The 70p hack to remove limescale from inside your kettle with zero scrubbing – and it’ll look ‘good as new’ afterwards
LIMESCALE isn’t just unsightly in our appliances - it can provide a breeding ground for bacteria and reduce the lifespan of kettles, dishwashers and pipes.
And one place that every Brit can agree they hate getting limescale is the kettle - because who wants a mouthful of chalk when enjoying a cuppa?
There’s countless products on the market promising to banish kettle limescale, but it’s important to note that it will always come back if you’re not on top of the issue.
Luckily, descaling your kettle with an organic solution every month is said to be a failsafe way to protect your appliance AND health.
One homemaker, who posts as 77shome on Instagram, has shared exactly what she does to keep her kettle free from the pesky chalk.
She cuts a lemon in half and squeezes the juice into the kettle, before filling it halfway up with water and boiling it.
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The safe hack, which will stop you from worrying about ingesting chemicals after the fact, is said to make your kettle look “good as new” inside.
For extra cleaning boost, you can add equal parts water and vinegar before bringing it to the boil.
“A general rule of thumb is to descale your kettle every one to two months,” 77shome said.
“If limescale residue remains after boiling for the first time, you might need to repeat it for one to two more times.
“I personally prefer using lemon because it’s a natural home cleaner and leaves a much refreshing smell after boiling.”
What’s more, you can pour the boiled solution over your sink to give your basin a clean too.
Lemon juice contains citric acid, which reacts with the calcium carbonate in limescale to form soluble calcium citrate and duly break down limescale.
Limescale is particularly common in kettles because of the way they function.
When water is heated in a kettle, the dissolved minerals (such as calcium and magnesium) become less soluble and precipitate out of the water as limescale.
This process is accelerated by the boiling of water, which increases the concentration of minerals in the remaining liquid as the water evaporates.
Additionally, because kettles are used pretty often in British homes, limescale has more opportunities to accumulate over time.
The combination of heat and repeated use makes kettles especially prone to limescale buildup compared to other appliances.