Regardless of which kettle you use, the taste of tea and coffee will largely depend on the quality of the water, and for this you need to be free of lime. It accumulates due to excessive hardness of tap water and is deposited in the form of a yellow-brown layer of scale. In addition to an unaesthetic appearance, scale from hard water can cause premature breakdown of the device, and can also cause health problems, so you need to know how to remove it quickly and for a long time.
Household Chemicals
In household stores you can find household chemicals for almost any purpose, in particular, there are many tools for removing limescale on various surfaces. You can choose a universal remedy suitable for any surface and materials, and you can find a specialized option for cleaning kitchen utensils. The following products can be found on store shelves:
- "Magic Power";
- "Top House";
- Menalux;
- Unicum;
- "Cillit";
- "Topper";
- Zool;
- "Chistin";
- Antinakipin;
- "Heitmann";
- "Filtero";
- Sano;
- "Clean Home" and others.
Typically, the method of application for all these tools is no different. It is necessary to follow the proportions indicated in the instructions for use of the cleaning solution, and add the required amount of it to the water that has just been boiled. You can also add the agent to the still cold water and only then bring it to a boil in the kettle. After that, the kettle must be washed, and the limescale will easily lag behind the walls.
Folk remedies
Not everyone is used to spending money on household chemicals, because you can get by with cheaper folk recipes. They helped even when there was no specialized means for each need, and still remain effective. There are 7 most popular ways to remove scale in the kettle at home, without resorting to the use of household chemicals.
Method 1 -
Vinegar The quickest way to get rid of limescale in a metal kettle is to use vinegar. For this procedure it is necessary to dilute half a glass of vinegar in a liter of cold water. The resulting solution must be poured into utensils, then close it with a lid, put on a low heat and wait until the liquid boils.
Then you need to gently lift the lid and see if the scale is peeling off the walls. If this has already happened, you can remove the dishes from the fire and rinse under running water. If the process of peeling off the plaque has not yet ended, you need to cover the kettle again and leave the water to boil for about 15 more minutes. After this procedure, the device must be washed well to remove the persistent smell of vinegar.
While boiling a solution of water with vinegar, it is better to open the window in the kitchen, as the smell will be sharp.Method 2 - Citric Acid
Citric acid can be used to remove plaque on any kettle, even electric or enamelled. Such a procedure does not damage the device, besides, citric acid does not leave smell like vinegar, so the process will be more convenient. To clean the dishes at home it will take only 1-2 teaspoons of citric acid, it must be mixed with a liter of cold water and boiled in a kettle for 30 minutes.
After this procedure, scale will easily peel off from the inner surface of the device, and its walls will acquire the original freshness. At the end of the cleaning, you only need to rinse it and boil clean water once, which is then drained. To prevent the formation of plaque, you can pour water with citric acid into the kettle once a month and leave it for several hours without boiling.
Method 3 - soda
For any teapots, except electric, a somewhat extravagant method of cleaning with the help of imported carbonated drinks will do. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta and Sprite perfectly clean various surfaces from rust, scale and other such contaminants at home. Today, these products have become quite expensive, so many prefer other household recipes or household chemicals.
First you need to open the bottle with the selected carbonated drink and let it stand for a while until the gas bubbles disappear. After that, the liquid must be poured into a kettle, put it on medium heat and bring to a boil. After this procedure, the scale is easily peeled off from the walls under the action of a stream of pure water. Some people recommend using dye-free drinks, as on some kettles colored soda can leave their shade.
Method 4 - baking soda
Cleaning with baking soda is suitable for all teapots, except electric, as it can leave behind a specific smell, which will subsequently be felt in hot drinks. In the kettle to be cleaned, pour 1 l of cold water, dissolve 1 tablespoon of soda in it and put the solution on a slow fire. After boiling, you need to leave the kettle on the fire for another half an hour, then drain the solution and rinse the utensils with water. If necessary, you can use a sponge with detergent, if the limescale does not go away on its own.
Method 5 - soda, vinegar and citric acid
This method can rightly be called "heavy artillery", as it can help in the most advanced cases where other methods have remained powerless. Consistent use of soda, vinegar and citric acid rather aggressively affects the utensils, so it can not be used to remove plaque on electric kettles.
First you need to pour 1 l of water into the kettle and add 1 tablespoon of baking soda, then boil the solution on low heat. Then the old water needs to be drained, pour the same amount of new into the kettle and add 1 tablespoon of citric acid. New solution must be brought to a boil over low heat and boil for half an hour. Then it is drained, and a new water is poured into the kettle, to which half a glass of table vinegar is added, after which boiling is repeated. After this procedure, the scum should separate itself from the walls of the kettle or become so loose that it can be removed with a regular sponge.
Method 6 -
Brine One of the most "popular" ways to remove scale from a teapot at home is the use of brine from pickles. If you do not have citric acid powder in your house, and you need to clean the kettle as soon as possible, you can use pickle from a jar of cucumbers or tomatoes, as it contains the necessary substance.
For the procedure, you will need to pour 1 liter of brine into the kettle, without diluting it with water, put on a slow fire, bring to a boil and leave for another half hour. After that, you need to rinse the kettle with cold water, and the scale will peel off on its own. If this does not happen, you need to rub the walls of the utensils with a soft sponge and detergent, and the plaque will easily disappear. The advantage of this method is that the brine removes not only limescale, but also rust on metal kettles.
Method 7 - apple or potato peels
As a preventive measure or to get rid of a weak layer of scale, you can use a more delicate method. Pour 1 liter of cold water into the kettle, add peeling potatoes, apples or pears to it, bring to a boil over low heat, turn off the stove and leave the device in this condition for 2 hours. After that, you need to rinse the kettle under running water, and the scale should separate itself from the walls. It is important to note that this method is only suitable for enameled and metal kettles with a small layer of limescale.
