How to clean the kettle from scale: we reveal all the secrets. The most effective and safe methods for removing scale from the kettle. How to clean the kettle from scale at home? How to get rid of scale inside the kettle
Scale on the walls of the kettle is formed in any case, even if a system is installed in the apartment that will improve the quality of the water, but it is impossible to completely clean the liquid from the salts in the composition in this way. Sooner or later, limescale will settle on the walls, which, in addition to looking unsightly, can harm the health of loved ones. This means that it's time to think about how to descale the kettle. Today, in our review, we will analyze in detail the methods for self-cleaning the kettle from scale, and we will also study exactly how each tool works.
Plaque forms on the bottom and inner walls of the device, and in electric models - on the heating element. Unfortunately, it is impossible to avoid this phenomenon, plaque will settle to a greater or lesser extent, even if used. The formation of plaque occurs due to the content of salts in tap water, and the more there are, the more often the plaque will appear on the walls. This problem cannot be ignored for several reasons:
- for an electrical device, this increases and leads to an early breakdown;
- in ordinary teapots, plaque can destroy the walls;
- salts are harmful to the body, getting into or coffee, they thus penetrate inside and adversely affect the functioning of the kidneys and urinary system.
How to clean the kettle from scale at home using folk methods
We all remember the old adage that it is easier to prevent a problem than to fix its consequences. So it is with plaque - with regular cleaning, it is much faster and easier to remove it, and you do not need to use it for this. We have selected the best homemade recipes on how to get rid of scale in an electric and conventional kettle.
How to clean the kettle from scale with citric acid
The most effective remedy is citric acid. It can be used for both conventional and electric models. Before you descale the kettle with citric acid, you need to understand the principle of action of the lemon. Lime scale is an alkali that reacts with an acid. The procedure is as follows:
- Pour a bag of lemons inside and pour plain water above the level of plaque formation.
- Bring to a boil and leave on low heat for a few minutes.
- The reaction is almost instantaneous, the plaque falls off in pieces from the inner walls.
For prevention purposes, such a procedure as cleaning the kettle with citric acid should be performed monthly. A folk remedy is able to quickly descale and other household appliances, for example,.
How to get rid of scale in the kettle with vinegar
Vinegar can be found in several recipes for cleaning walls from plaque. It is undesirable to use it for electrical appliances, however, if the case is running and there is no other way out, acid can also be used. Before descaling the kettle with vinegar, you need to choose one of the following recipes.
| Recipe | Description |
| Recipe 1 |
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| Recipe 2 |
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| Recipe 3 (for electrical appliance) |
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In all recipes, the time is approximate, the hostess should observe the intensity of plaque peeling. After treating the inner walls with vinegar, wash everything thoroughly and boil fresh water 1-2 times to remove the smell. You can use vinegar.
How to descale a kettle with baking soda
Baking soda powder can be used on metal, enamel and electric models. The main advantage of using soda is that it removes old formations, but you need to be careful during processing, as it can leave scratches on the surface. Pour 2 tsp into the device with a volume of 3 l. with a slide of soda powder, pour water and boil for half an hour. After allowing the solution to cool and wash the walls in the usual way. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times.
How to clean the kettle from scale with carbonated drinks
Not everyone has a positive attitude towards soda, calling such drinks chemical. But since they are approved for use all over the world, they can certainly be used to clean the device at home. For example, Sprite effectively removes plaque, Fanta and Cola have a similar cleaning property, but they can stain the walls, so our editors excluded them. The procedure is as follows:
- Pour Sprite inside, the amount of drink should not exceed half the volume of the kettle.
- Bring to a boil, then rinse everything thoroughly.
It is important! It is strictly forbidden to clean electrical appliances with carbonated drinks. This method helps only for conventional devices.
How to descale a kettle with brine or oxalic acid
Cleaning with brine or oxalic acid is suitable for all kinds of household appliances. The main advantage of this method is the availability and cost savings. However, this method is not suitable for old and hardened plaque, in addition, cleaning with brine or oxalic acid will leave a smell inside for a while. You need to be ready for this. To remove plaque with the help of cleanings, you will need:
- 0.5 liters of brine;
- boil the brine for 10-15 minutes;
- after the solution is drained, and the walls are thoroughly washed. Baking soda can be used to remove the odor.
It is interesting! The composition of the marinade, as a rule, includes vinegar, so the result of cleaning with it has such an effect.
To clean plaque with oxalic acid, you should:
- pour a small amount of the composition inside, pour water;
- bring to a boil and leave for a few minutes. After that, rinse well.
How to clean scale in a kettle with apple or potato peels
In home advice, there is another extraordinary recipe - removing plaque with apple or potato peelings. It is used for metal or enameled surfaces, it is also suitable for electrical appliances. Of the main advantages, one can note the availability and cost-effectiveness, in addition, it is also one of the most environmentally friendly methods. Unfortunately, cleaning is a poor helper for stubborn plaque.
The principle of operation is explained simply. Apple peels contain fruit acids of organic origin, which react with the alkaline environment of limescale. Potato peels have an alkaline base, its action is similar to baking soda. The procedure is as follows:
- Cleaning place inside, pour water and boil for 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the water, rinse the walls in the usual way.
Combined kettle cleaning with vinegar, baking soda and citric acid
The combined method for cleaning the walls is heavy artillery for dealing with scale. However, this method, due to its aggressiveness, is not suitable for electrical appliances.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Stir in 1 liter of water 1-2 tsp. soda, boil.
- Before you remove the scale in the kettle with citric acid, you need to pour out the previous composition, do all the steps again, but add 1 tbsp. l. lemons.
- Perform all actions again, but include an additional 100 g of table vinegar in the composition.
Such an algorithm should lead to a positive result, the plaque remaining on the walls becomes loose in its structure and is easily removed with a sponge.
Related article:
Lemon, vinegar and water, soda, orange peels, effective household cleaning products, useful tips - read the publication.
Household chemicals for descaling
The trading network offers a lot of descaling agents in the kettle. Before buying, be sure to read the instructions for use and composition. It is important to clarify whether it is recommended to use it for your device. If chemistry can adversely affect some components, the manufacturer will indicate this.
How to descale an electric kettle - the nuances of the process
Before you remove scale in an electric kettle, you need to understand its device. Manufacturers produce devices of two types:
- with an open heating element;
- with closed heater.
In the first case, it is much more difficult to remove plaque, since it clogs under the heating element, and it is rather difficult to clean it out from there. Only chemical compositions can help in this example.
What is the best way to descale an enameled kettle
The enameled surface can be stained with compositions with bright dyes. In addition, the enamel loses its physical characteristics with a sharp change in temperature. Therefore, before cleaning the kettle from scale, for example, with citric acid, you must first fill in cold water, heat it, then rinse it with hot liquid or allow the composition to cool naturally to room temperature.
Due to the large amount of salts and impurities in the water, we can observe how scale forms in our kettles. The more scale there is in the kettle, the longer it will heat the water, and it is not always pleasant when something floats in the water. There are several ways to clean your kettle at home, and today we will tell you about them!
How to remove scale in a kettle?
Using the simplest products that every home has, we can periodically clean the kettle so that it lasts longer. Today we will tell you how to clean the kettle with the help of such things.
Baking soda
. Vinegar, 9%
. Sparkling water
. Lemon acid
How to clean a kettle with baking soda?
1. Pour a full kettle of water and add 1 tablespoon of baking soda there.
2. We put the kettle on the fire (if it is an electric kettle, then turn it on) and wait until it boils.
3. When the kettle boils, turn off the heat and let it stand for 20 minutes.
4. We pour out the water from the kettle and draw a new one, now we need to add 20 grams of citric acid.
5. We repeat the heating process, and then wait half an hour.
6. Rinse the kettle and enjoy the cleanliness.
How to clean a kettle with vinegar?
1. Pour water into the kettle so that it fills 2/3 of the maximum volume. Then pour the vinegar to the full volume.
2. We put the kettle on the fire and wait until it boils. As soon as this happens, put the kettle off the heat and let it stand until the kettle has cooled down. We will see for ourselves how, over time, the scale will begin to disappear.
3 . As soon as the scale disappears, we should wash the kettle very well, after which it can already be used.
How to clean the kettle with soda?
One of the newest and most unconventional descaling products, but according to people - very effective.
The method of application is very simple - pour a colorless mineral water into a kettle and boil it. The scale will disappear during the heating process.
If you use this method, we recommend that you take colorless mineral water, as colors from other water can remain on the walls of the kettle.
How to clean the kettle with citric acid?
1. Pour a full kettle of water and pour 1 sachet of citric acid into it.
Scale always appears on the inner walls of the kettle, regardless of whether it is electric, metal, or coated with a special enamel. Even if you use special water filters, or use only purified water, scale still appears on the inside of the kettle. Its presence reduces the quality of the water that boils in it.
If we are talking about an electrical appliance, then it accumulates directly on the heating element, which leads to a quick breakdown of the equipment. If the container is made of metal, not only scale, but also rust will get into the water.
Today, most of the kettles in use are powered by electricity, so it is important to know how to remove scale in an electric kettle.
Water is one of the most necessary products for a person, without it we cannot live even a week, but it can also contain many harmful substances and harmful organisms. To combat the latter, people have long begun to boil water, but this process does not allow you to remove salts and other impurities. And the water that comes from the water supply contains a lot of such substances, and the more of them, the more “hard” the liquid will be.
Salts in excess are harmful to the body, so the fact that they remain on the walls and / or the heating element can be beneficial for a person, but over time they become too much. To prevent scale formation in an electric kettle, filters can be used, but they cannot completely eliminate the salt content in the water.
Negative consequences of scale in the kettle:
- breaking;
- water pollution;
- harm to the body, in particular to the organs of the urinary system.
That is why it is important to know how to descale an electric kettle and not neglect its cleanliness.
Prevention
Certain measures allow, if not completely eliminating the formation of scale on the surface of the heating element, then at least significantly reducing the rate of formation. There are several simple ways to prevent:
- wash the kettle daily, a thin coating is easy enough to remove using an ordinary sponge, but a thick one will have to be removed with difficulty;
- use filtered water, you can also buy pre-purified water;
- drain excess water after each boil, leave the kettle empty at night;
- notice the need for cleaning in time, the thicker the layer, the more effort will have to be made to clean it.
You can simplify care already at the purchase stage by opting for an electric kettle, in which the heating coil is closed from contact with water, or a disc is used for heating.
Remove limescale from an electric kettle with home remedies
Scale is exposed to various substances, and the practice of cleaning electric kettles involves both the use of special tools and folk recipes. Active substances allow you to dissolve and remove scale, some of them are quite affordable, and are sold even in ordinary grocery stores. These include:
- vinegar;
- lemon acid;
- soda.
Scale can be removed in many ways, and the most harmful to equipment will be mechanical. You should not try to remove plaque using hard and sharp tools, as this will further damage the device. Damage to the body or heating element will be irreversible, and after their occurrence, all that remains is to get rid of your electric kettle. You should not resort to the mechanical method when the layer has become very thick, only pre-treatment of the rigid (but not metal) inner surface with a washcloth is allowed.
citric acid
Of the acceptable descaling agents for an electric kettle, citric acid is one of the mildest. When preparing the composition for processing, it is necessary to dissolve 10 grams of citric acid in a liter of water. It is sold in ordinary grocery stores, usually in 25-gram packs.
To make the calculations easier, it will be enough to pour the contents of one bag into one full kettle. After the finished solution is in the electric kettle, you need to turn it on.
Do not leave the device unattended, as soon as the liquid is brought to a boil, it must be turned off, otherwise the boiling water will start to foam and splash out over the top.
After completing this simple procedure, the hot solution should be left inside for 15 minutes. This time will be enough for the acid to dissolve the scale, or reduce its thickness.
After the procedure, the solution is poured out, it cannot be used for other purposes, and the kettle itself is washed so that the remnants of active substances do not get into tea or coffee later. If the layer was too thick, the descaling procedure with citric acid can be repeated.
Under the influence of citric acid, the scale is converted into a loose gray precipitate, in addition, the liquid will contain small pieces of lime in the form of plates. Alternatively, you can use not the powder in the store, but the lemons themselves.
For effective processing, it will be enough to place 1-2 lemons inside the device, cutting them into circles. The effectiveness of this method is no less high; at the same time, a strong lemon aroma will escape into the room along with the steam.
Vinegar
The second way to remove scale from an electric kettle involves the use of vinegar, popularly called the "grandmother's" method, if only because it has been used for a very long time.
Initially, vinegar was used against scale on copper kettles, but for modern electric kettles it may be quite enough. For the procedure, you need the usual 10% solution, which is in every kitchen.
Mode of application:
- An electric kettle is filled two-thirds with water, and the last third must be filled with vinegar.
- The resulting mixture must be boiled, and then leave the device and wait until it cools down. During this time, the scale layer should dissolve, or significantly decrease.
- After the procedure, you must either repeat it or rinse the kettle thoroughly with hot water several times so that there is no vinegar left on its walls that can spoil the taste of any drink.
Acetic acid is an effective reagent for removing scale, due to the chemical reaction that it enters into with salts, the latter are decomposed into simple substances. For a conventional electric kettle with a volume of one and a half to two liters, two glasses of vinegar will be required. This method also has a significant drawback - the smell.
After the procedure, a persistent vinegar aroma will reign in the kitchen, which will not seem pleasant to anyone, so you should take care of ventilation in advance.
soda
If you need to remove very serious contaminants, the effect of acetic acid can be supplemented with soda. First, a concentrated soda solution is boiled in an electric kettle, and after that we immediately fill the equipment with vinegar and water (1: 2) in such a volume that the active liquid completely covers the heating element. As a result, a very violent chemical reaction will appear, accompanied by the release of carbon dioxide. Bubbles will begin to form, which will destroy the thick layers of scale.
The method of cleaning an electric kettle with soda from scale, in fact, is not independent, it is used so that the particles of soda eat into plaque when boiling water, so that, after reacting violently with acid, mechanical removal is ensured on the surface of the heating element by means of emerging carbon dioxide bubbles . For one liter of water, two tablespoons of soda will be enough.
Other ways
In addition to the three "kitchen" substances, other, rather unusual methods can be used for cleaning:
- Brine. The brine left after pickled cucumbers or tomatoes can also be used for this purpose, because it contains citric acid. Having boiled an electric kettle with brine, you can also successfully clean it of plaque, the procedure is exactly the same - pour the brine, boil, wait until it cools down, pour it out, and wash the container. Cucumber pickle is also able to eliminate rust.
- Soda. Quite an unexpected way to clean kettles from scale. Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, and other similar drinks also help to cope with scale, since they contain phosphoric acid, which can cope with even a fairly thick layer of scale. It is not necessary to boil water at all, you just need to leave the electric kettle with soda for several hours. It is important to use only high-quality drinks, as they contain stable dyes that do not remain on the walls. If the teapot is white, then the drink used should not have a dye, otherwise the paint will still have to be removed.
- Oxalic acid. This substance is not so often found on the farm, but it is no less effective than the above-mentioned remedies. If it is not available in its pure form, you can use a fresh bunch of freshly cut sorrel. The method of washing the kettle is standard, however, in the case of using a fresh plant, you need to wait longer due to the reduced acid concentration.
How to remove scale in an electric kettle with household chemicals
Naturally, you can use not only folk remedies, but also special household chemicals. Manufacturers of various compositions for household use could not ignore such a problem as the formation of scale in an electric kettle, so you can always find several products suitable for this purpose on the chemical products market. They can be in the form of liquid, powder and tablets.
The manufacturer, of course, can supplement them with their own instructions, however, on average, the method of using chemicals is reduced to 40 minutes of boiling water, in which a given dose of the agent is dissolved.
The compositions may contain various types of acids (sulfamic, adipic), including those that can be found in your own kitchen.
As a rule, after the first use of special means, the sediment will begin to exfoliate and fall off in pieces from the inner surface. However, it is important to wash the inner container without fail and as thoroughly as possible, and the more active the substance, the more times you need to repeat the washing.
This should not be neglected, if citric and acetic acid are used in the food industry, then other acids can harm the body.
The use of strong chemicals is resorted to only if the pollution in the kettle is too great, and the scale layer is so thick that it cannot be amenable to standard methods.
Sometimes the owner of the appliance makes a choice in their favor, because he wants to achieve the fastest possible effect, however, if the scale layer has increased over the years, and the kettle is still functioning and there is no desire to throw it away, even Antinakipin and other similar products will not cope with it from the first same attempts.
In addition, cleaning agents are an extra harm to your health. It is much better to remember this problem in time and use the “light” types of acids that can be found in the kitchen than to poison the air in the room with chemicals later.
You can prevent the appearance of scale, even if you just regularly wash the inside of the kettle with a relatively soft washcloth and ordinary dishwashing detergent.
But if the kettle still turned out to be dirty, chemistry will be the most effective solution, only powerful active substances can quickly cope with an old and thick layer of plaque.
Scale (salt sediment) disrupts the operation of the appliance, and white and red flakes fall into the cup along with boiled water. At first this layer is just a white coating, then it turns into a stone that is difficult to remove. I will describe effective ways to descale the kettle at home.
- Warn households that it is impossible to use the device temporarily.
- Pour water up to the middle of the container.
- Add active ingredient.
- Turn on the device.
- Wait at least half an hour.
- Wash the interior thoroughly.
To remove old petrified plaque, use several methods at once or try again.
Traditional effective methods
Cleaning an electrical appliance at home is easiest with the help of improvised means:
- Soda - softens salt deposits.
- Acids - dissolve even hardened scale.
- Brush and sponge- will not damage the surface of the kettle walls, like their metal counterparts.
So, the main sediment fighters are soda and citric acid.
Method 1: Baking Soda
Baking soda or soda ash will help restore cleanliness to any electrical appliances (plastic, metal, ceramic). There are 3 ways to descale the kettle with soda:
| Image | Description |
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Method 1 - with soda ash
Recipe for multilayer scale:
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Method 2 - with baking soda and vinegar
Recipe from a small layer of salts:
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Method 3 - a powerful complex from soda ash and citric acid
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Method 2: Applying Acids
Any old deposits will easily remove acids:
| Acid | Application |
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Vinegar
For cleaning metal, ceramic and glass kettles:
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2 types of citric acid are used: powder and lemon.
Cleaning instruction:
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Cleaning the kettle from scale with oxalic acid:
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Lemonade contains phosphoric and citric acids, liquidating sediment:
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Organic peel acids an electric kettle will get rid of scale from an apple:
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Method 3: combined (for a thick layer of scale)
After such a powerful attack, all scale will come off. This is a two-step cleanse:
- Step 1: remove with soda and acid. Pour a little soda in a saucer, add any acid from the table. Treat the entire surface with a touch of the resulting slurry. Rinse after 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Remove scale and odors. Cut the lemon into slices and place in the electric kettle. Boil water with lemon and leave for half an hour. Wash the device from loose residues.
A variety of household chemicals from scale
In addition to folk methods, you can clean an electric kettle using chemicals specially designed for this purpose.
Their main components:
- Organic and mineral acids(citric, sulfamic, adipic).
- Sodium tripolyphosphate- the main product from the processing of phosphoric acid in expensive products.
- Soda.
These tools also solve the problem of how to descale an enamel kettle. Available in liquid, powder or tablet form. Use strictly according to the instructions so as not to damage the equipment.
The general scheme of how to get rid of scale special cleaners:
- Prepare a solution.
- Boil in a kettle.
- Then pour.
- Remove scale. Softened, it can be easily removed.
- Boil clean water 2-3 times to flush out any remaining chemicals.
Conclusion
We found out that the choice of ways to remove scale in an electric kettle is quite large. Home remedies are not inferior in efficiency to industrial ones, verified! Check out the video in this article, and you can ask questions in the comments.
Someone noticed that the kettle, as, by the way, the stove is the face of the hostess. Therefore, each of us should know how to clean the kettle from scale.
Where does scale come from
The composition of drinking water includes a huge amount of minerals and salts. No matter how popular methods and modern filters you clean it, even a small percentage of various impurities still remain. During the heating of sodium and magnesium salts, a lime scale forms, which eats into the walls of the dish and does not want to voluntarily leave it.
This plaque covers any kind of material, so all housewives have to clean their kettles.
Why get rid of limescale
- Limescale has a low thermal conductivity, which is why water boils more slowly.
- If the kettle is electric, and you are too lazy to clean it, plaque quickly disables the heating element.
- Water becomes tasteless due to scale. And if it boils for a long time, it is also cloudy.
Effective ways to deal with scale
How to clean a kettle with simple tools that can be found in every home.
Hit the scale with citric acid
- Type a full kettle of water, pour 1-2 sachets of citric acid (depending on its volume and scale thickness). Boil.
- Let the solution cool slightly, in the meantime, the acid will have time to corrode the plaque as much as possible. Drain the liquid.
- Boil water with citric acid again. Drain the liquid again and rinse the kettle thoroughly.
- You can replace citric acid with vinegar - 100 grams per liter of water.
Removing a thick layer of scale
If the solution with citric acid did not give the expected result, try another method:
- Dissolve 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 liter of water. Pour this solution into the kettle, boil for about half an hour.
- Drain the resulting liquid. Pour water and add a tablespoon of citric acid, boil.
- Pour water with vinegar a third time (the thicker the layer, the more vinegar), boil for 30 minutes.
- After such a triple treatment, the scale becomes soft and easily lags behind the walls. Remove it with either a kitchen sponge or a wooden spatula. Rinse the kettle thoroughly, boil clean water for reliability and pour it out.
Trying to clean Coca-Cola
- Release all gas from the drink before use.
- Fill half of the kettle with Coca-Cola, boil.
- Pour out the contents, rinse.
- Some claim that "Fanta" and "Sprite" are also suitable for this case.
Is your teapot sparkling clean again? Isn't it time for a fragrant tea? Good tea drinking and pleasant conversation!