When boiling water in a kettle, limescale deposits accumulate on the walls over time. To remove it, you can use both folk recipes and special household chemicals.
Weaker scale can be cleaned immediately, while a thick layer will take longer to deal with. Therefore, in order not to bring the heating device to major cleaning, it is recommended to engage in scale prevention.
In this case, the kettle will delight you with cleanliness, and the boiled water will retain maximum beneficial properties. We'll tell you in this article how to remove scale from inside a kettle, even the strongest, at home.
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How to remove scale using folk remedies?
Home cleaning methods are valued for their ease of use and safety. and low cash costs. Considering the chemical composition of scale, it is not difficult to choose effective means.
After any cleaning, wipe the kettle with a soft sponge. Then fill the container with clean water, which is brought to a boil and then drained. After this, the device can be used for its intended purpose.
How to clean with citric acid?
The kettle is filled 2/3 with water in which citric acid crystals are dissolved.For each liter take a tablespoon of powder.
After the liquid boils, allow it to cool and drain it. If necessary, repeat the lemon cleansing. This product is suitable for any materials except enamel.
If there is no citric acid in the house, and the pollution is not very strong, then you can use a natural analogue - lemon slices. They are placed in a kettle, filled 2/3 with water and boiled.
Read more about descaling a kettle using citric acid. here.
Vinegar
Water is also poured into the container to 2/3 of the volume, acetic acid is added at the rate of 1:10. If you use essence for work, then 1.5 tablespoons per 1 liter is enough.
Read more about descaling with vinegar in this Read the article about the method of cleaning with vinegar and soda here.
Soda
The kettle is only half filled with water. Dissolve baking soda in it (a tablespoon per liter).
Bring to a boil over low heat. Repeat this procedure several times.
The soda solution bubbles strongly, so during cleaning you should not exceed the volume of liquid and boil for a long time. You can find out more about cleaning the kettle from lime deposits using soda Here.
Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite
Carbonated drinks are poured into the container approximately half the volume. Turn on the kettle and bring the liquid to a boil. After this, leave the reagent for another 20-30 minutes.
When cleaning an enamel surface, it is advisable to use drinks with a minimum amount of dyes. Details of cleaning the walls of the kettle from deposits with carbonated drinks - here.
Oxalic acid
This substance acts similarly to citric acid. The cleaning method is also similar. Water is poured 2/3 full, a small portion of oxalic acid is added and the water is boiled for several minutes. After an hour, the liquid is drained.
Brine or marinade
Since acetic or citric acid is used in canning, the remaining brine is used to neutralize scale.
It is poured into the heating tank to 2/3 of the volume and brought to a boil.. After this, the liquid is left for another half hour.
The method is inferior in effectiveness to the previous ones, but with double cleansing it helps to cope with petrified plaque.
How to quickly remove using special means?
In addition to folk remedies, you can use ready-made household chemicals. It is more expensive, but has a good effect. The release form in most cases involves liquid, gel or tablets.
Top House
Product made in Germany. It goes on sale in two forms: tablets and liquid. Designed for dissolving scale in teapots, coffee makers, coffee machines, as well as on ordinary dishes. The effect is due to the presence of organic acids in high concentrations. Top House has no smell. The bottle cap is made with a child safety feature.
When using a tablet product, take one tablet per liter of water. (or two if heavily soiled). Further, the course of purification coincides.
The cost of a 500 ml bottle is approximately 250-280 rubles. The price of a package of tablets (8 pieces, 25 grams each) is on average 270 rubles.
Topper
A German-made liquid concentrate is designed to remove limescale in kettles, coffee makers and other water heating devices. Considered versatile and environmentally friendly. The formula contains citric acid, surfactants (at least 5%) and auxiliary agents.
After the procedure, the kettle is thoroughly washed and a control portion of water is boiled. The cost of a 250 ml bottle ranges from 150-250 rubles.
Five Plus
Product from a Russian manufacturer. The liquid is produced using the latest technology using colloidal silver. This ensures not only the removal of limescale, but also the disinfection of heating containers. The composition also includes a mixture of acids and an anti-corrosion additive.
The product does not leave any foreign smell or taste after cleansing, so it is suitable for teapots and coffee makers. The liquid is not used for enamel surfaces.
After this, the solution is drained, the kettle is washed and rinsed twice. A 500 ml bottle can be purchased for 200-250 rubles.
When using ready-made chemicals, you must be careful and wear gloves.. If the product comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, it is necessary to rinse them with plenty of water.
How can you remove thick, old plaque?
If a thick lime layer has formed on the walls of the heating device, the cleaning procedure must be repeated twice or three times. After each cleaning, the kettle is rinsed and a new portion of water and cleaning agent is poured.
You can also enhance the result by using a simultaneous combination of cleaners.. For example, citric and oxalic acids can be used in pairs.
Ready-made household chemicals are the most active, and among home remedies - organic acids (citric, acetic) and baking soda. Natural cleansers (sorrel leaves, lemon, cucumber pickle) cope with the difficult task weaker and slower.
Cleaning features for different types of kettles
When cleaning heating appliances, it is necessary to observe a certain frequency. It is associated not only with the quality of water and frequency of use, but also with the material from which the kettle body is made:
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Electric kettle. The cleaning feature is related to the type of heating element. If the device has an open-type spiral, then it needs to be cleaned more often.This is due to the fact that a dense limestone layer impairs the operation of the device and lengthens the water heating time. The procedure where boiling water is required is repeated three times with an interval of 10 minutes.
- Made of stainless steel. The metal body hides accumulated limescale deposits well from view.But for the sake of maintaining health, you should not neglect cleaning. It is carried out at least once a month, focusing on the degree of contamination.
- Enameled. The cleaning features are the same as in the case of stainless steel. It should be borne in mind that the enamel does not tolerate any abrasive materials, brushes or strong acids. When cleaning an enamel kettle operating over an open fire, use boiling with a cleaning agent for 15-20 minutes.
- Glass. Scale on the glass and bottom of the device is always noticeable and this worsens the aesthetic appearance. Therefore, if you boil water frequently, such a container must be cleaned almost every week.
Preventing the formation of limescale
Practice shows that scale forms when using any water. However, there is always the opportunity to slow down this process and make cleaning the kettle a rarer and easier procedure.
The walls of the device must be regularly wiped with a soft, soapy sponge.. This helps in time to remove the salt layer that has not yet stuck to the surface.
When purchasing a new kettle, it is recommended to give preference to modern models in which the heating element is coated with a special material. It prevents excessive scale deposits and thereby protects the boiler from damage and increased energy consumption.
Tips on the topic of the article
To make it easier to clean the kettle from salts and make this procedure less frequent, It is advisable to put several recommendations into practice:
to achieve the effect, cleansing is carried out in hot water;- after boiling there should be a stage of infusion of the solution;
- It is not advisable to use soda for teapots with an open spiral;
- kettles with mechanical damage should be cleaned with care;
- It is allowed to combine products of the same chemical nature.
Conclusion
Removing scale from the walls of a kettle is not a difficult problem if you use suitable methods and follow the instructions. Both home remedies and store-bought products are suitable as effective cleaners.
To make the cleaning process easier, you need to monitor the condition of the kettle, wash it on time and use purified water.
