How to clean an electric kettle

A simple method for removing the chalky off-white scale from the element of your kettle.

While it is not dangerous to drink water that is boiled in a kettle with lime scale deposits in it, it is rather unappealing. It also has the unfortunate side-effect of making your kettle less efficient, as it has to work harder to heat up the water. Using the method below will solve both of these problems.

Instructions

Step 1

Put 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar into the kettle. Bring to a boil and let it sit overnight.

Step 2

In the morning dump the mixture of vinegar and water. There will be chunks of lime-scale in it, so be sure that you have the stopper in the sink to catch them, or dump the mixture outside in an appropriate spot. Check to see if all of the lime-scale has been removed.

Step 3

If all the lime-scale is gone, put about 1 cup of water into the kettle with either a tablespoon of baking soda or a small amount of lemon juice and bring to a boil. This will remove the odor and taste of the vinegar.

Step 4

If there is still some lime-scale on the element, repeat steps 1 and 2 over again. Then rinse with the mixture of water and baking soda or lemon.

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Things Needed

• Kettle

• Water

• Vinegar

• Baking Soda or Lemon Juice

Tips & Warnings

• If there is still some stubborn lime-scale left on the element after 2 or 3 cleaning sessions try this age old trick; put 2 or 3 CLEAN marbles in the kettle and let the boiling water bounce them off of the element and chip the scale off. Be extra careful to remove them before using the kettle though, as you don’t want them to become a safety hazard by ending up in someone’s drink!

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