Kettles are one of the most used appliances in British households, yet many people overlook cleaning them until their tea tastes off or the exterior becomes stained. It is important to clean your kettle at least once a month, as boiling water can attract limescale, a tough stain made of minerals left behind when heated water evaporates.
Limescale is harmless if you drink it but it can make your hot beverages taste bitter or metallic and it becomes difficult to scrub away once it builds up at the bottom of a kettle. However, you don’t need to buy anything special or use chemical cleaners to remove limescale or even rust stains, as the experts at KitchenAid recommend cleaning kettles with common ingredients you likely already have at home.
How to clean the inside of a kettle
The experts said: “Lemon juice and citric acid make for excellent cleaning agents. The acid helps to act as a natural bleach and antiseptic, plus the smell of lemon will bring an energising aroma to your kitchen.”
Limescale is mostly made of a mineral called calcium carbonate, which hardens over time, which can make it tricky and time-consuming to remove using washing up liquid.
Lemon juice contains citric acid, a gentle acid, but is strong enough to dissolve calcium carbonate to break down the limescale without scrubbing for ages.
You can use lemon juice, but most supermarkets also sell a crystallised citric acid, which can be even more potent.
All you need to do is fill a kettle halfway with water, then add a tablespoon of lemon juice or citric acid.
Turn on the kettle, and once it has boiled, leave it for a few minutes to allow the mixture time to break down the limescale.
Simply pour out the water, rinse your kettle, and it should be completely deep-cleaned and stain-free in less than five minutes.
How to clean the outside of a kettle
Over time, the exterior of kettles can start to look a bit grubby, but it is surprisingly easy to restore them to look brand new again.
Rust will form anywhere where there is a lot of steam in a home, but it is simple to remove as lemon juice or citric acid will also break down the iron in rust to loosen the stain.
All you need to do is coat any rust stains on your kettle in lemon juice (or citric acid), then let it sit for five minutes and wipe it off.
However, if you want your kettle to look polished and gleaming, then rub it with a little olive oil, as it will get rid of any fingerprints or smudges.
The expert said: “Olive oil is an excellent, natural cleaning solution for polishing stainless steel kettles. Dab about a teaspoon or so of olive oil onto a soft, microfiber cloth. Rub the cloth gently over the exterior of your kettle to create a lustrous shine.”
If you use lemon juice and olive oil, your kettle will be sparkling clean, so you can enjoy a cup of tea without worrying about limescale or rust stains.