Limescale can be one of the biggest nuisances to clean, especially for those living in hard water areas. The chalky build-up occurs when water rich in calcium and magnesium is heated, making your kettle a major hotspot for limescale.
Nicole Papantoniou, Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director, spoke to Good Housekeeping and said: “It’s important to clean your kettle to keep the water tasting fresh.” Many people opt for the vinegar method, but this often gives off a bad smell. However, a science teacher has taken to TikTok to share a natural way to clean your kettle with a “fresh-smelling” ingredient found in any fridge or cupboard.
The science teacher who goes by the name of Cricut, Crafts & Juliet, began her video by saying that this method is an “odd but effective way to clean your kettle.”
She shared: “I live in an area where hard water is ridiculous, where limescale gathers so quickly. I’m going to show you how to clean your kettle naturally with science in the background.
“As a science teacher, I love relating so many different things to science and how it is wonderful.”
Going on to expose the method, she explained: “So fill your kettle with water and boil it.
“Once it’s boiled, cut up some lemons, any cheap bag of lemons. Lemons contain citric acid, and limescale is also known as calcium carbonate, which is basic (or alkaline).
“By adding the lemons to the kettle, you’re having an acid-based reaction where the acid will react with the calcium carbonate limescale and make a substance that is easily dissolved in water.
“By heating the kettle again, this will increase the rate of reaction, so the reaction can happen a lot quicker. I usually leave those overnight.
“All of that yucky limescale will react with the acid, leaving you with a nice, clean, beautiful kettle that you cleaned naturally. In the morning, throw away the water and wash it with some washing up liquid and you’re done.”
One person commented: “I usually do this with vinegar; I didn’t even think of lemons! Thank you.” The creator replied, “Yeah, I used to with vinegar, but the smell.”
Another agreed and said: “I use white vinegar. However, this seems better as I won’t have that smell when boiling.” The science teacher responded: “Try it out. Yes, the smell of lemons is soooo fresh.”
Someone else added: ” I’ve been doing this. it’s really good. works well.” A fourth commented: ” No, but I was looking for a descaler and I’m so glad this video came up, especially with the 101 lemons I have in the fridge. Thank you for sharing.”
Good Housekeeping also backed this method, saying: “The acid in lemon juice can also descale an electric kettle, and since tea and lemon pair naturally, you won’t have to worry about any unappetizing lingering tastes.”
If you don’t want to waste any lemons, you can also use citric acid powder, which dissolves in water. This breaks down limescale in the same way.