Most people who start using electric kettles soon become almost addicted to its use as it boils water significantly faster and easier than a stovetop.
Furthermore, it is considered more efficient than using a microwave for the simple task of boiling water.
Some electric kettles even have a temperature control system. However, when it comes to cleaning the kitchen appliances, people tend to overlook the cleaning of the electric kettle.
Cleaning is an inherent part of the maintenance of the equipment because of the mineral deposits, especially from hard water cause scaling, which gradually slows down the process of heating.
Besides, apart from destroying your kettle’s sleek appearance, this gunk called kettle furring, can even spoil your morning tea or coffee when you find the flakes floating freely in your tea or coffee. So, here are some tips and tricks to help clean your electric kettle.
How to Descale and Clean an Electric Kettle
Steps for cleaning
- Fill the kettle up to half or three-quarters level with equal parts of water and white vinegar.
- Bring the solution to a boil.
- Turn off the kettle and remove its power cord plug from the wall outlet.
- Let the vinegar-water mix sit in the kettle for 15-20 minutes. Now, throw the water away and rinse the equipment.
You may have to rinse several times to make sure there is no trace of vinegar remaining in the kettle. You shall be amazed to find that you have gotten rid of the chunks of limescale so quickly. - Wipe the inside of the kettle with a clean cloth and leave it to dry completely.
- After drying, you can again boil water in the kettle and discard it to remove possible remaining aftertaste left after cleaning.
In case there is a lingering vinegar smell, then you can boil water in the kettle a few times. If there is a lot of scaling to be removed, you may use a stronger vinegar mixture and leave it in the kettle for an hour, or even overnight.
Plus, you can scrub the inside of the kettle with a non-metallic pad, carefully avoiding the heating element (built into the bottom).
Certain manufacturers explicitly warn against the use of vinegar for cleaning their products. In such cases, you can fill your kettle with water, squeeze a lemon in it and put slices of the same lemon in the solution.
Boil this water and leave it in the kettle for about an hour. Pour out the water and rinse the kettle. When the kettle has cooled, sprinkle a little baking soda at the bottom and wipe it with a clean piece of cloth. Finally, rinse it thoroughly with cold water.
Alternatively, you can put a teaspoon of baking soda and some water in the kettle and boil the solution to remove scaling. Citric acid is also considered useful for getting rid of the kettle furring.
As for the cleaning the outside of the kettle, you can use any dishwashing liquid and wipe it with a clean damp cloth. While cleaning the outside, try not to scratch the finish, though. To make a stainless steel electric kettle shiny, put a little olive oil on a cloth and rub it on the outside of the kettle.
Additional Tips
- People tend to leave extra water in the kettle after use, but this is not a good practice as standing water can leave more mineral deposits in it. Thus, make sure you empty your electric kettle thoroughly after every use. It is best to boil only the amount of water you require.
- To prevent or at least slow down the buildup of yucky mineral deposits in your kettle, consider using a limescale catcher.
- You should clean your electric kettle exterior at least once a week and descale the interior about once a month or every few months, depending on your frequency of use.
- As the heating element of the kettle is present at the bottom, do not immerse it in water.
Great tutorial here.
Cleaning and maintaining an electric kettle is very important , considering the hygiene factor. Thanks for sharing this.
I missed the let sit part, but the inside is still sparkly clean so *shrugs*
it worked reasonably well,thanks for your advice
Haha, I was cleaning the water kettle at my work, and it spilled out all over the place, even though I was below the max fill line. Now my work smells like vinegar. Oh well, the kettle is super sparkly now!
To get rid of odours ie vinegar – put a small bowl near kettle & put some baking soda / bicarbonate into the bowl @half a standard size cereal bowl & the powder will absorb the smell of vinegar & other smells . Also leave a bowl in the fridge to keep it smelling fresh ☺️. ? all done
Your name is too good
Thanks for this useful tip. The uses that vinegar can be put to never ceases to amaze me.
Awesome tip but don’t use malt vinegar instead of white. My kettle took off!
Thank you so much. I just resurrected our kettle thanks to your terrific tips!
This worked wonders, and is so simple. Thanks!
Thanks for a clear tutorial. I followed your instructions and I can’t believe something so simple actually worked. My kettle hadn’t been internally cleaned in about a year and is now looking almost new. It is important to not go more than 3/4 full of the kettle’s maximum indicator as the solution will boil vigourously- mine overboiled but I was standing right there watching so I hit the off switch.
Our kettle boiled over with the vinegar mixture. In future I will just let it sit in the kettle, warm, rather than boil it.
The vinegar/water boil technique worked perfectly! Thanks so much!
Great suggestions! The vinegar works great for me. But I can’t see how your “baking soda” alternative would help. Baking soda is a salt. And what you have in your kettle is mineral salts. You’re just adding to the problem by using baking soda. You need an acid to get rid of the buildup. Stick to the vinegar or citrus options.
Baking soda has a carboxylic acid group the same as vinegar. Its a sodium salt so won’t produce calcium carbonate scaling.
White vinegar and water worked great, kettle clean as new. great tip, thanks.
Great tip thanks, just to note, I filled it halfway and it worked perfectly and was mere mm’s away from boiling over, so I recommend just filling to the halfway mark 🙂
PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Keep your eye on the kettle when boiling. I didn’t, it boiled/ frothed over!! What a mess! And I could have been scalded.
The kettle still isn’t clean.
I think it’s just common sense to not fill the kettle all the way to avoid it boiling over.
Regarding the kettle still not being clean. The instructions said, “If there is a lot of scaling to be removed, you may use a stronger vinegar mixture and leave it in the kettle for an hour, or even overnight.
Plus, you can scrub the inside of the kettle with a non-metallic pad, carefully avoiding the heating element (built into the bottom).”
Thanks for sharing some great tips for getting rid of scale in a kettle.
I have enjoyed your website as I have the same electric Kettle. I have learned so much, and will be coming back. Thank you for a great Job. Have a Blessed week.
Jean Wyatt.
Well I’m about to begin the process…….looking at the kettle now it’s far better than it was. But there are still residue, so I’m repeating the process this time with lime……..even better. All I intend to do is continue the process every weekend and that should do it. Thumbs up guys!
Thank you so much. It’s SO handy having household tips on the internet like this, I have become quite house trained 😉
thank u very much for the information
I cleaned my kettle it looks brand new thanks for your advice
Thank you!!! It warked!!!my kettle look like brand new))
thank you soooo much for this tip..luckily tho i pre read what others had to say and was very careful in the amount of solution that i put in,,,even just below the half way level the solution nearly boiled over,,so this is a job that you have to keep an eye on,,,,,thanks again and i will definatly be using this site should i need other tips
Boiling the vinegar with the water was a huge mess, it frothed out everywhere. Now my whole kitchen needs cleaning too and stinks of vinegar. Just leave the vinegar to sit for a couple of hours or over night then pour out and boil just water.
This works just as promised. Thanks so much.
I filled mine halfway and it worked marvelously! Thank you so much. My glass kettle looks brand new 🙂
I live in the country, and have slightly brackish (brown) water, which leaves dirty deposits over time. So acid-based cleaners (vinegar/lemon) aren’t effective. I will try the scrubbing with baking soda idea.
As I find out how to clean scale from the heater. I will try to do it.
This worked so well – so easy & yet so effective! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this guide about cleaning electric kettles. Cute drawings, too!
I did not use half and half water/vinegar. I used 1.5L water and 200 ml of vinegar (1.7L kettle). The result was a clean kettle from one that was dark brown to black in places. I also kept the solution in a bottle (after it cooled) to use next time.
That is just gross!! Vinegar is so inexpensive! Especially at the tiny amount you used. It certainly wouldn’t be *cleaning* your kettle if you re-use ,ddirty mixture of stale water and vinegar containing mineral deposits and who knows what other gunk. Do you re-use your bath water too?
Careful reusing it, the solution is weakened every time, plus white vinegar and baking soda are both incredibly cheap
I think a better method is to boil the water solely, and THEN add the vinegar . This way the kettle doesn’t boil over and still gets clean. It’s the recommended way in the user manual of my kettle.
Your instructions is great. ….can’t believe my eyes. ..what a simple vinegar can transform the yukky kettle to spotless:)
Thanks
I just spent most of the day trying to clean my kettle. There was a black ring on the bottom where the heating element is located. I half filled the kettle with pure vinegar and brought it to a boil. It shuts off automatically as soon as it boils so I just kept re-boiling whenever I walked past it in the kitchen. I stuck a scrub brush in and scrubbed at bit. After a while, I added some baking soda, and boiled it again. Still has that black mark on the bottom even though I’ve been at this for about 12 hours. I finally dumped the contents and rinsed it out. Boiled with just water now, and can’t smell any vinegar. But the black is still there…
Awesome.. this was really useful… never had my kettle so good with such little effort.. thanks
Vinegar solution worked great. My kettle is metal and there is rust around the spout. I assume the vinegar works as well in plastic kettles?
I use citric acid which I buy at the supermarket. I leave it overnight with cold water. It does the job. But must wash the kettle thoroughly
Perfect result and a citrus-scented kitchen!
I cut half a lemon into 1″ pieces and tossed them into the kettle.
Filled the kettle up almost to the top.
Boiled the water (FYI: it didn’t boil over at all).
Let it sit for 20 minutes.
The kettle looks like new again.
Thanks!!!!