An electric kettle is one of the cheapest, fastest, and safest methods of boiling water. They are designed to be safe to use with useful features like handles that stay cool and the ability to automatically shut off once the water is boiled. Also, there is no open flame or exposed surface that can get very hot, which is typical of the traditional stove boiler. However, they will need a regular cleaning schedule to help maintain their full operational performance.
The process of removing limescale from a ready-to-use container of liquid, such as a kettle, is relatively straightforward. Although limescale can be scrubbed off the surface of the kettle, the scraping process is likely to damage its finish. For this reason, it is more practical to take the slow approach and use a mild acid to dissolve the lime.
How to remove lime
First of all, the kettle should be filled halfway with a mild acid such as lemon juice and filled with plain water. This is a very effective antifouling agent that can prevent and remove limescale build-up. Once the solution is poured into the kettle, it must be left on for at least 7 hours or simply left overnight.
Once the acid has been allowed to do its work, empty the kettle and clean it thoroughly with several changes of cold water. This is the first step in removing any trace of lemon juice, which probably doesn’t taste good with coffee.
The kettle must be completely dry before plugging it in and boiling the water again. Take care to keep the connectors and electrical parts dry during cleaning. Also, to further minimize the risk of aftertaste, refill the kettle with plain water to the limit, bring to a boil and empty at least two or three times.
Other helpful acids that can be used if lemon juice is not available at home include clear vinegar, malt vinegar, baking soda, and citric acid.
Plus, this simple method of removing lime from a kettle can be just as effective on other small kitchen appliances, like a coffee maker. When cleaning a coffee pot, you will need to fill the water compartment with an equal mixture of lemon juice and water. Rather than just letting the solution work, it is more effective to let the appliance run with a single coffee brewing process. Once a complete cycle is complete, rinse the coffeemaker by repeating the process under running water only. Do this at least twice to make sure there is no aftertaste.