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How to descale a kettle using folk remedies and chemicals. How to descale a kettle: revealing all the secrets

Someone noticed that the kettle, like the stove, by the way, is the face of the hostess. Therefore, each of us should know how to descale a kettle.

Where does scale come from?

Part drinking water included great amount minerals and salts. No matter what folk methods or modern filters you use to clean it, even a small percentage of various impurities still remains. When sodium and magnesium salts are heated, they form a limescale that eats into the walls of the cookware and does not want to leave it voluntarily.

This plaque covers any type of material, so all housewives have to clean their teapots.

Why get rid of scale

  • Limescale has low thermal conductivity, causing water to boil more slowly.
  • If the kettle is electric and you are too lazy to clean it, the deposit will quickly damage the heating element.
  • Due to scale, water becomes tasteless. And if it boils for a long time, it will also become cloudy.

Effective ways to combat scale

How to clean a kettle using simple remedies, which can be found in every home.

Hit the scale with citric acid

  1. Fill a full kettle of water, add 1-2 sachets of citric acid (depending on its volume and thickness of the scale). Boil it.
  2. Let the solution cool slightly, in the meantime the acid will have time to eat away the plaque as much as possible. Drain the liquid.
  3. Boil the water again with citric acid. Drain the liquid again and rinse the kettle thoroughly.
  4. You can replace citric acid with vinegar - 100 grams per liter of water.

Removing a thick layer of scale

If the citric acid solution does not give the expected result, try another method:

  1. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 liter of water. Pour this solution into a kettle and boil for about half an hour.
  2. Drain the resulting liquid. Pour water and add a tablespoon of citric acid, boil.
  3. Pour water with vinegar a third time (the thicker the layer, the more vinegar), boil for 30 minutes.
  4. After such triple treatment, the scale becomes soft and easily comes off the walls. Remove it with either a kitchen sponge or a wooden spatula. Rinse the kettle thoroughly and boil it to be safe. clean water and pour it out.

Trying to clean with Coca-Cola

  1. Before use, release all gas from the drink.
  2. Fill half the kettle with Coca-Cola and boil.
  3. Pour out the contents and rinse.
  4. Some claim that Fanta and Sprite are also suitable for this purpose.

Is your kettle sparkling clean again? Isn't it time to drink some fragrant tea? Have a nice tea party and pleasant conversation!

Regardless of the cost and model of the kettle, after some time of operation, a layer of scale appears on its inner surface. Solid deposits not only reduce the efficiency of the device, but also deteriorate the quality of the water that is heated in it. Let's figure out how to remove scale from a kettle using improvised means and industrial preparations.

Before we learn how to remove scale from a kettle at home, let’s find out why it forms. Solid deposits are formed due to the fact that when the temperature rises, magnesium and calcium salts dissolved in water break down into carbon dioxide and hard small crystals. As a result, a gray-brown sediment accumulates on the bottom and walls of the kettle.

Consequences of scale formation:

  • decreased performance of electric kettles - sediment on the heating element increases energy consumption, in addition, the device may break as a result of overheating;
  • accelerating the destruction of the material from which the walls of the container are made;
  • deterioration in the taste of water;
  • the ingress of calcium, magnesium and other substances into the human body - they accumulate in the kidneys, forming hard stones (sand, stones).

The rate of scale formation in a kettle depends on the water hardness, the level of which is determined based on the salt concentration. Before dispensing liquid from natural sources it is purified from excess impurities into the supply system. But in most regions the level of water hardness remains very high.

Folk remedies

The scale adheres tightly to the inner surface of the kettle, and it is impossible to remove it with a brush or scraper. The only way to get rid of sediment - apply organic or inorganic acid to dissolve it.

Looking for answers to questions about how to clean Electric kettle from scale, as well as how to restore the original appearance of a traditional metal appliance, it is worth remembering the following popular folk remedies:

  • vinegar;
  • citric acid;
  • soda;
  • carbonated drinks and so on.

Vinegar

There are several methods that make it possible to descale a kettle with vinegar, some of them are suitable for electrical appliances, others for traditional ones.

Methods for processing a regular teapot:

  1. Pour water and vinegar essence into a container - 2 large spoons per 1 liter. Heat to 70º, reduce heat and keep on the stove for 30 minutes.
  2. Combine 1 liter of water and 150 ml of 9% vinegar in a kettle. Boil for 15-30 minutes. The time should be adjusted depending on the intensity of the descaling process, which can be controlled by periodically opening the lid.

It is not advisable to use vinegar to clean electric kettles due to its high aggressiveness. But with a thick layer of scale this method let's say. You can process devices whose body is made of metal, glass or plastic.

Algorithm of actions:

  1. Pour 0.5 liters of water into the electric kettle. Boil.
  2. Add 200 ml of vinegar (9%) or 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar essence.
  3. Leave the liquid in the kettle for 15-20 minutes. If the scale has not come off, bring to a boil and wait 15-20 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

The scale that has fallen off the walls in the kettle, which was discussed above on how to remove it with vinegar, should be removed from the device by rinsing it several times under running water. Then you need to fill the tank to the top, boil and drain the liquid. It is advisable to repeat the action twice. like this final processing should be carried out with any cleaning method.

Important: When choosing how to descale a kettle at home, you need to know that when vinegar is heated, the room is filled with caustic unpleasant smell. Children and pets should be removed from it, and the window should be opened.

Lemon acid

Considering how to clean a kettle from, we note that this method ideal for electrical appliances. The advantages of the method are safety for coating and absence of a pungent odor.

Cleaning steps:

  1. Pour 0.75 liters of water (2/3 volume) into the kettle. Add 2 tablespoons of acid.
  2. Bring the electric kettle to a boil. The device should turn off by itself.
  3. After 15-20 minutes, check the cleaning result. If the sediment has separated, pour out the liquid and rinse under running water.

If a slight scale has formed in the kettle, how can you remove it with citric acid? You can heat the water, add powder to it and leave the liquid in the device for 5-6 hours. It is advisable to carry out such cleaning every month for prevention. In extreme cases, citric acid can be replaced with lemon juice.

Soda

Let's find out how to remove scale from a metal kettle: enameled, made of of stainless steel or aluminum. It is best to use baking soda or soda ash.

Cleaning methods:

  1. Fill the kettle with water to the top. Pour soda at the rate of 1 large spoon per 0.5 liter. Boil for 30 minutes. Drain the liquid. Remove softened deposits with a brush or stiff sponge.
  2. Fill the reservoir with water. Pour soda - 2.5 large spoons per 1 liter. Boil for 30-40 minutes. Drain the liquid. Fill the kettle with water and add vinegar - 4 large spoons per 1 liter. Boil for another 25 minutes.


Let's look at how to descale a kettle with soda, if it belongs to electrical appliances. You need to fill it with water, boil it and add soda in the proportion of 2 large spoons per 1 liter. After 2 hours, clean the container with a sponge.

Carbonated drinks

When figuring out how to descale a kettle with Coca-Cola, you should pay attention to the fact that the method is not suitable for electric models. Other drink options are Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes. The last two types of soda are more preferable because they are colorless and cannot stain the surface of the dishes.

The destructive effect of the listed drinks on scale is explained by the presence in them phosphoric acid. They will not cope with a thick layer of deposits, but they will remove thin deposits without any problems.

Processing stages:

  1. Fill the kettle with drink.
  2. Wait until the gas comes out (all the bubbles will burst).
  3. Boil.
  4. After half an hour, remove the liquid and wash the kettle.

other methods

Deciding how to clean enamel teapot from scale, it is worth considering the following options:

  1. Place washed potato, apple or pear peelings into the tank. Fill with water. Boil. Let stand for 1-2 hours. Remove soft deposits with a sponge.
  2. Connect the chalk laundry soap, water and ammonia in the proportion 9:2:6:3. Pour into the kettle. Boil over low heat for 1.5 hours. Wash under running water.
  3. Pour cucumber or tomato brine into the kettle. Boil. Wait until the liquid cools down. Remove plaque with a brush or sponge.

Chemicals

If thick scale has formed in an electric kettle, how can you remove it without damaging the device? You can resort to industrial means. Most often they contain acids that break down the sediment.

Popular drugs:

  1. “Anti-scale” from Frau Schmidt – tablets for teapots and coffee makers. Composition: sulfamic, adipic and citric acids. Application – boil water in a kettle (3/4 volume), put in a tablet, wait 10 minutes, pour out the liquid and rinse.
  2. “Cillit” is a liquid for descaling coffee makers, kettles and other appliances. Composition: sulfamic and oxalic acids. Application – fill the kettle with water, add the product (50 ml per 0.5 liter of water), wait 30 minutes, rinse.
  3. "Antinscale" from TM "Cinderella" - a liquid for removing scale in teapots, washing machines, electric boilers, coffee makers. Composition: organic and mineral acids. Application – fill the kettle with water, add the product (60 ml per 1 liter of water), rinse after 2-3 hours.

Note: The products described contain strong acids. The instructions for them indicate which surfaces are not recommended to be treated. It is not advisable to use them more than once a month.

Prevention

Measures to prevent scale formation in the kettle:

  • the use of water filters that reduce salt concentrations;
  • removing the liquid remaining after boiling from the tank;
  • carrying out preventive cleaning once a month using citric acid or soda;
  • use of electric kettles in which the spiral is closed.

Scale in a kettle reduces its service life, increases energy costs for heating water, and worsens taste qualities drinks and negatively affects the condition of the kidneys. You can remove it using soda, vinegar and other products containing acids. It is advisable to carry out cleaning in advance, when the plaque layer is minimal. After treatment, the kettle should be thoroughly rinsed to remove any residue. chemical substances, heat the water in it several times and drain it.

How to descale a kettle at home is shown in the video.

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Over time, a layer of some foreign substance appears on the inner walls of any water heating device, be it a washing machine or an electric kettle. Its color depends on the quality of the water and can even be red if there is rust in the pipes. At first it is just wet “fluff”, then it becomes a more dense structure, and in the end the deposit on the walls of the kettle turns into stone, which cannot be easily washed off.

Why scale is harmful

It would seem that nothing terrible is happening. Well, a raid, so what's wrong? Why think about how to descale an electric kettle? Simple observations allow us to find out that:

  • firstly, there is always turbidity in the water poured from such a kettle;
  • secondly, the taste of the liquid deteriorates;
  • thirdly, the kettle heats the water much more slowly, since scale is not thermally conductive;
  • fourthly, and most importantly, heating coil it fails very quickly, that is, it simply burns out;
  • fifthly, if you constantly drink water mixed with cloudy scale, these particles may settle in the kidneys, which leads to the formation of urolithiasis.

Where do foreign substances come from in clean water?

Drinking water, no matter how clear it may seem, contains a huge amount of various substances. These include dissolved minerals, metals, and various salts. Thanks to such impurities, when water is boiled, a uniform coating forms on the inner surface of the vessel. Moreover, even passing liquid through cleaning filters does not give complete liberation from these substances, and you need to think about how to descale the kettle.

  • sulfate;
  • carbonate;
  • silicate.

The water is of the carbonate type and is hard and usually flows from How to purify it in order to drink delicious drinks? First of all, let's look at some information about hard and soft water.

Which water is healthier: filtered or regular?

It is believed that water with a high content of salts and minerals (hard) is undesirable for drinking. However, according to research by specialists, it is in dissolved form that the amount of calcium and magnesium necessary for health enters the body. human body. Without calcium, the walls of capillaries and bones loosen, and cellular permeability increases. The result of this is an increase in blood pressure.

Water with too much high rigidity(10 mEq/liter or more) is harmful to digestive system person. Too softened life-giving moisture (1.5 mEq/liter or less) causes an imbalance of minerals in the body and increases the risk of heart and vascular diseases. It is extremely harmful to constantly drink softened and purified water. This affects exhaustion and impoverishment bone tissue and on blood clotting.

Everything is good in moderation, so soft water can be used for boiling.

How to restore newness to the “insides” of a teapot

Both aluminum and enameled, and can be freed from harmful deposits in the same ways. There are several of them:

1. How to clean scale if the whitish layer is still thin and soft? It can be easily washed off by rubbing it firmly over the surface. heating element and walls with a regular sponge. Or you can pour it inside a large number of washed potato and apple peelings, add 2 tbsp. spoons of soda and boil for about half an hour. Then rinse repeatedly with fresh water.

2. Sometimes housewives use special chemicals to remove scale. Here you need to act exactly according to the attached instructions.

3. which has turned into a denser structure? An ordinary metal vessel for boiling water is emptied in the following ways:


4. When thinking about how to descale an electric kettle, you need to keep in mind that plastic kettles cannot be cleaned with vinegar, but you can use Fanta for this procedure. Just pour it inside and leave it overnight, then thoroughly wash off the residue.

How to get rid of hardened scale

Sometimes you need to tidy up a kettle with a “seasoned” layer of petrified scale. This “trouble” is removed in several stages:

  • First you need to boil 2 tbsp dissolved in water for half an hour. spoons of soda. Cool and discard the liquid.
  • Boil water with 1 tbsp. spoon lemon juice, cool and drain.
  • Add 100 ml of acetic acid and boil again for about 30 minutes.
  • Remove loose scale and rinse the kettle several times. You can boil fresh water in it to completely get rid of the pungent odor.

Hiking method

Another one tested in hiking conditions methods - “frying” an aluminum vessel over a fire. A kettle without water is heated over high heat until the scale begins to crack and shoot inside. It gets hot and may even start to smoke.

After some time (about 15 minutes), you need to remove the hot metal vessel from the heat. After removing the lid, you need to quickly pour a liter of water inside and immediately close it again. Under the influence of temperature differences and sudden steam, the scale falls off the walls of the kettle. All that remains is to simply pour out the contents along with the petrified pieces.

It is important to be extra careful when using this method, otherwise you may get burned by the hot steam. If the kettle contains plastic parts, it is better not to use this method, since these parts will definitely melt.

To avoid extreme procedures with cleaning the kettle, this is usually done 2 times a month or more often.

Present time high technology and developed industry have not improved water quality. Impurities present in water have a detrimental effect on equipment: coffee maker, washing machine and, of course, a teapot. Formed scale, and if not clean the kettle, then over time it will definitely break. There are many chemicals to remove scale, but traditional methods also cope well with the problem.

1. Vinegar

To clean the kettle at home, you can apply normal table vinegar. Approximately a quarter glass of vinegar is poured with two liters of water and boiled in a kettle for at least 20 minutes until there is a clear result. It is imperative to rinse the kettle after this procedure and boil clean water in it twice.

2. Citric acid

To clean the kettle, pour water into it and add either citric acid(2 tablespoons), or the juice of half a lemon, then boil, let stand for 10 minutes. Then drain the water, and rinse the kettle thoroughly. The method is effective, and the dishes acquire a pleasant fresh aroma.

For particularly “complicated” cases, you can use combination recipe. They start with soda: pour boiling water over a tablespoon, boil and then drain the water and rinse the kettle.

The second stage is to add water with a tablespoon of citric acid, also boil and pour out the mixture. Final stage cleaning - pour in half a glass of vinegar and water and boil again, drain. If such a procedure does not produce visible results, then the scale has in any case become loose and can be removed mechanically using a sponge. Metal brushes not recommended for use. This recipe is not suitable for an electric kettle.

3. Will soda clean the kettle?

There are recipes in which the main ingredient is any sparkling water, for example, Coca-Cola. Such drinks will even clean the kettle of rust. First, all the gases from the carbonated drink are released, then the kettle is filled halfway with the drink and boiled. There is also an opinion that it is better to use Sprite, since the cola may leave marks. The effect will definitely be obtained after such boiling, but this recipe is not suitable for electric kettles.

4. Method of cleaning the kettle with brine

The preserved brine is poured into a kettle and boiled, then poured out and the kettle is washed. The brine contains citric acid, which, in fact, copes with scale. By the way, it is believed that cucumber pickle can even get rid of rust.

Regardless of the chosen recipe, how to clean a kettle, you should always rinse it well after cleaning and boil the water at least twice, draining it each time. Leftover vinegar or chemicals can cause unexpected and unpleasant problems.

The water coming out of the taps may not be the best best quality. Scale on the walls not only gives an unpleasant taste to brewed drinks, but also increases the heating time of the device, reducing its thermal conductivity.

The same applies to regular enameled metal teapots. The resulting deposit requires the dishes to remain on the stove for a longer time. As a result, electricity or gas is consumed. Therefore, the question of how to descale a kettle at home remains relevant for many.

It doesn't matter what kind of kettle you use. Everyday life– electric or metal. Scale may appear on each of the appliances. And no filters or even boiling artesian water High Quality will not help to avoid this trouble.

For scale, it is a more terrible threat, since the product can not only begin to perform its purpose worse, but also completely fail. And simple appliances can also be so “overgrown” with lime on the inner surface that the use of the strongest cleaning agents will not help get rid of it.

Therefore, any care must be timely. There is no need to delay this, postponing the process until later. Otherwise, you risk being left without a device.

The process of scale formation on each of the teapots is characterized by several points.

All scale is formed from tap water, containing many different salts that settle on the walls of containers during boiling.

Therefore, the question of how to clean the inside of a kettle from scale worries us much more, because it is much easier and faster.

The rate of scale formation depends on the concentration of salts in tap water and increases in proportion to their amount. All newfangled filters can, of course, soften water, but they will not be a panacea for scale.

But not only teapots suffer from scale. It can also harm our body. And, above all, to the organs of the urinary system and kidneys.

Citric acid is one of the most effective means in the fight against scale. Its use will not cause any difficulties, but will help you quickly clean the kettle.

The advantages are the availability of this product and its effectiveness. But how to clean a kettle with citric acid? The process is carried out in several successive steps.

  • Count required quantity"Lemons" It is related to the degree of contamination of the device. The more scale, the correspondingly large quantity You need to take lemon powder. The best option There will be the use of two or three packs per unit.
  • Fill up with water, approximately 2/3 of the container's volume. If the scale is localized on the upper walls, then add water to such an extent that it covers it.
  • Pour the acid into the water and stir until all the crystals dissolve.
  • If the scale is fresh, then there will be no need to boil the lemon juice. You can simply prepare the solution using the above method and leave it for several hours. After this, rinse the dishes and boil them clean water.
  • If the case is more complex, then the prepared solution should be boiled in a kettle for 10-15 minutes, then pour it out, rinse the product with clean water and boil again.
  • It is better to repeat the procedure a couple of times to consolidate the result.

Another remedy that helps descale a kettle at home is vinegar.

To do this, water is poured into the device in the same volume as in the previous method, and vinegar is added at the rate of half a glass of vinegar per 1 liter of water. If you don’t have vinegar, then vinegar essence will do.

In this case, its amount should be reduced (take 3 teaspoons of essence per liter of water). Boil the water for 3-5 minutes, let it cool completely, drain and rinse the kettle with water. Repeat boiling only with clean liquid at least twice.

If the old plaque does not go away the first time, the process can be repeated. Also, softened plaque can be removed by rubbing it with a sponge.

However, vinegar cannot be used to clean electric kettles.

Soda is suitable for enamel and electric kettles. She is affordable but at the same time universal remedy, very effective in the fight against limescale deposits on the walls of teapots.

However, you need to be careful with it, since hard grains can damage the surfaces by scratching them.

Most likely, you will have to repeat cleaning the kettle with soda. Because she's enough mild remedy, one application for heavily damaged surface won't be enough.

You need to fill the kettle halfway with water and pour two teaspoons of soda into it. Let the water boil, then, reducing the flame, boil for 25-35 minutes. Drain the water and rinse the inside of the kettle.

If the kettle is electric with an auto-shut-off mode, then simply after the appliance has finished boiling, leave the water and soda in it until it cools completely.

other methods

Regular soda will also help solve the question of how to descale an electric kettle. To prevent the inner surface of the device from becoming dark color, it is better to use colorless drinks. Sprite is ideal. You need to pour it into the kettle and let the product boil. The scale will evaporate after this process without a trace. The same method will work for a regular metal kettle.

Before you start using the soda, you need to let all the air bubbles out of it. You can leave the bottle open or pour the liquid into a spacious container.

One more effective method removal limescale peelings from potatoes, pears or apples. They need to be washed, put in a kettle, and filled with water. Then boil for 5-10 minutes.

In addition to limescale deposits inside the kettle, another unpleasant phenomenon rust appears. It is associated with excess iron contained in tap water and its hardness.

You need to get rid of rusty deposits in a timely manner, because in addition to imparting an unpleasant taste to tea or coffee, it can be harmful to health.

The citric acid and vinegar mentioned above will help not only remove scale from the walls of the appliance, but also remove rust. You need to do the same with them as when removing scale from the inner surface of the kettle.

Other available and original products and methods.

  • Washing powder and potatoes. Sprinkle the powder over a moistened surface and rub half of the potatoes over these areas. Rinse thoroughly with water.
  • "Coca Cola". Pour the drink into the kettle and leave overnight. In the morning the device will be ready for use.
  • Cucumber pickle. Pour it into the kettle and boil for 5-10 minutes. Drain and rinse dishes with water until the smell goes away.
  • Spoiled milk. It is also boiled in a kettle.

Prevention measures

To prevent the appearance of scale and rust, it will not be superfluous to observe several points.

  • After use, leave the kettles dry, pouring out all the water. Its remains produce calcium. It turns into scale and affects the walls of the products.
  • Clean kettles at least monthly. The more often the procedure is performed, the less effort will have to be spent in the future. In addition, this will help maintain the functionality of the product for a long time.
  • Boil only distilled water or purified water using a filter in a kettle.
  • Rinse the kettle with a sponge after each use. This way you can remove scale at its initial stage.

There are many means and methods to help clean a kettle from scale. But their effectiveness will depend on how quickly you get to work.

The longer the kettle accumulates scale, the more time it will take to wash it. In any case, it is better to use proven methods, otherwise the risk of damaging the device increases.