Limescale is caused by a build-up of calcium and magnesium minerals that are found in hard water.
While you can descale a kettle, hard water also causes limescale build-up in boilers, washing machines and dishwashers which are harder to clean.
Paul Benjamin, digital marketing manager at Kinetico, said: “Not only is the limescale in your kettle unsightly, but it can also make your tea taste funny and could be making your energy bills higher.
“Limescale affects how efficient your kettle is by covering the heating element, so it takes longer to heat the water, which can shorten the lifespan of your kettle and increase the amount of energy you use to boil water.
“Not only will you be paying more for your energy use, but you’ll need to shell out on a new kettle sooner than expected too.”
Luckily, there are various ways to remove limescale from a kettle, including products designed for kettle cleaning.
However, it usually is a lot “cheaper” to use a “natural cleaning option” like white vinegar which can be purchased for as little as 29p.
The expert explained: “Fill your kettle three-quarters full with equal parts water and white vinegar.
“Leave the kettle for at least an hour or overnight for the best results before boiling it and leaving it to stand until completely cool.
“Pour out the water and rinse out the kettle. Use a long-handled brush to scrub out any remaining residue.”
Once the limescale is removed, fill the kettle with clean water and boil again, repeating it if necessary to remove the vinegar smell.
Paul added: “Instead of allowing limescale to build up, you can tackle the problem at the source by using a water softener.
“A water softener helps to soften hard water, removing the minerals that causes limescale.
“While it is an initial expense, in the long run, it will save a lot of money and time, as you won’t need to clean or replace your appliances as frequently.”
Another natural way to clean the kettle involves using baking soda or lemon in the same method as you would use white vinegar.
Baking soda is a great natural abrasive, helping to target all of the limescale at the bottom of the kettle without scratching it.
