Limescale can be a frustrating problem in kettles, especially for those living in areas with hard water. One minute your kettle is working fine, and the next, your tea or coffee is ruined by a slimy, flaky texture. However, tackling limescale doesn’t have to be a difficult task.
Fans of cleaning expert Mrs Hinch claim that a natural cleaner can remove limescale in just “seconds” – and it’s not your usual baking soda or white vinegar. On the Mrs Hinch Army Cleaning Tips Facebook group, a woman asked for advice on descaling her kettle. Christy Whitton posted: “Morning! My husband says we need a new kettle, I say it just needs a clean!”
She explained that they had tried traditional methods, including scrubbing, baking soda, and soaking in white vinegar, but with little success.
Christy shared two photos of the brownish limescale at the bottom of her kettle, and the group’s consensus was clear: If baking soda and white vinegar didn’t work, it was time to try citric acid.
Helen Crickmore suggested: “Citric acid. Half-fill your kettle and bring to a boil, add two tablespoons of citric acid and leave for a few seconds, empty and rinse. Fill and boil once and empty and you are good to go.”
Ann Marie agreed, saying: “Citric acid works really well, so much better than white vinegar and baking soda.”
Dawn Cooper, battling with limescale in a hard water region, said: “I live in a hard water area, and my kettle gets covered in extremely stubborn limescale.”
She went on to detail her favoured approach: “I use a couple of tablespoons of citric acid about a mug of water and boil it in the kettle. Leave it to cool and keep swishing it around occasionally. You will be amazed.”
Another lover of this method, Lorraine Andrews, backed up its efficacy, adding: “Citric acid makes it vanish after 30 seconds and no scrubbing is required.”
Christy, having taken on board these tips, tried out the citric acid technique on her own appliance, resulting in a noticeable transformation.
Christy then shared a photo of her now-sparkling, scale-free kettle, along with words of thanks: “Thank you guys! The citric acid worked a treat. My kettle is like new.”
The citric acid cleaning trick isn’t merely hearsay; Express.co.uk tested it, too, and saw instant results.
Not only does citric acid triumph against tough limescale, but it’s also an all-rounder, combating bacteria, mould, and mildew and excelling as a disinfectant in various cleaning chores.