How to Clean a Kettle

Electric kettles are useful devices for heating water, other beverages, or even food. However, as time passes and you keep using them, mineral deposits start forming and causing limescale that clogs the kettle. This residue can fall on the tea or food and cause the kettle to heat water more slowly.

Moreover, it is difficult to notice how dirty the kettles are due to their design. That’s why you should clean them at least once a month to remove any dirt or debris that accumulates inside.

Although most old-fashioned tea lovers consider that cleaning your kettle is a mistake and that a good rinse with water is enough, it is an essential and hygienic practice that must be done every once in a while.

That’s why we created this handy step-by-step guide with everything you need to know to clean your kettles.

Make a Vinegar Solution

Fill up your kettle with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar until it is half or three-quarters full. This handy liquid helps to descale kettles and removes all the residue. Remember to let it sit overnight for better results.

You can use any vinegar; however, white vinegar has delivered the best results over time. Additionally, you could add a couple of spoons of lemon juice, which has fantastic cleaning properties due to its acidic components. The sour lemon juice is meant to mix with the boiling water and vinegar solution.

Boil the kettle with the solution until you see bubbles. This is what is going to clean the inside and remove scale stains. If the kettle has a lot of limescale inside, add more vinegar to the mixture and boil again.

When the kettle has boiled, turn it off and unplug it. Let the solution cool down inside for about 20 minutes and empty the kettle. If it has a lot of limescale, leave the liquid inside for a little longer.

Then, scrub the inside of the kettle with a non-metallic sponge or cloth. Do this after leaving the vinegar solution to soak for a long time. Be sure not to scrub the bottom, where the electrical heating system is located.

Rinse the kettle with water several times to remove the vinegar odor; otherwise, you would end up with vinegar-flavored tea. Afterward, wipe the inside with a cloth and let dry.

Boil water again and empty it if the kettle still tastes or smells like vinegar. This should be enough to make the odor disappear. You can repeat this process several times if the vinegar scent or taste is too stubborn to go away.

Alternative Solutions

If the manufacturer of the kettle indicates that you should not use vinegar to clean it, you can use lemon instead. Prepare a solution with lemon and water by squeezing a lemon in water, then cut it and place the pieces inside. Fill the kettle with this solution.

Afterward, boil the water and let it sit in the kettle for an hour, then drain the water and rinse the kettle. You can use both yellow and green lemons.

Another wonderful cleaning option is to prepare a solution with baking soda and water. All you have to do is mix one teaspoon of baking soda in water, pour it into the kettle, and bring it to a boil.

Let the solution sit for 20 minutes, then empty the kettle and rinse it with cold water. This is meant to remove the limescale inside the kettle and make it look as shiny as ever.

An expert tip is to use soda as a homemade alternative method. You simply need to fill the teapot with soda, boil it and then let it cool for about 45 minutes. Then, pour out the soda and wash the teapot as usual. It should be sparkling!

If you want to use a commercial cleaner, you can look for one online, at a home improvement store, or the supermarket. You should dilute the cleaner with water according to the directions and boil the solution inside the kettle. Then, rinse it as you usually do and scrape any excess with a soft brush.

In extreme cases, when kettles have been stained for a long time, and we have not treated them properly, you can apply a little bleach diluted in hot water and let it act on the surface. However, it is not advisable to put them in the dishwasher, as you could potentially damage them.

How to Take Care of Your Kettle

The first thing you need to do is clean the outside of the kettle with regular dish soap and then wipe it with a damp cloth. Do not let soap get inside the kettle, or it could get damaged. You should do this every other week.

Please, do not place your kettle into the water, as it has an electric system that you could ruin if you do.

If you have a stainless-steel kettle, you should polish it to keep it shiny. In order to do this, you can place some olive oil on a soft cloth and wipe the outside of the kettle. Rub gently to prevent scratching the outside surface.

However, the most important step is to clean the kettle regularly. The inside of the kettle fills with residue as you keep using it. This can cause unwanted remains to fall into your tea or coffee and cause delays in the heating process. If you want to keep the kettle working properly, clean it every couple of months.

Bottom Line

Hopefully, your kettles are a lot cleaner after reading this article. On the other hand, remember that there’s no better feeling than the one you get after doing an excellent cleaning job.

This is not only about looks but about protecting your health and the people around you. You can even get some delicious tea in the process.

If you loved this article and want to learn more about the different ways of cleaning any device you can think of, just go check out the rest of our page. Happy cleaning!

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