When water boils, solid deposits appear inside the kettle, small particles of which even pass through the mesh and end up in the drink. And the view inside the kettle becomes unaesthetic. It will take very little time to get rid of this problem. In addition, every housewife probably has a life-saving remedy in her kitchen.
Find out how to clean a kettle even from old scale using ordinary table vinegar and enjoy a wonderful tea party!
Causes of scale and its harm
The cause of deposits on the walls of the kettle are the salts contained in the water. The most unpleasant for dishes are calcium compounds. When water is heated, calcium carbonates (CaCO3) and magnesium carbonates (MgCO3) are formed. They settle to the bottom, walls and heating elements of the kettle in the form of a rough yellow-gray coating, which is called scale.
The intensity of the appearance of deposits depends on the “hardness” of the water (the level of mineral salts in it) - the higher it is, the faster plaque forms.
Note! Scale not only spoils the appearance of the dishes, but also reduces heat transfer - it takes more time to bring water to a boil. If the inside of the kettle is “dressed in a fur coat” with a thickness of only 1 mm, heat costs will increase by 10%!
The damage caused by scale in electric kettles is especially noticeable. By settling on heating elements, deposits contribute to their rapid failure. As a result, expensive equipment breaks down without using up its full service life.
If you ignore the appearance of scale in the kettle and continue to boil water in it, soon tea drinking will cease to bring joy and pleasure. And all because, along with the water, gray flakes - particles of salt deposits - will begin to fall into the tea cup. This “additive” can ruin not only the appearance of the drink, but also its taste.
Today, there are many ways to completely purify drinking water. But it is the content of microelements in it that makes water “alive”, since they are necessary for the normal functioning of various organs and systems of the body.
There is only one way to preserve the beneficial properties of water and solve the problem of scale - timely cleaning of dishes.
Is it possible to prevent scale formation?
Even when buying Lux water, you cannot completely forget about scale in the kettle.
To reduce this problem, the following conditions are recommended:
- Use filters when water comes from the central system. Manufacturers offer different installations. They are small in size and can be placed under the sink. Replacing inexpensive cassettes will not hit the family budget. A filter installed directly on the tap is economical and effective.
- Drain off the remaining boiled water. Otherwise, salts will continue to be deposited and the plaque layer will increase.
- Use fresh water each time you boil.
- Keep a separate soft sponge in the kitchen for daily cleaning of the kettle. Do this procedure at night.
- Change the removable block in the filter jug in a timely manner.
Why is the use of vinegar so effective in the fight against scale?
Many cleaning products contain organic acids, aromatic additives and other chemical compounds. All this is included in the price of the product.
In fact, the basis of descaling is the reaction of splitting magnesium and calcium salts. Vinegar copes with this task without any problems, and in small concentrations - the most popular are 6% and 9%.
Another reason why descaling a kettle with table vinegar shows excellent results is the liquid state of the cleaning agent. It penetrates into all hard-to-reach places, removing salt deposits.
In addition, vinegar has other advantages over most limescale removers. Among the main ones:
- availability;
- efficiency;
- efficiency;
- relative safety;
- ease of use.
Note! When used in the correct concentration, acetic acid does not damage the inside of the kettle and is easily washed off after use.
Basic methods for cleaning a kettle with vinegar
There are several ways to use vinegar to descale dishes. Some of them are aimed at preventing the formation of scale, others at removing old deposits.
The proposed recipes call for the use of the most popular 9% table vinegar. It is sold in most grocery stores. You can also get a similar product by diluting 1 part vinegar essence with 7 parts water.
Important! When handling concentrated acid, safety rules must be followed!
Classic way
- Fill the kettle with cold water and add vinegar at the rate of 100 ml per liter.
- Boil water, leave for 2-3 hours, and if heavily soiled, leave overnight.
- Then pour out the contents and clean the inner surface with a sponge, easily removing any loose deposits.
- Rinse well, fill with clean water, boil and drain again.
The kettle is ready to use!
How to choose the right method?
The models of modern teapots are varied: metal, glass, plastic. But they are all susceptible to scale formation and require regular or preventative cleaning.
Which method will be optimal for a particular type?
Electrical
If the electric kettle has a plastic body surface and a slight layer of scale, use the classic method without leaving the vinegar solution overnight.
Due to the fact that the heat-resistant polymers from which the bodies of electric kettles are made are resistant to solutions of acetic acid and baking soda, in some cases it is possible to use step-by-step cleaning.
Important! Using too much acetic acid solutions may damage the plastic surface and heating elements.
Glass
Glass-bodied teapots are filled with water, vinegar is added, boiled and left for 2-3 hours. Remaining scale is cleaned with a sponge. In case of persistent contamination, the procedure is repeated.
Stainless steel
Using vinegar, you can easily descale stainless steel kettles.
To do this, first pour in a soda solution and let it sit for a while. Then wipe the surface with a cloth or napkin soaked in a weak solution of acetic acid.
By the way, this method will allow you to clean the dishes not only inside, but also from the outside - from grease.
Brewing
Pour water into a fairly large saucepan, heat to a boil, remove from heat. Add vinegar and baking soda.
Carefully lower the teapot into the foaming solution, cover the pan with a lid, and leave for 30 minutes. This is enough to remove all plaque, including from the narrow nose.
Finally, rinse the kettle thoroughly.
We recommend reading: Vinegar and soda for cleaning pipes: 3 most effective methods
Enameled
The most traditional attribute in the kitchen requires careful handling. An attempt to remove scale mechanically leads to damage to the enamel and the appearance of corrosion. The water in such dishes is contaminated with heavy metal compounds, which are extremely harmful to health. Vinegar is ideal for removing scale from enamel containers. Any method can be used.
Note! It is better to pour cold water into a kettle that has already cooled down so that the enamel coating does not crack and lose its appearance.
How to descale a kettle with vinegar at home
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A little about prevention
Using vinegar to remove scale, you don’t have to worry about the problem of lime deposits. It is enough to follow simple rules:
- Before each use, rinse the kettle and add the required amount of fresh water to avoid repeated boiling.
- Clean the inner surface once a month, even if the sediment is insignificant.
- Use soft filtered water.
Additional information: When cleaning salt deposits with vinegar, persistent unpleasant odors are simultaneously removed.
Thanks to regular descaling using vinegar solutions, the kettle will look “like new” for a long time and its service life will be extended. After boiling, water does not lose its beneficial properties, maintaining the taste of hot drinks.
How often should you clean your kettle with vinegar?
Thick scale crusts make the water cloudy, create difficulties when boiling, which requires more energy, and lead to breakdowns of electric kettles.
To avoid negative consequences, it is recommended to carry out preventive cleaning. This way, limescale deposits will not accumulate, and light stains will be easier to remove.
The frequency of cleaning with vinegar is once a month, but if the water is very hard and plaque forms on the walls and bottom of the dishes faster, then you can clean it twice a month.
You can descale the inside of a kettle at home using vinegar and baking soda. The method using this liquid is accessible - the price of vinegar is not high, and it is easy to find in stores.
The effectiveness of the method is time-tested and removes dense layers of plaque. You can use apple cider vinegar for light stains. For medium and persistent crusts, use 9% and 70% liquid.
Also, do not forget about health safety - ventilate the room and tightly close bottles of vinegar.
The techniques for descaling a kettle with vinegar at home, the proportions and step-by-step instructions described in the article will help you deal with stains.
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