It can be disorienting to make yourself a cup of tea only to discover it has a metallic taste with flaky bits floating on the surface. However, you do not need to be alarmed, as this likely means your kettle has a limescale problem.
Limescale is a harmless but troublesome substance made up of minerals from water evaporating. This is why it is often found sticking to the bottom of kettles. Not only does limescale spoil a cup of tea, but if not cleaned away, it will eventually build up over the kettle’s heating element and cause it to break down.
However, Charlotte Diana Gray, a cleaning expert and founder of Ask Charlie How, has shared that the best way to “safely and effectively” remove limescale from a kettle is with citric acid.
Charlotte said: “I am always really thrilled with the results, it does such a brilliant job, is really good for the environment, and you’ve poured no nasties down the sink.”
Citric acid naturally comes from the juice of citrus fruits like lemons and is one of the best ways to remove limescale.
The acid will create a fizzing effect, which will break down the minerals in limescale so you can easily rinse away the stains without having to scrub for ages.
This is a simple way to clean your kettle without using harsher chemical cleaners. A more concentrated powdered version of citric acid can be found in most British supermarkets.
At Tesco and Asda, citric acid costs £1.75, while at Sainsbury’s, it costs £2.
How to use citric acid to remove limescale from a kettle
All you need to do is fill your kettle halfway full and pour in two heaped teaspoons of citric acid.
Leave the kettle lid open and turn on the kettle so it begins to boil. Once the water has heated up, leave the cleaning solution alone for at least 10 minutes to allow it to break down the limescale.
Charlotte said: “Leave it for 10 minutes to let the citric acid really get to work and break down that limescale, with no scrubbing!”
Once the time is up, pour away the water, and your kettle should be clean. Limescale can sometimes be caught in the kettle filter, so make sure to rinse it well.
If your kettle has any particularly stubborn limescale stains, you may need to add more citric acid and boil it a second time to get rid of any pesky leftover pieces.
You should be left with a completely clean kettle that will not spoil your cup of tea. Make sure to clean it every two to three months to stop limescale from coming back in the future.