivatives. When choosing a product for an electric kettle, make sure that there are certain additives that prevent the destruction of metal elements.

Before the advent of special products, each housewife used her own, proven over the years, which is available in every kitchen. Let's look at the most popular ones.

Lemon acid

Removing scale with citric acid is easy. This is the method that helps in solving the problem of how to descale an electric kettle. To do this, add 100 g of citric acid to the kettle and let it boil. The liquid in which citric acid is dissolved is not poured out. It should stay in the kettle for several hours, preferably until it cools completely. After a certain period of time, the liquid is drained, and the loose deposits from the action of citric acid are removed.

If there is no citric acid, it can be replaced with lemon slices. To remove plaque, boil 3-4 cloves in a kettle and leave lemon water until completely cooled.

Food vinegar

To remove scale, you can use not only regular vinegar, but also its other derivatives, for example, apple. However this method cannot be used for electric kettles.

The technology is simple. Pour half a glass of table vinegar and boil for 10 minutes. After the kettle has been thoroughly rinsed and easily descaled with a hard sponge, the device can be used to prepare hot drinks.

Baking soda

Regular baking soda in the amount of one tablespoon is poured into the heating element, the scale is destroyed after boiling for half an hour.

Powerful Recipe

If the scale layer is significant, use A complex approach. First, use soda, rinse, add vinegar, remove again and move on to citric acid. It is worth noting that this method is very effective. Accompanied by a violent reaction with the release of bubbles. All scale, even very old scale, turns into a gray loose sediment. It is advisable not to use the method for heating elements electric kettle.

Pickle brine

The remaining marinade from tomatoes or cucumbers contains vinegar or citric acid. The brine itself can be used to remove scale.

Modern way

The experience of cleaning heating devices using modern thirst quenchers is interesting. Regular Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta are left open to allow the gas to escape. Bring sweet drinks to a boil and remove scale with a regular sponge.

Peeling potatoes and apples

To remove scale in a kettle, you can boil finely chopped potato and apple peelings for several minutes. Leave the liquid to cool for several hours. The method can be used for both enamel cookware and electric kettles.

Wood ash

A good descaling agent is wood ash. It is not boiled, but simply rubbed into a coating of salt. Then the scale is removed with a hard sponge.