Descale Your Kettle In No Time

How to clean and descale your kettle with bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

Bicarbonate of soda is one of the most effective cleaning solutions to use on hard water residue that forms in kettles. As bicarbonate of soda is a natural product and non-toxic it is safe to use for cleaning your kettle - making it as good as new.

You will need the following for this method:

• Bicarbonate of soda

• Water

• Microfibre cloth

What to do once you have the ingredients:

• Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda into the kettle: First, unplug your kettle and let it cool down completely. Then, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of bicarb of soda into the bottom of the kettle

• Dampen the cloth with a bit of water: Next, dampen a cloth or sponge with a bit of water. You don't want it to be too wet, just slightly damp

• Gently scrub the inside of the kettle: Use the damp cloth to gently scrub the inside, paying close extra attention to any areas with stubborn stains or limescale build-up. You can also use a soft-bristled brush if you have one. Be careful not to scrub too hard to avoid scratching the interior of the kettle

• Thoroughly rinse with cool water: Make sure to get rid of any bicarb soda residue, as you don't want any leftover powder in your next cup of tea!

Appreciate chemical-free cleaning techniques? Discover how to clean your oven glass using bicarbonate of soda.

How to descale and clean your kettle with vinegar

This technique utilises a natural kettle cleaner to freshen your kettle that is easy on your health (and purse). The acidity of the vinegar helps to break down the limescale whilst also providing an effective cleaning solution for the outer plastic (win-win!).

You will need:

• White vinegar

• Water

• Bottle scrubbing brush

• Microfibre cloth

What to do once you have the ingredients:

• Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a measuring jug: You will need enough of this mixture to fill the kettle about two-thirds full

• Pour this mixture into the kettle: Make sure to completely cover any stubborn stains or limescale build-up

• Turn the kettle on and let the mixture boil: Once boiled, turn off the kettle and let it cool for about 20 minutes

• Dip the cloth into the cooled mixture and wipe the outside of the kettle: Wear kitchen rubber gloves for extra protection, especially if you have sensitive skin

• Use a bottle brush to scrub the inside. Don’t forget the corners: After the kettle has cooled, use a bottle brush to scrub the inside of the kettle. Pay special attention to the corners, as this is where limescale build-up tends to accumulate the most

• Empty the kettle and rinse it well with water: Once you have finished scrubbing the inside of the kettle, empty it and rinse it thoroughly with water

• Fill the kettle with plain water and boil it once or twice: Finally, fill the kettle with tap water and boil it once or twice to remove any leftover vinegar taste or odour. After boiling the plain water, empty the kettle and rinse it out one last time with water

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How to clean your kettle with lemons

In addition to providing the perfect twist to a refreshing drink, lemons also have practical use around the home. Similar to the vinegar approach, the acidity of the lemon juice helps to neutralise the alkaline limescale without leaving the after-taste of vinegar (which can sometimes take time to eliminate).

You will need:

• Lemon

• Water

• Bicarbonate of soda

• Microfibre cloth, soft bristle brush and/or kitchen sponge

What to do once you have the ingredients:

• Squeeze the lemon juice into the kettle: You can use the juice from a fresh lemon or bottled lemon juice.

• Cut that same lemon into slices: Rather than throwing away the squeezed lemon, cut it into quarters, place it in the kettle and fill it with tap water

• Boil the mixture: Let it boil for a few minutes. Once the kettle has finished boiling, leave the solution to cool for an hour

• Pour out the mixture and rinse thoroughly with water: After the mixture has cooled down, pour it out of the kettle and rinse the kettle thoroughly with water

• Sprinkle a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda into the kettle: For kettles with extra limescale build-up, we recommend adding baking soda into the mix

• Dampen the cloth (or sponge) and scrub the inside of the kettle: The water and baking soda combination should form a spreadable paste that is ideal for lifting limescale from the kettle surface. You can use a soft-bristled brush if you have one. Be careful not to scrub too hard, as you don't want to damage the inside of the kettle

• Rinse it well with water: After scrubbing the inside of the kettle, rinse thoroughly with tap water. Make sure to get rid of all the bicarb residue. We would recommend boiling the kettle as a test run to ensure your next cup of tea is free of any baking soda