I’m unfortunate enough to live in an area with hard water and the effects in my household are dramatic. Limescale coats the taps, the showerhead, the bath, shower wall tiles and frustratingly; the kettle.

The water is so bad in my area that I need to descale the kettle every two months, keep reading to see how I do this naturally.

Limescale

Limescale is a milky white deposit that forms on surfaces that come into frequent contact with water which evaporates. It’s very easy to remove if done frequently but can be incredibly stubborn if you leave it too long and the limescale builds up.

Check This Photo of My Kettle:

A clogged kettle

Step by Step Instructions

Just follow these steps every month or so depending on how clogged the kettle is.

1. Empty the kettle of water and any loose limescale clumps.
2. Take out any removable filters from the spout.
3. Fill kettle with one part water and one part vinegar, any type of vinegar will suffice.
4. Leave for at least one hour.
5. Using an old toothbrush, remove any stubborn bits.
6. Boil the kettle and pour away the water.
7. Fill the kettle with water to the maximum level and boil, then empty the kettle.
8. Your kettle is now clean and ready to use.

Here’s What My Kettle Looks Like Now:

What a difference! No harmful chemicals were used.

Buy Vinegar in Bulk

If you live in an area with hard water, we recommend purchasing vinegar in bulk, it’s great for cleaning kettles, irons, taps and sinks.

You can purchase 5 litres of vinegar from Amazon for around £7.

This 5-litre tub of vinegar will last for years and currently costs less than £7. Purchase from here.

To Prove a Point

To prove that vinegar works so well on many different surfaces, check out the before and after photos of my stainless steel sink:

Before: Click to Enlarge

After: Click to Enlarge

Try Lemon Juice Too

I’ve never tasted the vinegar in my drinks after cleaning the kettle, a simple flush through with fresh tap water seems to remove all traces of it.

You could try lemon juice instead of vinegar if you wanted to, it doesn’t work quite as well but is far safer than nasty cleaning chemicals.

Prevent Limescale

You can reduce the amount of limescale that forms in the kettle by using wire mesh.

These small but mightly coils are placed inside the kettle where they collect the limescale which then becomes trapped within the mesh. This reduces the amount of limescale leaving the kettle.

Excess limescale not only ruins the taste of your favourite cuppa, it also clogs filters, heating coils and the inside of the kettle, shortening its life expectancy.

These cheap inserts are a great buy and they last for ages.

This cheap and simple product can be purchased on Amazon

Best Product to Clean the Outside of a Kettle

The best product to clean the outside of the kettle will depend on what it’s made from, my stainless steel kettle looks great after a wipe down with CIF cream.

I suggest you patch test an area on the back of the kettle if you’re worried about scratching or damaging the surface.