Descaler for electric kettle

How to Clean an Electric Kettle: Your Complete Guide

An electric kettle can help streamline your mornings, but keeping your electric kettle clean is essential to preserving the unique flavors and aromas of tea and coffee. While you certainly want to keep your countertop kettle looking pristine, natural minerals in your water can also create buildup inside it, affecting the taste of your hot beverage or cereal and the performance of your electric kettle. Keep reading to learn how to clean an electric kettle.

How often should you descale and clean an electric kettle?

To help ensure your morning cup of tea tastes perfect, it’s good to make cleaning your electric kettle a daily habit, as well as descaling it on a regular basis, sometime around once a month if you use your kettle daily.

Descaling is the process of removing limescale buildup inside your kettle, which comes from calcium, magnesium and other minerals found in your water. If you have hard water, you may need to descale your electric kettle more often because hard water has a higher mineral content than soft water.

What is buildup in an electric kettle?

When you heat water in a kettle, the water can leave behind calcium deposits from the natural minerals in your water. How quickly these deposits build up is most likely tied to the hardness of the water in your home. This buildup can affect the taste of your hot beverages.

How to clean an electric kettle with vinegar

Thanks to its mild acidity, vinegar is a good solution for breaking down mineral buildup in your electric tea kettle. It’s the next best thing to using a specialized descaling agent and is an accessible home solution for cleaning and descaling.

What you’ll need to clean your electric kettle

Cleaning your electric kettle is a simple process requiring just a few household items.

To keep your electric kettle performing at its highest level, you’ll want to know how to descale a kettle using vinegar.

Step 1: Combine water and vinegar

Fill your electric kettle with 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water.

Step 2: Bring mixture to a boil

Bring the vinegar and water mixture to a boil and allow to stand overnight before emptying the solution.

Step 3: Drain kettle

Fill the electric kettle with water, bring to a boil, then drain. Repeat twice to remove any lingering vinegar odor or taste, then your electric kettle is ready for use again.

Does vinegar damage an electric kettle?

Cleaning with diluted white vinegar is usually a safe and effective way to descale your electric kettle. The mild acidity in vinegar can help break down mineral buildup. Although, before you clean your kettle, it’s recommended that you refer to your owner’s manual for care and cleaning tips.

Ways to clean the inside of an electric kettle

You can also clean the interior of your kettle using lemon juice, citric acid, baking soda or flat soda. Simply heat your preferred solution, allow it to sit and then scrub lightly, using a non-abrasive sponge or microfiber cloth before rinsing and drying. Each method varies in time and volume.

Use lemon juice or citric acid

Lemon juice and citric acid make for excellent cleaning agents. The acid helps to act as a natural bleach and antiseptic, plus the smell of lemon will bring an energizing aroma to your kitchen.

Step 1: Add cleaning agent

Pour a tablespoon of citric acid powder or lemon juice into the kettle.

Step 2: Add water

Add enough water to cover the base and turn the kettle on to heat.

Step 3: Discard water

Once the mixture has boiled, discard any remaining water and rinse thoroughly with water before drying.

Use baking soda

You likely already have baking soda in your kitchen, making this an effective and practical cleaning method.

Step 1: Add baking soda

Add 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda to your kettle, then fill with water. Bring to a boil.

Step 2: Let kettle cool

Remove the kettle from the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub kettle

Gently scrub the inside of the kettle with a non-abrasive brush. Wait until the kettle is cool to the touch, then rinse with clean water and dry with a dish towel.

Methods for cleaning a stainless steel kettle

To keep the outside of your kettle clean, wipe with a damp cloth to remove any water splashes and residue, then dry and polish with a soft cloth.

Use dish soap

Use your favorite dish detergent to clean the outside of your kettle. Wash the outside with dish soap and then wipe it down with a damp cloth, being careful to not get soap inside the kettle. When you’re finished, dry the kettle with a dish towel.

Use olive oil

Olive oil is an excellent, natural cleaning solution for polishing stainless steel kettles. Dab about a teaspoon or so of olive oil onto a soft, microfiber cloth. Rub the cloth gently over the exterior of your kettle to create a lustrous shine. Be careful not to use an abrasive sponge or cloth, as it could scratch the finish.

Shop all KitchenAid

^® electric kettles

Whether you’re steeping a soothing cup of herbal tea or blooming cocoa powder to incorporate into a rich chocolate dessert, an electric kettle offers convenience for a variety of boiling water recipes. Electric kettles are easy to use, stylish and compact on your kitchen countertop. Their removable base allows you to transfer the kettle to wherever you need it while a sleek, stainless steel body fits into nearly any décor. Explore different sizes, features and designs of electric kettles from KitchenAid brand. You can also compare different types of tea kettles to find the right fit for your kitchen.

KEK1522CA

KEK1025SS

KEK1565ER

How to Clean an Electric Kettle

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.

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Updated on 12/20/22

Reviewed by

Becky Rapinchuk

Reviewed by Becky Rapinchuk

Becky Rapinchuk is a natural cleaning expert, homekeeping expert, and founder of the lifestyle brand, Clean Mama. She has published 4 books.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

Fact checked by

Jessica Wrubel

Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel

Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.

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Project Overview

Electric kettles like the ParisRhone Gooseneck Kettle with variable heating temperatures are convenient and easy to use, but as with any small appliance, they require cleaning to keep the interior and exterior in top shape. Knowing how to clean your electric kettle is vital, so you can remove any mineral build-up, bacteria, and mold and have great-tasting hot water.

The build-up of minerals inside a kettle from water is called kettle furring. It tastes almost as disgusting as it sounds. Luckily, cleaning is simple with just a few products you probably have in the pantry. Here we walk you through the steps to get your electric kettle clean as a whistle.

How Often to Clean an Electric Kettle

The frequency of cleaning will depend upon how often you use your kettle. The exterior should be wiped down to remove smudges and splatters at least once a week. If you are using it daily to heat water, the kettle should be descaled to remove hard water minerals at least four times a year. If the kettle has a water filter or cartridge, it should be cleaned every other month or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Equipment / Tools

Non-abrasive sponge or bottle brush
Microfiber cloth

Materials

Distilled white vinegar, lemon juice or citric acid powder
Baking soda
Dishwashing liquid
Olive oil (optional)

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Descale the Kettle With Vinegar

Fill the kettle about one-half full with a 1:1 solution of water and distilled white vinegar. Bring the solution to a full boil. Turn off the kettle if it doesn't shut off automatically. Allow the vinegar solution to sit for at least 20 minutes. Discard the cleaning solution.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Descale the Kettle With Lemon Juice or Citric Acid Powder

You can substitute freshly-squeezed or bottled lemon juice or citric acid powder for the distilled white vinegar. Mix a 1:1 solution of lemon juice and water or use 2 tablespoons of citric acid powder in a half-full kettle of water and bring the solution to a boil. Turn off the kettle and allow the solution to sit for at least 20 minutes before discarding.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Unplug and Disassemble the Kettle

Before you clean any further, unplug the cooled kettle. If it has a water filter, remove it before cleaning the interior of the kettle.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Clean or Replace the Water Filter

If your model has a water filter or water filter cartridge, clean the removed filter following the manufacturer's directions. Most filters are metal and can be cleaned by soaking in a solution of hot water and distilled white vinegar for at least five minutes. Scrub with the bottle brush and rinse with fresh water.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Scrub the Inside of the Kettle

Use a non-abrasive sponge or soft-bristled bottle brush to scrub the inside of the kettle. This will loosen any mineral build-up that remains inside. Pay particular attention to areas around the spout where mineral build-up can be heavy. Dipping the brush or sponge in pure vinegar may help dislodge build-up around the spout.

Warning
Never fully emerge an electric kettle in water. This can destroy the heating element.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Clean the Exterior of the Kettle

Wipe down the exterior of the kettle with a non-abrasive sponge dipped in a solution of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid to remove any smudges or splatters. For tough-to-remove spots, dip the damp sponge in some dry baking soda. The gentle abrasive nature of the baking soda will help remove the mess.

Once the exterior is clean, wipe the kettle dry with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaks.

Tip
To keep a stainless steel electric kettle exterior streak-free and shiny, put a few drops of olive oil on a cloth and rub it on the outside of the kettle.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Reassemble the Kettle and Do Final Rinses

Once the kettle is clean, reassemble any components and fill the kettle about half full with water for a final rinse. Plug it in and bring the water to a full boil. Discard the water.

Repeat the "rinse cycle" one more time to be sure that all of the cleaning solution and loose minerals are gone.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Tips for Keeping Your Electric Kettle Clean Longer

Never leave water sitting in a kettle. Learn to heat only the amount of water you think you'll need for each use. Always empty all of the water after every use of the kettle. (Water plants or rinse out the sink with the leftover water.)
Use distilled water rather than tap water. This is particularly important if you live in an area with hard water or use a natural well for your water supply.

Getting rid of scale in an electric kettle: three simple ways

Scale is a nuisance that affects any kettle, regardless of its cost, brand and type. Limescale affects the taste of water, negatively affects health, and can cause diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.

"Nastenka" will tell you how to get rid of limescale and extend the life of the kettle. But first you need to figure out why there is a raid.

Hard water is the main cause of scale formation. Such water contains a large amount of calcium and magnesium salts, which lead to the formation of hard stone deposits. It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to remove the stone “growths” formed on the surface mechanically.

Tools that are always on hand

In hardware stores today you can find various chemical preparations to get rid of limescale in the kettle. Such chemistry is not always effective and not always cost-effective.

There are cheap and environmentally friendly products that can be found in every kitchen. They are harmless to health, effectively remove plaque and will not damage the surface of the electrical appliance.

Baking soda

Sodium bicarbonate or ordinary soda works great for limescale, despite the low cost. Soda breaks down limescale, which can be easily washed off.

What you need:

Fill the electric kettle with water, depending on its volume.
Add a heaping tablespoon of table soda to the filled kettle, stir.
Boil the soda solution.
Please wait 30 minutes.
Pour out the water.
Refill water. Pour no more than 20 grams of citric acid into the kettle.
Boil the resulting solution.
Leave solution for 30 minutes.
Drain the water, rinse the kettle well.

After this procedure, the "fresh" scale will dissolve, and old areas of plaque can be easily removed with a sponge or cloth.

Vinegar

Vinegar (9%) will also cope with lime deposits. This method was used even when it was not expected that electric kettles would replace traditional ones.

But, despite its "old times", the method is also relevant for electric kettles.

What to do:

Prepare the vinegar solution. For a liter of water you need half a liter of vinegar.
Boil the resulting solution.
Leave boiling water for 30-60 minutes. During this time, the scale should dissolve.
Rinse the kettle with cold water.

To remove old plaque, repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Citric acid

For cleaning, you will need a sachet of citric acid, available at any grocery store.

What to do:

Fill the kettle with water (up to the top).
Add 1 sachet of acid.
Bring the solution to a boil.
Drain the water and repeat the procedure, leaving the boiled water for 30 minutes. The acid will dissolve the whole stone.
At the end of the procedure, rinse the kettle 2-4 times.

Simple tips will help you quickly cope with the problem of scale, and experienced specialists of the cleaning company "Nastenka" will help you clean up your house. It is enough to call the indicated phones or write to our manager.

How to descale the kettle practical tips

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Everyone knows that kettles and other utensils need to be descaled regularly. Why is it so important? The fact is that the layers of chemical components in the process of heating emit substances that are harmful to human health. And also plaque shortens the life of household appliances and spoils the taste of water, tea and drinks to which it is added. Therefore, we recommend adopting effective and reliable methods of descaling.

Why scale appears and how it affects water quality

Scale builds up on the inside of the kettle when the water is heated and evaporated. Plaque is a yellowish-white stratification of salts and metallic substances that are contained in water: calcium and magnesium carbonate, bicarbonate.

The formation of layers occurs due to the chemical composition of water and its hardness, which is formed in ground and artesian underground sources. Increased hardness values adversely affect the operation of heating devices, the taste of water and the state of human health.

The rate of scale formation depends on factors such as water hardness and quality (presence of impurities), frequency of use of the appliance and the type of materials from which the kettle and heating coil are made.

The negative effects of limescale are varied:

The life of a teapot coated with scale is significantly reduced, whatever material it is made from;
electric kettles fail due to scale;
the process of boiling and heating water slows down, which increases energy consumption;
in the process of heating water, harmful metals begin to be released, which negatively affect the work of the kidneys and excretory system of a person.

It is therefore necessary to clean dishes regularly in order to minimize the harm of chemical deposits to human health.

Bosch electric kettles

Bosch electric kettles - a great start to the day with a cup of aromatic tea! The Bosch range includes electric kettles with a volume of 1. 5 to 1.7 liters - and they all have a removable scale filter and a convenient filling scale. The devices are equipped with functions of protection against overheating and blocking the inclusion without water. Depending on the model of the device, there are such functions: 7 temperature settings, a touch display with parameter settings on the base stand, a keep warm function for 30 minutes, an audible signal when the set temperature is reached, the ability to boil one cup of water (300 ml).

Appliances

How to remove scale from the kettle

Scale forms in all types of dishes: electric, metal, enameled kettle. In simple dishes, deposits appear on the walls and bottom, and in the electric version of the technique - on the surface of the heating element, the spiral. To reduce the rate of sedimentation, hard water is softened by using filter devices.

There are many ways to help remove plaque in the kettle. Regardless of the method chosen, after the procedure, it is imperative to boil water in the kettle 1-2 times. Boiling should be carried out so that the remnants of the agent used are completely removed and do not enter the body. Otherwise, harmful acids can cause disturbances in the digestive system or poisoning.

Every housewife needs to know how to clean the kettle with improvised means. It is necessary to select methods according to the type of kettle. There are tools that are designed only for electric kettles, others only for enameled and metal ones.

Let's start with cleaning methods that are suitable for different types of kettles, including plastic kettles.

Cleaning with vinegar essence

This method is the simplest, most common and high quality, since it does not require chemicals that harm a person.

For a thorough cleaning, take 100 ml of food vinegar and dilute it in 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture is poured into a container and sent to the fire until it boils. In the process of heating the solution, the scale begins to exfoliate. If, after boiling, a white layer remains on the walls and bottom of the kettle, the procedure is carried out again within 10-15 minutes. After repeated manipulations, the dishes are easily washed, the remaining deposits are removed.

Vinegar is not recommended for cleaning electric kettles that have been used for a long time and have a neglected coating on the coils. When pouring acetic liquid into an electric kettle, an irreversible process of melting the material may begin, so vinegar must not be used to clean plastic electrical equipment. However, a new kettle and thin deposits in glass and aluminum containers can be cleaned with a mild vinegar solution.

Cleaning a plastic kettle with lemon juice

For plastic kettles that are undesirable to clean with vinegar solution, citric acid is suitable. Cleaning the kettle with citric acid is as easy as cleaning with vinegar:

1. Take 1-2 packs of lemons.
2. Pour the dry mixture into 1 liter of water.
3. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
4. The solution is poured into a dish and heated to a temperature of 100ºС.

After these manipulations, the surface of the plastic will be clean, and the deposits will easily peel off. You will need to rinse the device again with clean water and boil it “idle”.

This method of boiling is used as a last resort when a thick layer of white coating needs to be removed. In order to prevent this, it is recommended to periodically clean the surface with citric acid for prevention. To do this, it is enough to dissolve the lemon in ordinary water and leave it in the kettle for several hours.

Baking soda

This method is non-aggressive and therefore suitable for all kettles. The container is filled with water, 1 tablespoon of soda mixture is poured into it and put on fire until it boils. When the solution boils, leave it for half an hour, reducing the heat. The kettle is filled with clean water, which is boiled again without a solution.

Specialty chemicals

Descaling can also be done with special branded descaling products from the appliance manufacturer or others. You need to cook them in accordance with the attached instructions. In general, the procedure is similar - dry ingredients are poured into a kettle, filled with water, and brought to a boil. Then it remains to wash the container with hot water and boil clean water several times. This tool can be used for plastic, metal and glass electric kettles, it is categorically contraindicated for enamelled ones.

Bosch brand cleaners

Descaling with canned brine

If you don't have special tools at hand, you can look into the basement and get a jar of pickles or tomatoes. The brine in which they are preserved is an excellent option for cleaning kettles, as it contains citric acid. The cleaning procedure is as follows: the brine is poured into a vessel, boiled, poured out, after which the kettle is easily washed. Cucumber pickle can also deal with rust.

Carbonated Cleansing

One of the carbonated drinks can be used: Sprite, Fanta or Coca-Cola. Soda can effectively remove not only scale, but also rust and burning residues. The method is suitable for electric kettles or ordinary stainless steel ones.

Before cleaning, open the cap of the bottle and leave it open for a while. When all gas bubbles disappear, the drink is poured into a vessel and heated to a boil. After boiling, the inner surfaces of the kettle are thoroughly washed.

Cleaning metal and enamel kettles

These methods are undesirable for electrical appliances, but are more gentle on enamel and metal dishes.

Using peel

The method is suitable for removing a small layer of scale from the surface of enameled and metal appliances. First, potato skins are taken and thoroughly washed from foreign contaminants (sand, dirt). Then the cleanings are put into a kettle, filled with ordinary water and brought to a boil. After boiling, the contents cool down within 1-2 hours. After the time has elapsed, the dishes are washed. Fruit peels (pear, apple) are well suited for removing light plaque.

Cleaning neglected surfaces

In particularly severe cases, when it is impossible to clean the internal walls of the appliance using conventional means, a rather poisonous mixture is used, consisting of lemon, vinegar and soda. To obtain the desired effect, follow the instructions below:

1. Water is poured into the kettle.
2. Add 1 tablespoon baking soda powder.
3. The resulting solution is brought to a boil, and the water is drained.
4. Then pour 1 tablespoon of lemon with water.
5. Again, simmer the solution for 30 minutes.
6. The mixture is drained, new water and half a glass of vinegar essence are poured.
7. The composition is boiled for half an hour.

If a crust remains after these manipulations, it can be easily removed with a regular kitchen sponge, as it becomes loose.

Ways to prevent scale formation

In order to prolong the life of the kettle, as well as to drink drinks without foreign impurities, it is recommended to use descaling agents for periodic maintenance.

General recommendations:

1. Clean the heater regularly - 1-2 times a month. For preventive purposes, you can use tools such as fruit peels and brine.
2. If the scale builds up quickly, it is better to clean the thin layer of sediment more often, because thick layers will be more difficult to remove.