How to Descale a Kettle (Easy Household Cleaning Ideas That Save Time & Money) Clean My Space

In this video, cleaning expert, Melissa Maker, answers Tim's question on how to descale a kettle. Please note, the daytime light in my kitchen was going nuts, so if you see strange lighting, that's why!

Tim asked: How can I descale my kettle?

Answer:

What you need-
1) Kettle with lime scale
2) 1 cup of vinegar
3) 1 tablespoon of baking soda (optional)
4) Cotton cloth (optional)

Put a cup of vinegar into the kettle and set the kettle to boil. The vinegar helps to heat the element in order to break down the lime scale, while the steam helps clean any leftover residue. Once it turns off, pour the vinegar into your sink and rinse the kettle a few times.

To clean any remaining lime scale:
Take a wet cloth and dip it into a tablespoon of baking soda. Use the cloth to clean any remaining lime scale build up then rinse thoroughly with water. Boil through again if needed.

FYI: Lime scale is not harmful for you to ingest. It's mainly formed out of calcium and salt, however, it does look gross! It also takes more energy to boil water when you have lime scale build up, since the element needs to work harder to heat and it can cause you to burn your element. Ideally, you want to descale your kettle at least once every 6 months or as needed.

**BONUS TIP**
For cleaning your drain:
Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain and pour the boiling vinegar into the sink. It'll help to clean and deodorize your drain. Consider that 2 tips for the price of 1!

[goldengate]

Wow. Ten year old clip. Advice still works like a charm. My kettle was beginning to develop some deposits 6 months after purchase (I use every day). Now it's as clean as new. Hope life has treated you well.

[margietuttle]

home self isolating and see all the things I never noticed look pretty grungy...especially my kettle...tried this and my kettle sparkles after years of neglect...this works great and now I have a shiny clean drain. Great job .you are on my bookmark list. Hope you have something for contigo mugs Margie

[alicjaclark]

Hey, another great way to do it is by using citric acid, it's the same like with the vinegar, just replace vinegar with 1-2 tbsp of citric acid. I think it's better cause sometimes the kettle can absorb the vinegar smell and getting rid of it is not easy. Works for my plastic one perfectly. U can use lemon juice too, but for me citric acid works better.

[beaulieuonnp]

I used organic apple cider vinegar and boiled it a few times, and then used the soda. I tipped the liquid outside in the garden. It works quickly like a dream.

[manofsteelgoodmanll]

She's pretty and the tea kettle thing looks kinda cool and freshly clean

[funnieval]

I used apple cider vinegar and my kettle is sparkly clean!

[diorcheridee]

Wow thank you so much. I couldn't drink the water from my kettle, I followed your instructions and boum brand new kettle.

[sophiekyriakou]

Thankyou so much for this.IT REALLY WORKS.I had to do it twice because of the bad build up. But it turned out like a new kettle.

[lauranunez]

Yes!! It works!! My kettle wasn’t that scaley, but now looks like new again!

[Qaisha]

If you want the same effect with no stanky vinegar stench, use lemon juice (not a whole cup of it though!) and do it regularly. Limescale is almost completely calcium carbonate, is not really harmful for you (it was in the water to start with), and reacts with any acid quickly.

[wsking]

Warning, here in the south, cockroaches like to live in the lid of the teakettle. They enter by the tiny hole in the top and live in there and lay their eggs there ( which requires them to pee on the surface first and then stick the eggs on the roach pee), until we boil the water, and then they come running out. They also live inside the Keurig pots at my schools and teacher lounges!! So, clean regularly and before the day is done, cover those entries with cheese cloth and a rubber band to prevent unwanted roaches! Gross, very gross! If you have roaches, even in New York, check this place, they WILL be in there!

[RatedRY]

I inherited a kettle, wasn't quite sure what to do with it as it looked pretty wrekt. I was thinking of using a disinfectant wipe but I'll give this a try instead. Thx!

[KavithaG]

It works!! I wish I could post a before and after pic but I didn’t think of that before I did it.

[felicitashilmer]

Lol, found one of your old videos!! Happy 10th Anniversary!! :)

[onlyjoetee]

Thanks Miss, i have this problem and was actually thinking of buying a new kettle, will try your cleaning tip tomorrow...

[RennicJ]

Well, the vinegar worked great on the kettle! However, the baking soda and vinegar in the sink caused the joint in a pipe to loosen off and dump hot vinegar all over under the sink. It was an easy fix, but be cautious with that method.

[Mellovesdeep]

I have a glass kettle and the metal bottom I clean often so it isn’t too bad but I used this method and it didn’t work. I will try ACV next

[retro-lady]

how do you clean the inside of a vintage, stove top, whistling, tea kettle, that doesn't have any opening except for the pour spout?

[skabirhassan]

you are the only reason to watch this, I even didn't notice the kettle, you are sooo sweet💜

[trzg.v]

OMG JUST SAY IT!!!! I HATE THAT I HAVE TO WAIT IN THESE VIDEOS