How to clean the kettle from scale at home. We clean the kettle from scale with citric acid

Limescale that appears over time on the walls of a new electroteapot, can spoil the mood of any housewife. Existing methods will help keep it clean on an ongoing basis.

Causes and consequences of scale formation

The formation of plaque on the walls and spiral of the electric kettle is due to the use of hard water containing a significant amount of mineral salts.

Important! Scale on the walls of the electric kettle slows down the heating of water, and accordingly contributes to a greater consumption of electricity due to an increase in the time spent on boiling reading. Additional disadvantages - an increase in the noise emitted by an electric kettle during heating, boiled water acquires an unpleasant aftertaste. In addition, sediment microparticles fall back into the water, polluting it.

The presence of scale reduces the life of electrical appliances, leading to their breakdown.
There are two ways to remove deposits:

mechanical;
chemical;

The use of the first method, in addition to requiring certain physical efforts, can also damage a heating element kettle or body.
The effectiveness of the second method depends on the application:

special cleaning products of industrial production;
baking soda;
citric acid;
vinegar;
carbonated water.

It is impossible to get rid of scale forever, since even the cleanest and filtered water contains a certain amount of calcium and magnesium salts, which settle in the form of scale on the walls and the heating element under the influence of high temperature.

Electric Kettle Cleaning Methods

Method 1

A combination of vinegar or citric acid and soda will help get rid of old scale:
To do this, add 1/2 stack. soda in a kettle of water and bring soda solution to a boil.
Turn off and soak for 20-30 minutes, drain the water. Then pour fresh water and add 2-3 tbsp. l. citric acid or 1/2 cup vinegar.
Bring to a boil again, turn off and let stand for about 30 minutes. Pour out the water and rinse the kettle thoroughly.
Scale that remains on the walls can be easily cleaned with a kitchen sponge.

Method 2

The use of soda alone has a more gentle effect:

Pour soda ash into boiled water and leave to cool completely. Soda solution will soften lime deposits, make them loose, which will allow without special work clean them with a sponge.

Method 3

An effective cleansing property that allows you to remove thick layer scale, has an acetic solution: 2 parts of water to 1 part of vinegar, poured to the brim in a kettle and heated to a boil.
After that, the electric kettle is left to cool slowly, and then thoroughly washed using detergents.

The disadvantage of this method is a strong smell, which can then be removed only after prolonged ventilation.

Important! Do not use undiluted vinegar, as it can destroy the plating of the heating coil.

Method 4

Cope with small plaque deposits on the walls of the kettle can be 1 liter of carbonated water: Sprite, Schweppes, Coca-Cola, which is poured into the kettle and kept for 2-3 hours.
The effect is achieved due to the content of these drinks phosphoric acid - a substance that can remove deposits of lime salts.

Advice! Experienced housewives it is recommended to use colorless soda for electric kettles of light colors, since the coloring pigment of colored drinks can eat into the walls and it will be quite difficult to remove it.

Method 5

Citric acid will help clean the electric kettle with plastic case against moderate and slight lime deposits:

To do this, pour citric acid into a kettle filled with water - about 100 g and heat to a boil, boil for several minutes. Then turn it off, leave it to cool completely, then drain the water and rinse the kettle thoroughly.
Then it is filled 2 more times with water and boiled. This method is not as aggressive as the acetic acid method, so it may be necessary to repeat the procedure.

Alternatively, you can also use lemons cut into slices with the peel on.

They are placed in an electric kettle, filled with water and boiled. In addition to the cleansing effect, this method has an additional bonus - a pleasant aroma.

Method 6

As a cleanser, you can try fresh sorrel, which is placed in an electric kettle, poured with water and heated, boiled for several minutes.
Then leave to cool completely, drain the water and clean the scale with a sponge. Content oxalic acid in the leaves of this vegetable crop allows you to soften hard lime deposits, make them more loose.

Preventive measures

You should not allow the formation of a thick layer of scale, since it will be much more difficult to remove it. Preventive cleaning of the electric kettle limescale recommended as needed and at least once every 1-2 months.
It is also not recommended to leave water in the kettle after boiling, as well as overnight.
Daily washing of the teapot with a sponge prevents the appearance of plaque.
Although modern water filters do not protect against the formation of limescale, the use of specially filtered water for boiling allows you to keep the kettle clean longer.
When buying, it is better to choose models with a heating disc or a closed coil, since the maintenance of such kettles is much easier.

Some of the described methods are drastic methods used in the accumulation of a thick layer of scale. Special household chemicals presented on store shelves are also able to clean scale from the walls of the electric kettle. They are used in accordance with the instructions on the package.

Constant observance of simple rules for keeping the electric kettle clean will extend its service life.

Such household appliance how the electric kettle is used in our kitchens more than any other kitchen appliances, therefore prone to scale accumulation more often than washing or dishwashers. Even filtered water contains some particles of salts and minerals, which, when boiled, accumulate on the walls, heating elements of household appliances...

Any housewife needs to know how to quickly and reliably descale an electric kettle at home. Excessive accumulation of sediment is harmful not only to equipment, but also to the health of households.

Why fight sediment

Salt deposits, mineral particles, rust cover the heating element of the device, which takes more and more time to heat the water. Working in this mode, it will fail much faster.

With each boiling, particles of harmful elements enter the prepared drink and are already deposited on the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.

Tea made from water that has been boiled with scale loses the entire bouquet of aroma and taste.
To remove such a nuisance from your favorite home kettle, several effective ways, the main action of which is reduced to a single principle: the effect on deposits with acid.

For light to medium soiling

Lemon acid

For chronic scale, the doses of the agent are increased depending on the degree of contamination.
An overdose and frequent use of vinegar threatens to damage the enamel on the body of the kettle and is just as harmful to the heating element as the scale itself.

Another disadvantage of cleaning with vinegar is the strong acidic smell that remains in the appliance. To eliminate it, rinse the kettle from the inside with a sponge with detergent, rinse. The first boiling water after cleaning is better to drain.

Unusual folk methods

To unusual and effective folk ways relate:

Cola or sprite. The content of acids and other elements in these popular drinks is such that they can be used intended purpose(which is much healthier, by the way). Many housewives have learned how to clean indelible dirt on any dishes with Cola. Scale in the kettle - including. Before use, the drink should be left open to release gases, then pour and bring to a boil. It remains only to rinse.
This action is performed using regular sparkling water without dyes. In this case, it is not necessary to release the gas, but it is enough to fill the kettle by 50%.
Apple or potato peelings , well washed, placed in a kettle, poured with water and boiled. Due to the insignificant impact, boiling is repeated several times. The method is good for getting rid of a small plaque.
Cucumber or tomato pickle bring to a boil in a kettle and leave to cool. The brine is poured in its pure form, strained, without impurities. The disadvantage of this tool is the smell of pickles, which is especially absorbed by devices with a plastic case. The fragrance evaporates after an additional rinse with dish detergent.

Removal of strong old scale

Salt deposits that have accumulated over a long period are much more difficult to remove without harming the device. As a rule, for complete cleaning several visits and the use of more stringent means are required.

Impact measure - use of several active substances together:

soda + vinegar;
citric acid + soda;
citric acid + vinegar;
soda + vinegar (citric acid) + salt;
one of the elements, but in an increased concentration.

Special descaling agents, which are offered in the departments: Antiscale, Descaler, Major Domus and others. Application chemical compositions requires thorough rinsing.

In order to avoid getting particles of "chemistry" into the esophagus after cleaning, boil and pour water at least three times. The proportions and procedure for using such products are indicated in individual instructions for use.

Helpful information

If the kettle has been used for a long time, has not been cleaned even once, the heating elements and body walls can be damaged so much that it is impossible to clean them even with the most thermonuclear means.
Increased doses of funds, vinegar cleaning, combination various substances do not use for weak scale, otherwise you can damage the enamel.

The frequency of regular cleaning depends on the quality of the water and how often the kettle is used.

Before a new boil, the remains of the old boiling water with sediment should always be drained and rinsed the kettle.

Keep your appliance clean. It will delight you with well-functioning work for a long time.

A common nuisance when all inner surface an electric kettle is covered with a layer of lime, rust or salt deposits, and the heating element is completely hidden under a few millimeters of this “something”. Scale over time begins to affect the taste of tea, and is found in it in the form of lumps and dirt. In addition, it will eventually ruin the device. At first, the water will heat up much longer, and after that the body or even the shell of the heating element may burst. Therefore, it should be clarified how to clean an electric kettle, moreover, do it as carefully as possible.

Using abrasive products or a metal brush will not lead to anything good. Given that most teapots are made of plastic, the walls will wear off much faster than stone-like scale. Any reasonable remedy is based on the process of dissolving the unpleasant contamination. There are several fail-safe ways to deal with the problem.

Lemon acid

One of the most effective ways. Best suited if scale is the result of boiling water with lime inclusions and large quantity salts, copes worse where the bulk of the pollution from rust in the water.

It is necessary to draw water into the kettle, in order to improve the effect, it is better to use purified purchased water for this, and add a package of citric acid (100 grams) to it. After that, the water is boiled, moreover, several times with a break of 5-6 minutes. If there was little scale or its thickness is less than a millimeter, then the effect will be immediately noticeable. It will dissolve or fall off the walls before our eyes, leaving behind a clean surface.

After the water citric acid poured out, you can wash the walls with a regular sponge and detergent to remove scale residues. If not everything is cleared, then you should again clean the electric kettle with citric acid. After the second time, usually only the shine of a perfectly clean heating element and shiny walls remain.

Vinegar

Similar to the previous method, how to descale an electric kettle, this is the use of acetic acid. To solve the problem, you will need to boil a 3% solution of vinegar in a kettle, perhaps several times. Everything happens as follows. 2/3 of water and 1/3 of vinegar are poured (this is a 9% solution), as a result we get the desired consistency. After boiling, some of the scale, especially lime inclusions, dissolve or become loose and soft. It remains only to wash the inner walls with a hard sponge with detergent and boil it again already clean water.

If the first time not all the dirt is gone, then the procedure should be repeated. As soon as the result is satisfactory, one should boil and pour out clean water and let the kettle stand and dry for a day so that the vinegar will completely disappear.

We use soda

In especially difficult cases Suitable with soda. It consists of two stages.

At the first, two tablespoons of soda are poured and water is poured, you can first add only a little water and rub the soda into the scale with a sponge, but without much enthusiasm. When the water is poured and the soda is thoroughly mixed, the kettle is turned on to a boil, preferably several times with a break of 5-6 minutes. During this time, the soda will get inside the scale.

The second stage is the use of vinegar as in the previous method. Already after the first boiling with vinegar, the scale will begin to peel off in layers from the kettle and become loose. After that, it remains only to wipe with a sponge with detergent inside.

Such option is suitable in case of ambiguous nature of pollution. When it is not clear whether it is limescale, salt, or rust. Baking soda and vinegar form a violent reaction, effectively breaking up tough scale. So using this method, how to descale an electric kettle, can be most effective in the most neglected cases.

Video how to descale an electric kettle:

How to clean an electric kettle

The main problem in using an electric kettle is plaque, which eventually accumulates on the inner walls and spirals. Scale not only spoils appearance device. With an increase in the lime layer, the operation of the device becomes more and more unsafe, and the taste of the water heated in such a kettle has unpleasant notes. Therefore, plaque should be removed correctly and in a timely manner.

First, evaluate the degree of contamination of the kettle. With thin layer scale will cope with such means as baking soda, vinegar, citric acid and even a carbonated drink. With more difficult problem you should contact the hardware store, where the assortment is presented household chemicals to fight scum. The method of cleaning the kettle with soda was also used by our grandmothers. This method will be harmless both for the material from which the device is made, and for the water that will subsequently boil in it. Pour 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a kettle filled with water. Boil water, then let it brew for 20 minutes. Fill the container with new water, this time with the addition of 20 grams of citric acid. When the kettle boils, leave the acidified water in the appliance for up to 30 minutes, then drain it. This scheme cleaning will rid your kettle of scale, if the layer is not very thick. To remove limescale with vinegar, pour a 9% solution into the kettle along with water in proportions of 1/2. Boil water and leave it to cool completely. As the water gets colder, the vinegar will dissolve the scale. After such cleaning, the kettle should be thoroughly washed from the inside so that the acid remaining on the walls does not enter your body. In the fight against scale, use citric acid. You only need to bring water to a boil, after adding 1 sachet of citric acid to it. After this method Cleaning should thoroughly wash the remnants of the product from the walls of the device. For this purpose, boil clean water in the kettle several times and drain it each time after boiling. non-standard, but effective method elimination of plaque - the use of soda. Choose water without dyes so that after descaling you do not have to rack your brains on how to clean the colored drink from the appliance. Fill the kettle with carbonated water and bring it to a boil. You will be surprised how easy plaque will disappear from the walls of the device. If the deposits inside the kettle cannot be cleaned in any way folk methods, purchase special household chemicals at the hardware store. These are antiscale from different manufacturers. Use them according to the instructions. Most often, the kettle should be boiled with this tool, and the plaque will dissolve under the action of acids. Remember that, like any household chemicals, decalcifiers leave behind harmful particles that can get into your stomach with water. Therefore, if possible, clean the device as often as possible so that decalcifiers are not needed.

In any water heater, from time to time we find a treasure trove of minerals, namely deposits of magnesium and calcium salts from hard water. And if we always try to prevent the formation of scale in the dishwasher and washing machine, then what can we say about the kettle, where it not only impairs its performance and leads to breakdowns, but also harms the health of the household.

In this article, we have collected 6 of the most effective and affordable ways at home to help you descale the kettle. Really everyone's secret folk remedies very simple:

Scale in a kettle or electric kettle is afraid of organic and inorganic acids, so almost all methods for removing it at home are based on the use of acid-containing products.

Method 1. How to descale an electric kettle with vinegar

Manufacturers of electric kettles do not advise using vinegar to remove mineral deposits - after all, it is too aggressive. But sometimes without it strong remedy can't get by.

The method is suitable for: plastic, glass and metal teapots with a very large amount of old scale.

Ingredients: water - about 500 ml and vinegar 9% - a little less than 1 cup or vinegar essence 70% - 1-2 tablespoons.

Recipe: pour water into the kettle and boil it, then pour acetic acid into boiling water and leave the scale to soak in the solution for 1 hour, during which you should periodically lift the lid and check how the scale is peeling off the walls of the kettle. If the scale has not gone away on its own, but only loosened, then it will need to be removed with a sponge. Remember to boil water in a clean kettle once or twice, and then rinse it well to wash off any remaining vinegar.

Method 2. How to descale an electric kettle with citric acid

The method is suitable for: cleaning electric kettles made of plastic, stainless steel and glass with light or moderate contamination.

Ingredients: water - about 500 ml and citric acid - 1-2 tablespoons (depending on the degree of contamination). A quarter of a lemon can replace powdered acid.

Recipe: also pour water into the kettle and boil, then pour citric acid into boiling water or put a quarter of the lemon and wait until the water cools for about 1-2 hours (the acid that got into hot water, "hiss"). If the scale is not old, then it will come off on its own. Otherwise, you will have to make a little effort. Do not forget to boil water in a clean kettle, and then rinse it well.

Method 3. How to get rid of scale in a kettle of any kind using soda

enameled and aluminum cookware afraid of aggressive acids, so the first 2 ways to remove limescale are not suitable for them, but a regular soda solution can help you.

The method is suitable for: descaling both in ordinary enameled and aluminum kettles, and in any electric kettles.

Ingredients: baking soda, and preferably soda ash - 1 tablespoon, water - about 500 ml (the main thing is that it covers the entire limescale).

Recipe 1: to remove scale from the walls of an enameled or aluminum kettle, you must first mix soda with water, then bring this solution to a boil, and then leave it to simmer over low heat for half an hour. At the end of the procedure, we wash off the remnants of soda, for which we boil clean water 1 time, drain it and rinse the kettle.

Recipe 2: To clean an electric kettle with baking soda, you need to boil water, make a soda solution, and then let it cool for 1-2 hours. A more gentle way is to pour soda into boiling water, and then leave the solution to cool completely - during this time, the mineral deposits will become softer, and it will be easier to wash them by hand.

Method 4. How to descale the kettle with Coca-Cola and Sprite

This method is not the most efficient and economical, but why not try for fun?

The method is suitable for: descaling in ordinary stainless steel kettles and for electric kettles, but for enameled and tin ones - with caution.

Ingredients: any carbonated drinks with citric acid in the composition are suitable - from Coca-Cola to Fanta. But it is better to take colorless drinks, for example, Sprite or Schweppes.

Recipe: First, we release gases from the drink, then pour 500 ml of liquid into the kettle and let it boil and then cool. The result of the experiment can be seen in this video.

Method 5. How to remove scale in a kettle using apple or potato peels

This product is suitable either for preventive care, or if the limescale is still weak.

The method is suitable for:

Ingredients: Apple, pear or potato peels.

Recipe: put apple, pear or washed potato peels in a kettle, pour water and bring to a boil. As soon as the water boils, leave the peel to cool for 1-2 hours, and then wash the softened plaque with a sponge.

Method 6. How to remove scale in a kettle using brine

Since the brine contains organic acids, it can also be used to remove scale and rust. Therefore, if you have at hand a pickle from under cucumbers or tomatoes, which, as often happens, has nowhere to go, feel free to put it into action.

The method is suitable for: descaling conventional enameled and metal kettles.

Recipe: pour the brine into the kettle through a sieve (so that nothing extra is left in it), bring it to a boil, then leave the brine to cool for a couple of hours. Using a sponge, we clean off the remnants of limescale and rust and, finally, rinse the kettle clean with running water.