Kettle limescale will disappear in 15 minutes with 1 natural item that will amaze you

The bottom of kettles can become dirty due to limescale build up (Image: Getty)

Many of us forget that kettles need to be cleaned like all kitchen appliances, but it is incredibly easy to do, and it only takes a few minutes. 

Kettles should be cleaned regularly to remove limescale, a chalky sludge-like stain found in areas with water, as it is made up of minerals from water evaporation. 

Limescale is completely harmless, but if left at the bottom of your kettle, it can spoil your drinks and make your cup of tea taste bitter with slimy flakes floating in the mug.

However, Rachael Stilgoe, a natural cleaning expert and founder of Be a Shade Greener, has a simple way to remove any grim or limescale from the kettle without having to scrub it for ages. 

Rachael said: “I find that the best thing to remove limescale from a kettle is citric acid powder. 

Citric acid is cheap to buy and a natural way to clean kettles without scrubbing (Image: Getty)

“Citric acid powder is cheap, effective and so easy to use that it requires very little effort on your part. My kind of green cleaning! This homemade kettle descaler has just one ingredient.” 

Citric acid is found in citrus fruits like lemons or oranges and is an incredibly popular natural cleaner as it can quickly dissolve limescale. When citric acid comes into contact with minerals in limescale, such as calcium carbonate, it will react and begin to break it down. 

This is a safe way to clean your kettle without using a harsh chemical descaler, and it will leave no harmful residues. 

What is fantastic about citric acid is that it is not only eco-friendly and very effective but also cheap, as it can be found in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets.

Citric acid only costs £1.75 at Asda and Tesco, but it can also be found in hardware stores like B&Q, where it costs £2.25. 

It only takes 15 minutes to get your kettle sparkling clean again (Image: Getty)

How to use citric acid to descale your kettle

All you need to do is fill your kettle halfway with water and then bring it to a boil. 

Once the water has boiled, add one or two tablespoons of citric acid powder to your kettle. 

Leave the kettle alone for at least 15 to 20 minutes to give the citric acid time to break down the limescale. 

After the time is up, use a sponge or soft brush to gently wipe away the patches of limescale at the bottom of your kettle.

Rinse the kettle with cold water from the tap to remove the citric acid, and it should now be completely clean. 

You can now enjoy your favourite toasty beverage this holiday season without worrying about unsightly white flakes spoiling your drink.