Descale a Kettle

A kettle that is full of lime-scale not only looks terrible, but takes longer to boil and wastes electricity because the scale prevents the element from conducting heat well. Eventually the element can burn out if it is not descaled, so you'd have to throw it out and get a new kettle.

Steps

 * 1)  '''See the difference between a kettle with scale and one without:
 * 2) *Kettle with scale:
 * 3) *Descaled kettle:
 * 4) Choose which ingredients to use. You can use white vinegar or citric acid (lemons), whichever you have available to you. See "Tips" for information on using commercial descalers.
 * 5) Make up the mixture.
 * 6) *If you are using vinegar, dilute it with water in a 1:1 ratio.
 * 7) *If you are using citric acid, mix 30g (1oz) of the lemons with 500ml (2 cups) of water.
 * 8)  Descale.
 * 9) *Using vinegar to de-scale: Vinegar should be left in the kettle for 1 hour, without boiling.
 * 10) *Using lemon juice to de-scale: Pour the lemon juice in to the kettle and boil. Leave the kettle to cool before emptying it.
 * 11) *Fresh lemons: If your kettle only needs mild de-scaling, you can try quartering a lemon, filling the kettle with water and putting in the lemon. Boil the kettle once or twice, and leave to soak until the water has cooled.
 * 12) Wipe down. If there is any lime-scale left in the kettle, you can wipe it down with a small amount of bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth. Let the element cool down, and unplug the kettle before you do this.
 * 13) Rinse. Fully rinse the kettle with fresh water at least 5 times before using again.

Tips

 * There are commercial descalers available, but make sure they are specifically for use on kettles and are not metal descalers. If you choose to use one, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Commercial descalers are often corrosive, so care needs to be taken to protect skin, eyes and surrounding objects.

Things You'll Need

 * Cloth
 * White vinegar '''or
 * Citric acid (lemon); lemons (fresh)
 * (optional) Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Descale a Magimix Coffee Maker
 * How to Clean Stainless Steel
 * How to Clean Your Dishwasher
 * How to Clean Brass