An electric kettle is practically indispensable household appliance. With its help, you can boil water for making tea or coffee quickly and easily. There is no need to monitor it; after boiling, it will turn off on its own and will not waste electricity. But even the most modern electric kettle requires care and regular cleaning.
Causes of scale
The electric kettle seems to be a device that requires absolutely no maintenance. But if you don’t pay enough attention to the technology, over time it may begin to work less efficiently or even break down.
Most common cause failure is caused by the accumulation of excessive deposits. They cover the walls and heating element, reducing the rate of heating of the water.
Scale in an electric kettle is salts and compounds contained in water and precipitated when heated. It is impossible to completely get rid of this phenomenon. But a set of care measures will allow using various means as little as possible.
It is important to understand that deposits on the bottom of the kettle are not only a cosmetic problem. They significantly reduce the rate of heating and, if ingested, can cause the formation of sand in the kidneys or aggravate an existing disease.
Routine care
Proper daily care of the electric kettle will allow global cleaning to be carried out very rarely. To keep salt deposits to a minimum, it is important to follow the following instructions:
- The container should be cleaned regularly, preferably every evening. Simply drain the water and wash with a sponge. inner surface.
- Do not boil water more than necessary. Salts from the liquid remaining after heating in the kettle will thicken the layer.
- Use purified water. This will protect your equipment and is healthier.
To ensure that maintenance is not too labor-intensive and that your household appliance lasts as long as possible, it is important not only to know how to remove scale from an electric kettle, but also to do it regularly. Thin layer deposits are much easier to deal with and you don’t need to use special products to remove them.
Almost any acid-containing products effectively remove deposits. To clean electric kettles you can use both industrial compounds, and improvised means.
Special means
Ready-made compounds that can be purchased in the store in the household chemicals department help fight scale on the walls and heating elements of electric kettles. It’s quite easy to recognize them; the manufacturer puts an image of the equipment on the packaging, the name usually corresponds to: “Anti-scale” and the like.
They should be used in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, do not exceed the dosage and exposure time.
Usually the scheme is simple: the product needs to be dissolved in water in a certain proportion, poured into a kettle, boiled and left for a while. After this, wash the equipment and use it as usual.
Industrial products contain several types of acids and auxiliary substances that successfully combat salt deposits. It is important to know how to clean an electric kettle so as not to harm the health of your family. You can also use improvised means that are found in every home.
Citric acid
It is an integral component of special products. It can be used to clean equipment quickly and efficiently. And what’s especially nice is that such care will not be expensive at all.
For one treatment you will need 1 sachet of acid containing 25 g of the substance.
You should proceed according to the following scheme:
- Fill a kettle full of water and add the contents of 1 sachet.
- Bring the water to a boil and turn off the appliance. Be careful; when boiling, the solution may begin to foam.
- Leave for 30 minutes to act. Then drain the composition.
The impact is based chemical reaction converting citric acid to acetic acid.
After cleaning, thoroughly wash the equipment and boil it in it. clean water. This will help get rid of the smell. If necessary, repeat all manipulations.
Food vinegar
Food vinegar, which is found in every kitchen, is acetic acid diluted to a safe concentration. With its help you can clean the kettle quickly and effectively.
Pour a vinegar solution into the kettle (1 part 9% vinegar to 2 parts water). Bring the mixture to a boil and turn off the device. Leave until completely cool. After drain active composition and thoroughly wash the container using a moderately hard sponge.
The acid will soften the scale and make it easy to remove.
After cleaning, the equipment should be thoroughly washed and clean water boiled several times. This will help get rid of the specific smell of the acidic composition.
Baking soda
Soda is a fairly active substance that can remove even a large layer of scale. It is worth turning to it if a softer influence does not bear fruit.
Pour water into the kettle and add a tablespoon of soda to it. Boil and leave the composition to act for several hours. The alkaline solution will soften the deposits and they can be removed with a sponge.
If this action is not enough, you can repeat the procedure or add citric acid to the water instead of soda at the rate of 1 sachet per 1.5 liters of water. Boil the solution and leave for an hour.
After this, traditionally clean the surface with a sponge.
Carbonated drinks
Most carbonated drinks contain citric acid. This is what will help you deal with scale in the kettle. The method of removing deposits using drinks is passed on by word of mouth and is considered effective, but it also has its own characteristics:
- You should choose colorless drinks. Dyes, especially bright ones, can leave stains that are more difficult to clean than salt deposits.
- Before use, partially remove gas from the liquid. Otherwise, during the boiling process, the drink will foam, flooding everything around.
- The drink should be poured into a kettle, boiled and left to act. Literally in an hour the scale will begin to come off in layers and can be removed mechanically.
Before cleaning an electric kettle, it is important to warn all family members about this. Liquids and compositions used for such work are colorless and can be confused with ordinary water. A few sips of citric acid solution will not cause significant harm, but negative emotions are guaranteed.
So that the electric kettle remains an indispensable assistant, it should be cleaned regularly, avoiding the formation of a significant layer of scale. It is enough to boil the acid composition once every few weeks, and the heating elements of the equipment will shine clean.
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 heating element electrical.
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, which are afraid of scale. 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 with the help of improvised means that are found in every kitchen: lemon or acetic acid, soda or combinations thereof.
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 1-2 times with clean water and rinse the container to remove any traces of vinegar.
Cleaning 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”
Followers 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.
For effective removal To remove limescale in the 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 means Available in the form of liquids, powders or tablets, used according to instructions. General scheme use - the solution with the cleaning agent is boiled in a kettle for 30-40 minutes, then drained. 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.
For the careful and effective removal scale, 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. Minimizing her education will help preventive care:
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.
When boiling, hard water releases a huge amount of salts. Over time, they stick to the walls and bottom of the kettle, and they are called “scale.” At first glance, scale doesn’t really interfere with life – so what if the water becomes cloudy and something crunches on your teeth? And if owners of ordinary enamel kettles can ignore scale for years, then owners of electric kettles can be upset - with a thick layer of scale, the service life of the kettle is reduced several times, up to six months.
In order to extend the life of the electric kettle and preserve the taste of the water, regular cleaning of scale, which occurs mainly on the heating elements, is necessary. Basic means to combat scale:
- citric acid;
- table vinegar 9%;
- soda;
- salt;
- anti-scale chemicals, for example, “Antinscale”;
- "Antinakipin"
- According to the instructions, pour the product into the kettle and fill it with water.
- Boil it.
- Rinse the kettle thoroughly under running water.
- Boil and drain the water 3-4 more times to get rid of any remaining product.
- According to the instructions, pour the product into the kettle and fill it with water.
- Citric acid
- Pour a tablespoon of citric acid into the kettle and fill it with water.
- Boil it.
- Rinse the kettle under cold water.
- Boil again.
- Pour a tablespoon of citric acid into the kettle and fill it with water.
- Soda
- Pour a tablespoon of soda with cold water as much as the volume of your kettle allows.
- Boil it.
- Rinse the kettle under running water.
- If necessary, you can rub the loosened scale with a sponge.
- Boil and drain the water from the kettle 2 more times to remove any remaining soda.
- Pour a tablespoon of soda with cold water as much as the volume of your kettle allows.
- Soda with salt
- Just like in the previous version, pour two tablespoons of soda into the kettle and fill it with water, but now add a tablespoon to it table salt.
- Boil it.
- Leave for 5-10 minutes and drain the water.
- Rinse the inside of the kettle with running water.
- Boil new, clean water two or three times to completely clean the kettle.
- Just like in the previous version, pour two tablespoons of soda into the kettle and fill it with water, but now add a tablespoon to it table salt.
- Vinegar.
- Pour 200 ml of 9% table vinegar into a kettle for 1.5 liters of water and leave the mixture for 15-20 minutes.
- Boil it.
- Rinse the kettle thoroughly under strong running water.
- Boil several times and drain fresh water.
- Rinse the kettle again.
- Pour 200 ml of 9% table vinegar into a kettle for 1.5 liters of water and leave the mixture for 15-20 minutes.
An electric kettle has long become an indispensable item in the kitchen. But over time, scale forms in it, which occurs regardless of the quality of the equipment, frequency of use and other objective factors. The deposit disrupts the operation of the device and causes an unpleasant odor in the water. To avoid such negative phenomena, carry out regular cleaning household appliances using chemicals or home methods. How and with what to effectively descale an electric kettle at home?
To descale your electric kettle, follow these simple recommendations:
- Warn all family members that the kettle is being cleaned and the water from it should not be drunk. If possible, carry out the procedure when no one is home.
- To clean the device, pour water into it, add the active substance and boil. Unplug the kettle and rinse thoroughly.
- Do not use abrasive powders or metal brushes for cleaning. They may damage the kettle.
- Do not allow a large accumulation of scale - to do this, clean the electric kettle at least 1-2 times a month. For preventive purposes, use settled or filtered water.
- To delete heavy pollution use several methods in combination.
- When using household chemicals for cleaning, do not forget to wash the device thoroughly to harmful substances did not enter the body.
Citric acid and juice
To clean the kettle, prepare a solution based on 500 ml of water and 1 tbsp. l. citric acid. Pour the resulting mixture into the device and boil. After turning off the kettle, leave it for 15-25 minutes to dissolve old dirt. After the allotted time, rinse the kettle with a soft sponge and clean water.
In a similar way, you can clean the device using lemon. Add a few slices of fresh citrus to a kettle of water, boil it and wash it. This method will not only get rid of scale, but also give a refreshing lemon aroma.
Baking soda
Baking soda will help you get rid of scale effectively. Pour 1 liter of water into the electric kettle and add 3-4 tbsp. l. soda Bring the solution to a boil, let it cool slightly, and then rinse the device with clean water.
To get rid of old dirt, boil a kettle with soda, then pour out the solution and pour in vinegar. The reaction of alkali and acid will speed up the process of destruction of scale and help quickly get rid of it.
Vinegar and essence
To clean an electric kettle at home, pour water (1.5-2 l) into it and add 100 ml of 6% vinegar or 1-2 tbsp. l. essences. Turn on the kettle, wait for it to boil and leave it for 3-4 hours (overnight if there is a lot of scale). During this time, the vinegar will dissolve the plaque. Then pour out the vinegar solution and rinse the kettle thoroughly with clean running water. The disadvantage of this method is the unpleasant smell of vinegar, which can be removed by prolonged ventilation.
Lemonade
It may seem strange to you, but scale can be overcome with carbonated drinks. It is important that the lemonade is colorless, otherwise some elements of the device will become colored.
To descale, shake the soda and pour 1 liter into the kettle. Bring the lemonade to a boil and leave to cool completely. The scale will completely dissolve and be removed due to the orthophosphoric acid contained in the drink. If the stains are not severe, simply pour the soda into the kettle and leave for several hours (without boiling), and then rinse with a soft sponge and clean water.
Oxalic acid
Oxalic acid can also cope with scale. Pour a small amount into the kettle and fill with water. Boil the solution and leave it for a few minutes, then remove any remaining scale with a soft sponge. You can also use fresh sorrel for cleaning, but due to the low acid concentration in it, you will need to repeat the procedure.
Household chemicals
This will help you get rid of scale in your electric kettle. household chemicals. The range of products will allow you to choose the most suitable option, which will effectively remove plaque. The most popular products are Antiscale, Antiscale, Major Domus.
Before use, carefully read the instructions and perform all actions strictly following the dosage and recommendations. After treating the kettle with household chemicals, rinse it thoroughly, and to remove residues chemicals, boil clean water in it at least 3-4 times.
Probably everyone knows about scale that spoils the working condition of equipment. But if in the case of a washing or dishwasher If it is possible to use special water softening agents, the electric kettle is in no way protected from scale.
This salty layer of deposits not only interferes with the taste of the water and its optimal heating, but also leads to damage to equipment. How to descale an electric kettle - this is main problem related to the care of this type of electrical appliances. About the most effective ways that can help at home will be discussed in the proposed review.
Scale formation process
When water is heated, a large amount of calcium and magnesium salts are released from it. They can settle on the inner walls of the kettle and the bottom. This leads to cloudiness of the water and the appearance of unpleasant particles in it, which affects the taste of the future hot drink.
A thick layer of sediment, especially on the heating element of electric kettles, damages even new technology. Due to poor thermal conductivity of scale, a failure occurs temperature regime. Thus, the equipment may simply overheat.
It is advisable to remove plaque before a thick layer forms. It is much easier to deal with it, especially if you perform the procedures regularly. He is afraid of all kinds of acids: organic and inorganic. For this reason, all home methods of dealing with scale are based on solutions containing acids.
Basic cleansing recipes
Vinegar is the main helper. Vinegar is considered a very aggressive ingredient, so it is not recommended to use it too often for an electric kettle. But for old scale, this is the most effective substance.
To clean the kettle, you need to pour 2/3 water and 1/3 table 9% vinegar (1-2 tablespoons of vinegar essence) into it. This solution should be boiled and left to cool. As a result of this procedure, the scale should come off completely. If this does not happen, and the plaque has simply softened, then you will have to remove it with a foam sponge.
To remove all the vinegar residue, you will have to boil the water in the kettle several times, each time changing it to new water.
The proposed method is quite effective, but has a strong vinegar smell. After rinsing the kettle and ventilating the room, the bad aroma will be gone.
Citric acid is an effective remedy. Cleaning with citric acid is suitable for plastic, stainless steel and glass teapots that have moderate mineral deposits.
You will need to dissolve 1-2 large tablespoons of citric acid in each half liter of water. You can replace the bulk component with a quarter of fresh lemon fruit. The liquid is brought to a boil. Next, the water is left inside the kettle until it cools completely. Not very old plaque should move away from the walls on its own. Otherwise, you will have to use a foam sponge. It is important to additionally boil clean water in a cleaned kettle, after which you need to rinse it thoroughly.
Baking soda is a natural abrasive and cleaner. Soda solution is perfect for cleaning an electric kettle. Even aluminum dishes and enamel items can be cleaned with soda.
For this method You can use baking soda or soda ash. For half a liter of water you will need only 1 large spoon of granular substance. It is important that the soda solution completely covers the lime deposits. The composition is brought to a boil and left until it cools completely. Soda does not dissolve scale, but simply softens it. In this state, it is not difficult to remove it manually using a foam sponge.
You can enhance the effect of soda by adding a little table salt to it. Working together, these simple substances more effective in combating scale deposits.
Carbonated drinks from scale. The use of carbonated drinks cannot be considered an economical and highly effective method. However, their cleansing properties are quite reasonable. Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite contain citric acid, which can help remove the accumulated layer. It is better to use colorless drinks. Gases are removed from the liquid, then the drink is poured into an electric kettle, boiled and allowed to cool.
Chemicals. Modern household chemicals produce products for any occasion. Even to remove the accumulated layer inside the electric kettle, there is a special substance “Antin-scale”. Following the recommendations in the instructions, the powder is poured inside the kettle and filled with water. After the boiling procedure, you should thoroughly wash the device, then boil clean water several times, each time adding a new portion. This action will rid the inner surface of the kettle of any residual product.
Among negative qualities This product can be called an unpleasant odor. This chemical is effective for small scale deposits. It may not cope with heavy deposits on the bottom and heating element.
General rules
We have reviewed the most “working” ways to clean an electric kettle from scale. Now it is important to understand the rules that should not be ignored when cleaning the device:
- When you plan to clean the electric kettle, it is important to warn all family members in any way about the upcoming procedure. For example, it could be a sticky note, but it is better to put the kettle out of reach or clean it while the household is away.
- In particularly difficult situations, where plaque is located in a thick layer, a combination of methods can be used to enhance the effect of the products. For example, clean the kettle with a soda solution and then use vinegar. Even if all deposits are not completely removed, the plaque will soften. You can remove it with a foam sponge.
- After performing cleaning procedures, the kettle should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water. Next, you need to boil clean water in it several times, pouring the boiled liquid into the sink each time. This will help get rid of all the cleaning ingredients.
- Abrasive products in the form of metal sponges and dry powders are not appropriate. They will cope with the raid, but at the same time they will damage the electrical appliance.
- You should not let the scale situation get worse. A thin layer is much easier to remove than stubborn accumulations. In addition, there is a risk that the electric kettle may become unusable.
- If possible, it is advisable to pour filtered or purified water into the electric kettle. If this is not available, it is recommended to defend it before use.
Scale inside the kettle is a very persistent stain. But it is quite possible to overcome his stubbornness and strength with ordinary folk ways. The main thing is not to put off cleaning, but to perform the cleansing procedure at least once a month.
