How to descale an electric kettle. How to effectively descale an electric kettle at home. Scale formation process

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, let alone 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. 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 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 without it strong remedy there's no way around it.

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 tbsp. spoons.

Recipe: pour water into a kettle and boil it, then pour it into boiling water acetic acid 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 the 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 (be careful - acid that gets into hot water, “hisses”). 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 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 it once clean water, drain it and rinse the kettle.

Recipe 2: to clean Electric kettle 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 teapots made of stainless steel and for electric kettles, but for enameled and tin - with caution.

Ingredients: any carbonated drinks with citric acid The composition ranges 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.

In any kettle, electric or metal, scale appears over time. It accumulates most quickly from hard water, replete with magnesium and calcium salts. In this case, it is recommended to clean the boiling water utensils weekly. Today the editors of the site decided to draw the attention of their readers to this problem. In this publication we will talk about the seven best and proven ways to descale a kettle, also using chemicals.

Read in the article

Dangers of scale formation in a kettle

If you do not use store-bought drinking water for boiling, the scale problem will sooner or later arise. After all, any tap water, even cleaned by a filter, contains a certain amount of metals and salts. When heated, substances react and precipitate, which settles in the form white plaque on the walls.

A comment

Designer of the studio "Cozy House"

« If it is blue, then it contains a lot of copper or brass salt. If it’s red, closer to red, it’s iron, and if it’s brown, then your water is rich in manganese.”

There are three main dangers that a person who neglects to regularly clean the kettle may encounter:

1. Breaking household appliance. Frequent failure of the heating element in the kettle or the walls and bottom of metal heating utensils.
2. Long heating time. It is known that every millimeter of scale increases the energy consumption of the kettle by 10%. When boiling water, it does not come into contact with metal, but with a layer of rust and fat. In an electrical appliance, the heating element and plastic overheat; in a metal appliance, the walls heat up unevenly, and when boiling, particles fall into the water.
3. Accumulation of salts in the body. The plaque forms a kind of film under which bacteria develop and destroy the metal. Small particles of rust and overheating enter the body along with water and gradually accumulate inside. In the future, this may affect the functioning of the kidneys and urinary system.

How to descale a kettle

Agree before you buy strong chemical compositions, which the market abounds in, each of us wants to try something that is effective, and also cheap and cheerful. Traditional methods anti-scale products meet all these requirements. And let's start with, perhaps, the most popular method - descaling the kettle. Probably, among the readers of our online magazine there is not a single one who has not heard of this remedy. However, hearing does not mean using it. That's why we've prepared simple step-by-step instructions that will make this process as fast and efficient as possible.

Method 1. How to descale a kettle with citric acid

This method is most often used to clean an electric kettle, since vinegar (another grandmother’s remedy) can simply corrode the plastic. This method is great for light stains and, if necessary, to “refresh” the plastic on the kettle body.

For the cleaning process we will need:

1. A couple of tablespoons of citric acid (or the juice of half a lemon).
2. 500 ml cold water.

The cleaning process is very simple. First you need to boil the water. After the kettle has boiled, pour in the citric acid (the water will hiss). Leave the kettle in this state for a couple of hours until the water cools down.

Important! Make sure that at the time of cleansing, no one in the household drinks water from the kettle with acid. Despite the fact that the product itself is safe, however, rust and plaque coming off the walls and heating device can be dangerous for internal organs.

Actually, procedures with citric acid can also be preventive. It is not necessary to wait for sediment or plaque to appear; you can simply periodically pour warm water into the kettle and pour a spoonful of citric acid into it. The exposure time is the same, but boiling is not required. Such simple steps will help keep your kettle in good condition excellent condition some years.

Method 2. How to get rid of scale in a kettle using vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most aggressive non-chemical methods for cleaning a boiler; it is only suitable for metal utensils. However, it is the fastest and most effective.

In this case, you first need to prepare a solution in the ratio of 50 ml of vinegar to 500 ml of water. The solution is poured into our kettle, which must be put on fire. During the boiling process, the vinegar will gradually begin to corrode the plaque. If boiling is not enough, you need to wait for the device to cool completely, then wash the kettle with a hard sponge and baby soap to remove any remaining vinegar.

Method 3. How to remove scale from a kettle using soda

We will separately consider the sequence of actions for electric and enamel kettles. For aluminum or any other metal utensils, the following recipe is suitable: dissolve one tablespoon of soda in a kettle with water. We boil over high heat, and then reduce it and let our mixture simmer for another half hour. This is often enough to remove plaque from the walls and bottom of the dish.

For electric kettles, the procedure should also not cause difficulties. The procedure is the same as for descaling a kettle with citric acid. The cooling process alone takes more than 2 hours. You don’t have to boil the kettle, but dissolve the soda in warm water and wait at least an hour. In this case, even if not all of the sediment comes off, it will be much easier to clean it with a sponge.

A comment

Designer of the studio "Cozy House"

« To achieve maximum effect, it is better to use soda ash rather than baking soda.”

Method 4. When all else fails: a special recipe for cleaning the kettle with citric acid, soda and vinegar

In this case, it is very important to follow the sequence of steps. The secret is in the order in which you use each product. The first stage is cleaning with soda (we described how to do this above). Next, pour water into the kettle again, dissolve the citric acid, in this case there is no need to boil the water, just heat it over low heat. Drain the water again. Now it's time for the vinegar. In this case, boiling is necessary. Half a glass of 9% vinegar is added to the water solution, and the solution is brought to a boil. In this case, you will be guaranteed cleanliness of the walls and bottom of the kettle.

Method 5. How to descale a kettle using carbonated drinks

This is because, despite many myths regarding the acidic properties of this popular one, there is salt in it, or rather acid... already known to us, citric. Yes, it is thanks to this powder that the drink receives such miraculous properties: it cleanses scale and plaque, and by the way, it also affects tooth enamel.

But let's return to our... teapots. In order not to look exactly like this in the eyes of our dear readers, we decided to conduct a visual experiment and find out whether this method is so effective. So, step-by-step instruction descaling your kettle using a well-known brand of carbonated drink.

Illustration	Description of action
	We take an ordinary plastic kettle. For the purity of the experiment, we took from clear glass so that the result can be seen. As you can see, scale is present.
	We will need the actual bottle of Coca-Cola (some recommend degassing it first). We didn't. And the teapot itself.
	Pour soda into the kettle.
	Turn it on and bring it to a boil.
	After the kettle has cooled, drain the liquid. And here is the result - the kettle is practically new.

Let's add that this method Suitable for cleaning glass, metal utensils and electric kettles, excluding only tin and enamel utensils.

For your information! Coloring sodas, such as Sprite and Coca-Cola, also effectively clean car carburetors from rust and burnt gases. So, if you have car enthusiasts in your house, it’s better to leave them half a bottle.

Method 6. How to descale a kettle using apple or potato peelings

What we need: potato and apple peelings (a lot). The procedure is reminiscent of steaming apples, only here vegetable and fruit waste is used. The peelings are placed on the bottom of the kettle, steamed with boiling water or cold water. Boil the mixture well. After boiling for half an hour, we leave our “gruel” to cool. After about an hour and a half, you can wash the dishes with a regular sponge.

Method 7. How to descale a kettle using brine or oxalic acid

Both methods are based on the fact that both brine and sorrel contain a considerable dose of acid. In the first case, already known to us, lemon, and in the second - oxalic. The principle is already familiar to us. If you don't have a hangover, use brine to clean the kettle.

Household chemicals for descaling

We have studied the reviews of some buyers and will take the liberty of offering you a rating of five the best means for descaling, according to the editors website.

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 impairs 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. 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 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 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 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 the hot water will “hiss”). 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 removal 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 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:

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 the brine contains organic acids, then 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.

There is a kettle in every kitchen. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an old metal device or a modern electric one - any of them requires timely care not only outside, but also inside. Here the question comes first: “How to descale a kettle and why do it?”

That’s what we’ll talk about today, and at the same time we’ll figure out what measures can be taken to minimize the appearance of unpleasant sediment.

Why does scale appear and why is it dangerous?

Scale is formed due to the content of salts in water, mainly calcium and magnesium carbonate. Over time, they are deposited on surfaces that come into contact with water: in kettles, thermopots, dishwashers and washing machines.

And whichever good kettle you didn’t choose, sooner or later you will still face the problem of white hard plaque. In ordinary kettles it covers the bottom and walls, and in electric kettles it also covers a heating element, significantly worsening thermal conductivity.

In this case, the water takes longer to heat up, and in electric kettles the presence of sediment can lead to breakdown. To carry out its function, the spiral or disk has to become more and more heated each time. This leads not only to an increase in electricity costs, but also provokes a rapid depletion of the part’s life. Eventually the heater will simply burn out.

Scale is dangerous to human health, since its particles penetrate the body and provoke the development of kidney diseases, osteochondrosis and gout. In addition, under the influence of salts, the taste of drinks changes and a whitish sediment appears in the glass.

How to deal with scale and what not to do?

Fortunately, knowing the nature of the occurrence of unpleasant sediment, it turns out that it is not at all difficult to fight it. Plaque is afraid of organic and inorganic acids: under their influence it becomes loose, so removing it is not difficult. Armed with this knowledge, you can get to work.

But first, let's talk about what not to do:

• Remove scale mechanically using a knife, scrapers or metal sponge. Thus, you will spend a lot of effort, but still will not achieve an ideal result. In addition, there is a high risk of damaging the device.
• Do not use aggressive chemicals, such as White. It will remove plaque, but it will be very difficult to wash off the residue and get rid of the pungent odor.
• Powders with large granules can scratch the surface, causing scale to form even faster.

Special means

The chemical industry has developed special formulas for easy softening and descaling. These are, for example, Cinderella, Antiscale, Flat, Bosch and many others.

They are easy to use: in most cases, you need to dissolve the product in water, boil and leave for some time.

Please note that some formulas have a different method of application. Be sure to read the instructions!

Traditional methods

Why spend money on household chemicals, look where it is sold, if in every kitchen there are at least effective means?

After using any of these methods, you should thoroughly rinse the kettle and boil clean water in it at least once. This is necessary to remove remaining particles of the product and odor.

Soda

A gentle method that is suitable for any teapots, including aluminum and enameled ones. You need to mix 500 ml of water with 1 tbsp. l. soda (preferably soda ash) and boil over low heat for 30 minutes. After that, wash the inside of the device well with a sponge or cloth, if there is a need to repeat the process.

Vinegar

A rather aggressive method that will help in the fight against old deposits in metal, glass and plastic teapots.

You need to pour 500 ml of water and let it boil. Then pour about ¾ cup of table vinegar or 1 - 2 tbsp into boiling water. l. 9% vinegar essence and leave for 1 hour. Periodically you need to check how the peeling process is progressing, and as soon as all the scale has left, wash the kettle.

Remember to wear a mask and open the window to protect Airways from vinegar vapors.

Lemon acid

Useful for quick cleaning devices made of glass, plastic and stainless steel.

Bring 0.5 liters of water to a boil and dissolve 1 - 2 tbsp. l. lemons. Then leave until it cools completely and, if necessary, repeat the procedure again.

You can use not only powder, but also fresh lemons.

To do this, cut half a citrus fruit into pieces and place in a teapot. Otherwise, the recipe for use is the same as using citric acid. But as a bonus of this technique: a pleasant citrus aroma after processing.

Brine

The brine from cucumbers or tomatoes contains acid, which means it can be used to remove plaque from enamel teapots and of stainless steel.

To do this, strain the liquid through a sieve and boil. The brine level should be no more than ⅔ of the kettle's volume. After this, let the liquid cool and drain it.

Cleaning

You can prepare it at home mild remedy for any teapots. It is suitable as a preventative against plaque formation or if there are only a few deposits. Potato peelings or peels from apples and pears will work.

Don't forget to thoroughly wash the potato peelings from the soil.

Place the peels into a kettle, add water and boil. Let it cool and remove any remaining scale with a sponge.

For electric kettles, you can use the following recipe: place the peelings in a saucepan, boil and pour the finished broth into the device. Heat again to 100 °C, let stand and rinse.

Carbonated drinks

Suitable for stainless steel cookware and electric kettles. Use with caution in enamel and tin.

Do not use colored sodas such as Fanta or Coca-Cola on plastic devices because they may stain the surface. It's better to take a colorless drink: 7UP or Sprite.

To learn more about cleaning a kettle using Coca-Cola, watch this video.

To use soda, first open it and let the gas escape. Then pour the drink into the kettle and let it boil. Cool and clean the device.

Triple strike in advanced cases

For very persistent sediment, a three-phase system will help:

1. Pour water and dissolve one tablespoon of soda in it. Boil and then drain the liquid.
2. We fill the kettle with water again, but now add citric acid (1 tbsp.) Let it boil for about half an hour and pour out the solution.
3. Now pour 0.5 cups of vinegar into clean water and boil again for at least half an hour.

This method will help soften and remove the most stubborn plaque. But it’s better not to let your dishes and equipment get to the point where they need such cleaning.

Preventing scale formation

To prevent scale from appearing again, follow these recommendations:

• Install a filter or buy bottled water.
• Pour the remainder after boiling into another container, and rinse the kettle thoroughly.
• Do not heat the same water repeatedly.
• At least once a month, pour in a solution of citric acid. Just let it sit for about an hour and rinse. You can also use peeling or brine.

Conclusion

Scale is, of course, an unpleasant phenomenon, but inevitable. If you fight it regularly and don’t let it firmly settle on the walls of your kettle, then it won’t cause any problems.

Rinse the kettle regularly, dedicate half an hour a week to preventative cleaning, then salt deposits will not even have a chance to settle in your kettles.

Over time, the spiral of the electric kettle and its entire inner surface covered with a hard coating. It interferes with the full operation of the device and gives the water a not very pleasant taste. Therefore, you should not wait until the deposits begin to fall off and eventually end up in your cup of tea. It is better to find out in advance how to descale the appliance. Moreover, regular prevention of the formation of limescale is always more effective than combating an existing problem.

Folk remedies for fighting scale

Since scale easily dissolves in an acidic environment, citric or acetic acid is most often used to remove it. Sometimes baking soda, lemon, or even potato and apple peelings are used.

The main methods for descaling an electric kettle:

• Pour water inside and add half a glass of vinegar. Boil the solution and let it cool naturally. It is advisable to leave it for two hours or even overnight. Pour out the vinegar and water and rinse thoroughly electrical appliance running water.
• Instead of vinegar, you can use citric acid at the rate of 1 tablespoon per one and a half liters of water. Bring the solution to a boil and leave for 20-25 minutes. After cooling completely, wash the surfaces with a soft dish sponge.
• Baking soda will also help clean. To do this, add 5 teaspoons of soda to a liter of water and boil the solution.
• If you don’t have any of the above in your home, you can descale an electrical appliance using lemon. Just add a few peeled pieces to the water and bring it to a boil.
• Some housewives use washed potato or apple peelings to remove scale. Only in this case you will have to boil the kettle several times, since this product is not as strong as acids.
• Since cucumber or tomato brine contains vinegar, you can use them to clean scale.
• Finally, the last, most modern method of removal is based on the use of sweet, colorless soda. Buy a bottle of this water, shake it thoroughly to remove the gas, and pour it into the electric kettle. In this case, it is enough to fill it halfway. Bring the water to a boil and let it cool. The acids contained in soda will clean the electrical appliance from scale. Just do not use cola, Fanta and other drinks with dyes, otherwise they will color internal walls, and you are unlikely to be able to wash them.

For the most stubborn hard deposits, it is better to use several methods at once. For example, first clean with citric acid and then with vinegar. Or vinegar and baking soda etc. Such combined products, if they do not clean it completely, will make the deposit loose, which will make it easy to wash it with a regular dish sponge.

Household chemicals to combat scale

Sold in stores special means to remove scale. Each of them is accompanied by detailed instructions. They will help clean the electric kettle much faster. However, after using them, it is necessary not only to rinse it well with water, but also to bring it to a boil several times and drain the clean water. Otherwise, acid residues may end up in tea or coffee.

Cleaning rules

When using any descaling products, we recommend adhering to the following rules:

• First of all, warn your family that you are cleaning an electrical appliance. For example, stick a note to it or move it out of reach. Better yet, do it when no one is home. Otherwise, someone will definitely pour themselves coffee with acid when they are asleep.
• After using any product, rinse the kettle several times and boil it two or three times. plain water, each time draining it into the sink to get rid of all harmful substances.
• Do not use abrasives: metal jaws, dry powders, etc. They may remove the plaque, but they will also ruin the electrical appliance.
• Make sure that there is not too much deposits on the walls. Delete thick layer more difficult than a thin one, and the equipment with such careless attitude will fail ahead of schedule.
• If possible, use only filtered water. As a last resort, get into the habit of standing it before use and disinfecting it with a piece of silicon. This way you will not only extend the life of your pet, but also take care of your own health.

Never neglect timely cleaning! Then he will definitely thank you with aromatic morning coffee or his favorite sweet tea for breakfast.