How to descale a kettle. Ways to get rid of scale easily and for a long time. Cleaning with soda, “grandmother’s” recipes
Read also
Scale is hard deposits of salts that form when water boils. The harder the water, the more plaque there is. To heat dishes affected by scale, more electricity or gas will be required, because... this coating has low thermal conductivity. And how many dishes are thrown away because scale has worn them out in just a few months!
Getting rid of scale using folk remedies
Beginning housewives can try to remove scale mechanically using a brush. However, in this way it is easier to damage the dishes than to remove the hated deposits.
You don't have to run to the store for the latest remedy. scale on the kettle. Many of them contain acids, which are harmful to most surfaces. Our mothers and grandmothers knew how to remove scale easy and fast.
- The most popular method involves use of citric acid. Pour two bags into cold water and boil. You can also use sliced lemon or washed potato, apple or pear peels. Place them in the container to be cleaned, cover with cold water and boil several times.
- Another simple way is dilute vinegar in water and boil this solution in a saucepan with scale. Vinegar essence is mixed with water in a proportion of 2 teaspoons per liter of water. If you are using table vinegar, you will need 3-5 tablespoons per liter.
- If you have at home a bottle of soda like Coca-Cola or Sprite, then you can not drink it, but use it to clean dishes from scale. Simply pour the fizz into the kettle and boil it, then pour it down the sink.
- The most thrifty housewives can remove scale using alkali powder, for example, “Trinatrium phosphate” (the composition resembles the Soviet powder “Trinatr”). It is used for laundry, washing dishes, and also for removing scale from various surfaces. Dilute 20-40 g of powder in water and boil in a saucepan for 1-2 hours.
- If you need to descale a copper kettle, use caustic soda solution in a proportion of 10 g per liter of water.
Whatever method you use, rinse the dishes thoroughly after the procedure. And so that scale doesn’t bother you anymore, watch what kind of water you use. Try to cook with clean bottled water or purchase a good filter.
Whatever water you use - tap, purchased or spring - sooner or later a white coating will appear in the kettle. This is scale formed as a result of the deposition of potassium and magnesium salts dissolved in water on the walls. If it is not cleaned regularly, it will turn into limestone. I will tell you about all the ways to remove scale from a kettle without resorting to special means.
Why scale is dangerous and how to avoid it
It’s clear why scale appears: it’s salts evaporated from water. You can avoid its appearance only if you use distilled water. But it is not only not useful, but also harmful to the body.
However, scale from water itself is also not harmless.:
- Damage to health. The high content of undissolved salts in drinks leads to cholelithiasis and other physiological disorders;
- Scale affects the taste of water;
- Electricity. Limestone on the bottom and walls of the kettle reduces their thermal conductivity and forces you to spend more energy on heating water. And the heating elements in an electric kettle quickly burn out.
Therefore, the answer to the question of how to remove scale from a kettle will help you solve not only an aesthetic problem. But also avoid unnecessary expenses and health problems.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely prevent the appearance of plaque. But you can prevent the formation of a thick and hard layer, which is very difficult to deal with.
To prevent a thick layer you need:
- Use soft water. It can be filtered, settled before boiling, or purchased from reliable suppliers.
- Do not keep water in the kettle. After each tea party, the leftovers should be poured out and the dishes should be rinsed.
- Clean regularly. Depending on the quality of the water, it needs to be repeated every 2-4 weeks.
To do this, you can use special products sold in stores. Their price varies from 20 to 300 rubles, but, in my opinion, they act exactly the same. The method of application and the time spent on cleaning may differ - each product comes with its own instructions. But this is not important.
But you can do without them. After all, in every kitchen there will always be other, more natural remedies that can cope with this task.
6 ways to get rid of scale
If you don’t know how to descale a kettle, look in your kitchen cabinet or refrigerator. You need foods that contain acid. These are vinegar, citric acid or fresh lemons, apples, pickles and even carbonated drinks.
Method 1 - using vinegar
This product perfectly softens even old mineral deposits. But it is quite aggressive, so it is better not to clean a plastic electric kettle with it. As well as enameled or aluminum.
We act like this:
- Pouring water into the kettle so that it covers the entire plaque;
- Bring it to a boil and remove from heat;
- Carefully pour a glass of 9% vinegar into boiling water. or 2 tablespoons of essence for every liter of water;
- Leave for 1-2 hours.
During this time, the plaque will become loose and can be easily removed with a sponge.
Method 2 - using brine
The brine from pickled cucumbers or tomatoes already contains vinegar, so it can also be used to descale the kettle. There is no need to dilute it, just strain through a sieve.
Sour milk and whey, which contain organic acids, have the same effect.
Method 3 - using citric acid
Citric acid is not so aggressive, so it is also suitable for aluminum, plastic and enameled metal kettles. You can use either powder or fresh lemon.
The amount depends on the degree of contamination:
- 1 tablespoon powder or a quarter of a medium lemon per 500 ml of water will remove the faint white residue in the kettle;
- Twice as much required for a thicker layer of scale.
But citric acid will not dissolve large deposits that have already stuck to the walls.
The recipe is the same as when cleaning with vinegar: the acid is added to freshly boiled water, and after a couple of hours it is poured out along with the dissolved salts. Their softened remains will need to be removed with your own hands using a dish sponge.
Method 4 – using carbonated drinks
Sprite, Fanta, Coca-Cola and other carbonated drinks contain phosphoric acid, which can also remove scale from the kettle.
They are poured into an empty container, stirred to get rid of gases, and then brought to a boil.
When the liquid has cooled, the kettle can be washed.
Method 5 - using apple skins
This method will not help clean the kettle from heavy scale. It is rather preventive, used when plaque has just begun to settle on the walls. To get rid of it, just fill the peelings in a kettle with water, boil it and after an hour pour it out along with the skins.
In addition to apple skins, you can use pear skins or washed peelings from raw potatoes.
But this gentle method is suitable for cleaning ordinary teapots made of any material. If you use it regularly, you will not see scale in them at all.
Method 6 - using soda
Another effective home remedy is baking soda or soda ash.
It is applied like this:
- Before descaling from the kettle, you need to mix two tablespoons of powder with a liter of water;
- Pour the solution into the kettle and she put it on fire;
- When it boils, reduce the heat and leave the water to simmer gently for half an hour;
- Then drain the solution, and rinse the dishes and boil clean water in it.
In general, after each remedy listed above, it is recommended not just to wash the kettle, but to boil clean water in it 1-2 times.
What to do with old plaque
If the scale is old and covers the surface with a thick layer, only a special product or repeated use of the methods described above can help.
It is best to alternately apply vinegar, baking soda and citric acid, using a higher concentration of cleaning solution.
Even if the scale does not come off on its own, it will become soft and loose, which will allow you to clean it off the walls.
Conclusion
I hope that the listed methods for descaling a kettle will help you always keep your dishes clean. And those who want to can boast about particularly spectacular results in the comments.
The video in this article shows the cleaning process - you can see for yourself that these methods work.
Scale is formed due to the content of metal salts in tap water, which settle on the bottom and inner walls of ordinary kettles or electric heating elements.
Drinking tea or coffee generously seasoned with mineral deposits risks kidney, joint and bone diseases.
A dense layer of scale leads to long-term heating of water, and in electric kettles - to breakdowns of the heating coil.
The rate of plaque formation depends on the hardness of the water, but even filtration will not eliminate the need to periodically remove scale from the kettle.
How to descale a kettle: necessary tools
To rid the kettle of scale and extend its service life, you can use both special preparations from a household chemical store and home remedies:
citric acid or lemons;
sweet soda;
pickle from canned cucumbers or tomatoes;
peel of apples, pears or potatoes.
Soda softens limescale, and other products contain acids that scale is afraid of. For cleaning you will also need a soft brush, sponge or brush. Do not use metal scourers to speed up the process, as they damage the dishes.
How to descale a kettle: method 1 - traditional
The easiest way to remove scale from a kettle is to use improvised means that are found in every kitchen: citric or acetic acid, soda or a combination of both.
Cleaning with vinegar
Manufacturers do not recommend cleaning electric, enameled and aluminum kettles with vinegar; the product is suitable for stainless steel dishes with old deposits.
With a small layer of lime, fill 2/3 of the kettle with water, and the remaining 1/3 with 9% vinegar. Bring the solution to a boil over low heat, remove the kettle from the heat and set it aside for 1-3 hours to loosen the scale. If the bottom and walls of the dish are covered with a thick and dense crust of deposits, prepare a solution at the rate of ½ cup of vinegar per 1 liter of water, pour it into the kettle, put on low heat, wait until it boils and boil for another 10-30 minutes - depending on the volume of the vessel.
After cooling, rinse the kettle thoroughly with a soft sponge, removing any remaining scale, boil it with clean water 1-2 times and rinse the container to get rid of traces of vinegar.
Cleaning with citric acid
A gentle product will help get rid of scale on any kettle. To remove dense deposits of lime, boil a kettle with an acid solution (10-15 g 1 liter of water), turn it off immediately after boiling and cool it for 30-60 minutes - during this time the scale will dissolve or soften. Then drain the liquid, remove any remaining deposits with a sponge, boil a container with clean water and rinse thoroughly. If you were unable to remove old scale on the first try, repeat the procedure.
In order not to subject the kettle to boiling with acid, it is enough to clean it monthly without heating: dilute the acid with water, pour it into a container and drain the solution after a few hours - a small deposit will disappear without a trace.
Cleaning with soda
Regular baking soda or soda ash will help restore the original cleanliness of any kettles, including electric ones.
Option 1. Fill the bowl with water, add 1 tbsp. soda, boil and hold for half an hour over low heat. Cool, drain the solution and wash the kettle, then fill it again with water and boil, removing any remaining soda. After this, rinse the container again.
Option 2. Pour 1-2 tbsp into boiling water in a kettle. soda and immediately turn off the heat. After 1-2 hours, remove softened mineral deposits from the dishes, boil them with clean water and rinse again.
Cleaning old scale
Option 1. Moisten a sponge with vinegar, dip it in soda and rub the resulting slurry into the scale-covered surfaces. When vinegar and soda are combined, a reaction will occur that destroys the deposits; all that remains is to rinse and rinse the kettle. If the deposits are dense, cleaning will need to be repeated.
Option 2. Suitable for the most neglected kettles with a thick layer of scale, but not suitable for electric ones due to excessive aggressiveness. Cleansing is carried out in three steps:
1. Pour water into a container, add 1 tbsp. l. soda, boil, set aside for 10-20 minutes, drain the solution.
2. Refill with water, add 1-2 tbsp. citric acid, boil the solution over low heat for half an hour, drain.
3. Pour water into the kettle again, add 1/2 cup of vinegar, boil for another half hour, drain the liquid.
Most of the scale will come off on its own after such a powerful attack; loose residues can be easily removed with a simple sponge. Then be sure to rinse the kettle, boil clean water in it 3-4 times and rinse the dishes.
How to descale a kettle: method 2 – “delicious”
Adherents of safe natural remedies will appreciate the method of descaling by peeling potatoes, pears or apples containing organic acids. The peelings need to be rinsed, placed in a kettle, filled with water and the liquid boiled. After boiling, set the kettle with the peel aside for 1-2 hours, and then rinse the dishes well. The product is suitable for removing light scale deposits.
Cucumber or tomato brine is an excellent way to get rid of lime “deposits” due to the content of citric acid or vinegar. The brine needs to be poured into the kettle, boiled, cooled, rinsed and thoroughly rinsed the container to remove the smell of preserved food. An additional bonus of the method is the removal of rust from the inner surface of the vessel.
Lemon fights scale well. The sour fruit needs to be cut into quarters, put them in a kettle, add water, place the dishes on low heat and boil the solution for 10-15 minutes after boiling. If the scale is not softened enough, repeat the procedure, and then rinse the kettle and rinse with plenty of water.
To effectively remove scale from your kettle, you can also use sweet soda.
Open the bottle of drink to release the gases, then pour 0.5-1 liters of liquid into the kettle, boil, let cool and rinse the container thoroughly. If there is a small layer of deposits, you can do without boiling - just fill the kettle with soda to dissolve the deposits, and wash it after a few hours. The cleaning effect is based on the content of citric and phosphoric acid in the drink. Choose a clear soda, for example, 7UP, otherwise you will later have to remove colored stains from Coca-Cola or Fanta from the surface of the dishes.
How to descale a kettle: method 3 – chemical
The destruction of scale with household chemicals is achieved by containing citric, adipic or sulfamic acid. Special products are available in the form of liquids, powders or tablets and are used according to the instructions. The general scheme of use is to boil the solution with the cleaning agent in a kettle for 30-40 minutes, then drain it. Softened scale can be easily removed, and after cleaning the kettle, you should boil clean water 2-3 more times to remove chemicals.
The effectiveness of using store-bought anti-scale products is comparable to the effect of vinegar and citric acid, but the latter are much more economical.
How to descale a kettle without ruining it
Even if the kettle is covered with a thick layer of plaque, do not scrape it with sharp objects, do not use hard brushes or steel wool for cleaning - such a cruel method will greatly damage the dishes.
To remove scale carefully and effectively, wash the inside of the kettle well, and then use home remedies or chemicals to dissolve or loosen the limescale “coat.” After cleaning, be sure to wash the kettle with a sponge or soft brush, boil water in it a couple of times and rinse the dishes again to avoid poisoning.
The frequency of descaling the kettle depends on the hardness of the water used, but try not to start the process - with each boiling the scale crust becomes stronger and thicker. Preventive care will help minimize its formation:
rinsing after each boiling and washing the kettle daily with a sponge;
using filtered water, fresh each time - repeated boiling increases the precipitation of salts;
draining the water from the kettle at night or during long periods of inactivity.
The choice of methods for descaling a kettle is quite large, and home remedies are as effective as store-bought ones. The main thing is not to forget to repeat the procedure regularly.
Lime in the kettle worries every housewife. It not only spoils the appearance of the device, prevents the water from boiling faster, but also leads to breakdown. Scale is also extremely dangerous for the body, as it interferes with the normal functioning of the kidneys and excretory system.
By using filtered water, you will postpone the problem for a while, but someday scale will still form and you will have to remove it. Therefore, tips on how to do this without damaging the heating element will always come in handy.
Rules for using an electric kettle
But first, let's talk about what will prevent it from forming quickly and will extend the life of your kettle:
- do not boil the same water several times, this is harmful to your health;
- do not let the device heat up if it is less than half full;
- make sure the lid is tightly closed;
- do not allow any objects to get inside the kettle;
- Do not clean it with harsh abrasives or metal sponges;
- do not touch the heating surface, do not try to clean it mechanically;
- Do not clean the electric kettle with soda, it will stain the walls;
- Descale at least once every two weeks.
If you didn’t know about the rules for using a kettle before, now remember them and follow them. Then it will serve you much longer than its service life.
Household chemical stores may offer you special products that help clean the insides of the appliance from deposits, but do not rush to purchase them. Such powders contain a lot of chemicals that are hazardous to health if they come into contact with the skin and the body. It’s better to try traditional methods, which are also effective, but also safe.
Table vinegar
The most popular method is to use vinegar. Dilute it with water 1 to 10 and pour it into the kettle halfway. Let it boil and leave for 15 minutes. Then repeat the procedure two or three more times and rinse the kettle well. If there are scale particles left on its walls or heating element, then add new water and vinegar and do the whole process again. But next time, don’t bring him to this state.
When cleaning is complete, fill with regular water and boil the kettle. Pour it out, fill it with a new one and let it warm up again. The water poured for the third time can be drunk without fear that the vinegar remains in the kettle.
Lemon acid
Another cleaning method is to use citric acid. Dissolve 20 gr. powder in a liter of warm water and pour into the device. Let sit for 4 hours and then drain. After this, evaluate how clean your kettle is. If there are traces of scale left on it, then fill it again with diluted citric acid.
In the case where the scale layer is several millimeters, this method will not work. We'll have to do things differently. Pour in the solution and heat it several times. After citric acid, it is enough to boil the kettle with clean water only once.
Cleaning with vinegar and citric acid
If you have never cleaned your kettle before and a decent layer of scale has accumulated on it, then try the method described below. Pour a solution of vinegar and water into the device, boil it and leave until it cools. Then drain and fill with diluted citric acid. Bring to a boil again and wait until the water becomes cold. Alternate these techniques three times, and then, if all the scale is not removed, gently scrape it off with a sponge.
Instead of these solutions, you can use strained cucumber brine. It also contains vinegar and citric acid. Just pour it into the kettle and boil. Then rinse the inside of the device thoroughly and boil the water once.
Soda
You can clean an electric kettle using soda. To do this, boil water in it, and then add 3 teaspoons of soda to it and mix well. After half an hour, drain the solution and repeat the whole process. At the end of cleaning, do not forget to boil the water once without additives and drain it. This will help get rid of any remaining baking soda on the walls.
Do not try to scrub off scale with undiluted soda powder; it has harsh abrasive properties and will scratch the surface of the heating device. If boiling does not help, add one tablespoon of acetic acid in addition to it. When the soda begins to extinguish, it will dissolve even hardened scale.
The imagination of housewives knows no bounds, and they resort to new tricks to get rid of the hated plaque quickly and at no extra cost. Do not repeat their mistakes and do not waste your time on useless activities; in this case, it is better to purchase an anti-scale agent.
Coca-Cola or Sprite
This method may seem effective to some, but do not indulge yourself in illusions. Citric acid, which is contained in each of these drinks, helps to cope with plaque. Only its pure powder is several times cheaper than sweet water and has no dyes or harmful preservatives.
Peels and peels
The fact is that the main substance that dissolves scale is again acid, but it is contained in a minimal amount, which does not affect the result. In addition, if a foreign object gets on the heating surface, it will damage it.
Take care of your kettle, clean it promptly using the methods described above, do not leave water on overnight, use only filtered water, and then it will last a long time. Don't forget that clean kitchen appliances are the key to your health.
Video: how to descale a kettle in 3 minutes
In any water heating device from time to time we discover a treasure trove of minerals, namely deposits of magnesium and potassium salts from hard water. And if we always try to prevent its occurrence in the dishwasher and washing machine, then what can we say about scale in the kettle, which not only impairs its performance and leads to breakdowns, but also harms the health of household members.
We have collected 5 of the most effective and affordable ways to descale a kettle at home. In fact, the secret of all folk remedies is very simple:
- Scale in a kettle or electric kettle is afraid of organic and inorganic acids, so almost all methods of removing scale at home are based on the use of acid-containing solutions.
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 a very large amount of old scale.
Ingredients: water - approximately 500 ml and vinegar 9% - a little less than 1 glass or vinegar essence 70% - 1-2 tbsp. spoons.
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. 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 tbsp. spoons (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 for about 1-2 hours (be careful - acid that gets into hot water will “hiss”). If the scale is not old, it will come off on its own, otherwise you will need 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, preferably soda ash – 1 tbsp. spoon, water - approximately 500 ml (the main thing is that it covers all the limescale).
Recipe 1: to remove scale from the walls of an enamel or aluminum kettle, you must first mix soda with water, then bring this solution to a boil, and then leave it to simmer over low heat for 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: descaling ordinary enamel and metal kettles.
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.