How to Clean an Electric Kettle
Fed up with limescale deposits in your kettle? Here’s how to clean and descale it easily …….
Fall is just around the corner, boil that kettle, tune into your favorite movie, and enjoy a piping-hot cup of tea… An electric kettle is a very compact and handy little commonly used kitchen appliance and becoming incredibly popular because of its efficiency and can boil water significantly faster than any stovetop kettle. An electric kettle is not just helpful for boiling water; it can be of great assistance in preparing tea, coffee, and a lot of other snacks and beverages within a fraction of minutes.
With colder weather approaching and given the global COVID-19 pandemic, electric kettle gets used even more and more at any household. And frequent use of your favorite kitchen appliance means more cleaning and maintenance is necessary.
But after prolonged use, electric kettles can build-up some white limescale deposits from the water. The scaling of minerals inside an electric kettle from water is often referred to as ‘kettle furring’. The more deposits in the kettle, the longer it takes for water to boil, affect the intended performance, and deteriorate the quality of the water. If left untreated and neglected too long, limescale may damage your kettle and shorten its lifespan too.
Therefore, it’s worth taking the time to clean and descale your hardworking kettle properly. Luckily, limescale deposits are easy to treat using food-safe products you probably have in the pantry. So here’s how to clean an electric kettle following our simple steps to descale and keeping it in good working condition for a long time.
How to Clean an Electric Kettle: The Vinegar Method
Distilled white vinegar is the perfect tool for descaling your electric kettle because the acid reacts with that nasty limescale and dissolves them away. The acidic essence of white vinegar is so strong it can dissolve mineral deposits, mildew, grease, grime, and strong enough to kill bacteria too. This natural cleaner is non-toxic and eco-friendly, and the best part, it’s super cheap. Here’s how to clean an electric kettle with vinegar in easy steps.
What You’ll Need
- Distilled white vinegar
- Water
- Scrubby brush / Bottle Brush
- Microfiber cloth
Instructions and Steps to Follow
1.Mix a vinegar solution. Pour an equal quantity (1:1) of water and white vinegar into the electric kettle. Add this solution until the kettle is about one-half or three-quarters full.
2.Boil the solution. Switch on the kettle and let the solution boil for a few minutes, then turn the kettle off, unplug it, and let it cool and allow the solution to sit in the kettle for at least 15 or 20 minutes. If the limescale inside the kettle is really in bad shape, increase the quantity of white vinegar in the solution, boil it again and leave the mixture in the kettle for a longer period of time.
3.Scrub and Rinse. Pour out the vinegar and water solution and rinse the kettle couple of times with fresh water. Use a scrubby or a bottle brush to give the interior a gentle scrub. If hard limescales or gunk still remains then use the rough side of a non-metallic sponge or cloth to scrub the interior of the kettle.
4. Rinse with plain water. If there is any vinegar taste or smell left in the kettle, boil water in it again and rinse it. Repeat the cycle couple of times, this will remove any remaining vinegar smell or taste. When completely descaled and the smell of vinegar have been rinsed away, wipe the kettle with a soft cloth and leave it to air dry. Your electric kettle is clean and ready for use again.
How to Clean an Electric Kettle Without Vinegar : Cleaning with Other Solutions
1. Lemon Solution.
If you can’t use vinegar, substitute it with freshly-squeezed lemon juice or citric acid powder. Make a solution with an equal portion (1:1) of lemon juice with its slices and water or use two tablespoons of citric acid powder in a halfway full kettle of water and boil the solution. Switch off the kettle and let the solution soak in the kettle for at least 30-40 minutes before rinse. Dump the solution, scrub with a sponge or bottle brush as needed, rinse the kettle, and wipe it with a soft cloth.
2.Baking Soda Solution.
Yet another effective option to descale and clean your kettle is to use a solution of baking soda and water. If your kettle manufacturer has prohibited using vinegar, then baking soda can be effectively substituted by vinegar. Just mix a teaspoon of baking soda in water and fill the solution into the electric kettle and bring to a boil. Let the solution soak in the kettle for around 20-30 minutes. Thereafter, scrub the interior of the kettle using a dump sponge or bottle brush. Finally, rinse with cold water and leave it to air dry.
3. Commercial Cleaning Products.
There are different types of chemical cleaning products available in the market, some are specifically designed to clean metal kettles and some for plastic body kettles. You can buy these commercial cleaning products online or from your local home stores or supermarkets. Make a solution using cleaning product and water as per directions given on the product and boil the solution in the kettle. Left the solution in the kettle to let it soak for some minutes, rinse the kettle with cold water after dumping the solution
Summary
Applying the above methods can help to keep your kitchen’s little wonder in good working condition and will look brand new forever. If you live in an area with hard water, your kettle may get limescale build up more frequent. Refrain from leaving excess water in the kettle after use, as it will foster the buildup of mineral deposits. Depending upon the usage, cleaning and descaling of kettle should at least be done every couple of months to keep your kettle in good shape and it will also increase the lifespan of your kettle.