‘Best solution’ to descale kettles in ‘10 minutes’ - ‘you need it to dissolve limescale’

Everybody likes a quick cleaning hack that takes the effort out of household chores. For those fans of replacing chemical cleaning products with natural alternatives and are in need of

giving the inside of their appliance a clean, Mrs Hinch fans have just the product. After one woman took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page looking for ways to remove limescale

from her kettle, many rushed to suggest she use white vinegar.

Taking to the Facebook page dedicated to cleaning, Kathleen Clark asked: “What’s the best thing to clean the inside of a kettle with?”

While there are cleaning products on the market specifically designed to descale kettles, the majority of the 190 comments the post received recommended using white vinegar.

Daphne Phillips said: “White distilled vinegar and water, boil and let stand, empty and boil again with fresh water before use.”

Robyn Couzner wrote: “A vinegar and water mix, boil the kettle, empty and fill with clean water, boil again, job done.”

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Moira Reynolds Oliver said: “I boil my kettle with white vinegar two to three times and it comes clean. Then I boil twice with tap water. Works for me and I live in a hard water area.”

Sue Richards commented: “White vinegar and water. Boil it up, then let it stand for a few minutes, then rinse out with fresh water.”

Cari Epsworth instructed: “Empty your kettle. Pour in 200ml white vinegar. Fill to max with water. Boil. Pour the hot liquid out. Repeat two or three times if needed. I do this once a

month.”

Sandra Aston replied: “Yes, this is the best solution. You need it to dissolve the limescale in your kettle.

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“You just have to boil the white vinegar with water and let it stand for 10 minutes. Then boil again with just water and the white stuff will be gone.”

Bridget Thomas said: “White vinegar with water in the kettle and leave a few minutes to stand. 

“If you tip it down the loo after it helps to prevent limescale in the loo s-bend that can block with tissue, so two jobs for the price of one. Then boil it again with just water after. It

also descaled my shower head really well too.”

Angela Jones wrote: “White vinegar, half fill, bring to boil and leave for 10 minutes. Bring to the boil, empty, refill, boil, empty. Good to go.”

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Unsure whether any white vinegar can be used, Irene Hosken asked: “Just got white vinegar, but on the label it says vinegar distilled malt. Can I use it in the kettle or is there a different

one?”

In response, Janet Garner said: “If it's white it's fine to use. White vinegar is more acidic than the malt brown version or any other type of vinegar. It's the acid that’s essential to

dissolve the limescale.”

Limescale, scientifically known as calcium carbonate, is a milky white, tough deposit that clogs up the filaments of kettles and forms when hot water has evaporated and solidified. 

As well as looking unappetising when it appears as flakes floating in hot drinks and giving boiled water a slightly metallic tang to it, limescale can be stubborn to remove by scrubbing

alone.

Instead, using white vinegar is an effective way to descale a kettle due the amount of acidity it contains.

To carry out this method fill the kettle up by three quarters with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar.

Bring the kettle to the boil and allow the mixture to stay in the kettle for 10 to 15 minutes. Depending on how much limescale is in the kettle, it may need to be left for longer to stand.

After pour away the liquid and rinse out the kettle with fresh water. Then boil the kettle once or twice at full capacity to make sure that there is no lingering taste of vinegar.

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