Although it is harmless, limescale can be extremely frustrating for anyone who enjoys a good cuppa. The chalky white residue often builds up in kettles and can completely spoil a hot drink.
It also creates other problems, corroding the elements in appliances like kettles, coffee machines, dishwashers and washing machines. And it makes kettles less efficient, meaning they take longer to boil water and use more energy.
The problem is particularly severe for those living in an area with hard water. One person who had had enough of the troublesome stuff took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page to ask others for their advice, the Express reports.
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Beth Clarke wrote: “I need kettle descale ideas please. I’ve tried Oust, lemons and lemon juice. None of which are tough enough for the job. They remove about 50 percent, if that. I use my kettle a lot so any suggestions to keep the limescale to a minimum would be great too.”
There are expensive kettle descalers available on the market, but cleaning enthusiasts online recommended cheaper and more natural solutions, with most advising Beth to try citric acid. People described the method as “incredible” and better than other options like white vinegar and baking soda.
Lynne Cresswell wrote: “Just get a box of citric acid (get mine from Wilko). Two teaspoons in the kettle full with water and bring to the boil. Leave for 10 minutes, look inside. If some limescale remains, reboil and leave for another 10 minutes. Rinse well and use. It worked better than white vinegar and baking soda because it took off more limescale.”
Fouzia Azeem agreed, saying: “Fill kettle a quarter way up with water, boil, add citric acid and leave for 20 minutes. Kettle will come out sparkling.” And Deborah Clark added: “Citric acid after kettle has been boiled, leave for an hour or so if bad. You’ll get incredible results.”
Lynne Collins commented: “I used to always buy the descaling sachets from Wilko, but someone on here suggested using citric acid as a cheaper and more effective way and I’ve never looked back.”
Becky Gill recommended using 50g of citric acid and said she did it every two weeks as she lived in a hard water area. Meanwhile Anne Lee said she used 10g of citric acid, bought from Wilko, in 100ml of hot water. She said she preferred it to white vinegar as “there's no smell”.
Citric acid can be bought from stores like Wilko for £1.75, or from B&Q for £2.25 and Ocado for £2.30.
Other members of the Facebook group still swore by white vinegar. Tracey Bently said: “I use white vinegar. Use one whole bottle then top up with water to the fill line. Boil it, empty out repeat again if necessary. If not then just fill with normal water and boil, repeat this maybe two to three times and the scale will be gone and so will the vinegar taste too.”
Dawn Pickup advised: “Use white vinegar and water and boil the kettle then rinse with fresh water, works a treat.”
And Linda Grinhaff commented: “White vinegar works, don't need to dilute it. Fill kettle and leave for a few hours or overnight if you can and just rinse it out well later.”
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