How to clean the kettle of scale: only with citric acid or is there other means?

In most settlements, tap water contains many impurities, especially calcium and magnesium salts. During boiling, they form an insoluble precipitate. Therefore, an unpleasant coating is often formed inside the kettle - scum. These salts pass into an insoluble form and are deposited on its bottom, walls and heating elements. Because of the scale, the taste of water deteriorates, small pieces of it get into the tea and spoil its appearance and our health. For an electric appliance, it is even more harmful, because because of the deposition of salts it lasts longer and breaks faster. Most housewives know how to clean the kettle from scale with citric acid, but there are several other ways.

What are the cleaning methods based on?

It is very unpleasant, when when adding water from the kettle to you yellow cups of scales fall into the cup. And it is formed, even if you use filtered water, because the filtration does not purify it from the salts of calcium and magnesium. Over time, their insoluble forms corrode enamel or plastic walls of the kettle. Because of the scale, the time of its boiling is greatly increased. Therefore, it is necessary to fight it regularly: so it will be easier to remove it than a thick layer.

All methods of cleaning the kettle are based on the fact that the scale is the deposition of salts. To remove them use acids. They react with salts and convert them into a soluble form. Many people know how to clean the kettle from scale with citric acid. This method is based precisely on this property of chemicals. Now, the means for descaling are being sold, some are using them, because it's easier. Pour the product out of the sachet into the water and boil it. You can clean the enameled kettle from scale in this way at a time. But many do not like that there may be traces of chemicals on the walls, so they prefer to use folk methods.

How to clean the kettle from scale with citric acid

This is the most common and known way to keep your heating device in order. You just need to pour a bag of citric acid into the kettle and boil the water for 5-10 minutes. Then leave this solution for half an hour. Many leave the kettle with citric acid for the night if the scale is very thick.

How to properly grow this remedy? For a normal two-liter kettle, take 1-2 packets of acid (or 2 tablespoons with a slide). You can also use lemon juice, squeezing it out of 1-2 fruits. After the boiled solution has cooled down, the water must be drained, only not in the sink, as it can be clogged with flakes of scale. Remains of plaque are easily cleaned with a sponge. If the precipitate is very thick, the procedure must be repeated.

Cleaning the kettle with citric acid is a very simple and cheap method. So it is easy to even clean the electric kettle from scale. But not everyone uses this method, because a concentrated acid solution can be dangerous for the metal, causing it to corrode. There are a few simple and safe methods.

The way our grandmothers

For a long time women have cleaned dishes with soda. It was also used to clean the kettle from scale. Soda not only mechanically gently removes plaque, but also softens the sediment. Along with citric acid this is one of the safest ways. After all, even if you do not wash your kettle and the remnants of the money will get to you in tea - it's unpleasant, but it will not do you any harm. Often these two funds are used together. So much more effectively removes the old thick sediment.

How do I clean the kettle with soda? Dissolve a couple of tablespoons in water and simmer for half an hour. After the kettle has cooled, boil it again. Draining the water, you will see that the scum became friable. If you can not remove it with a sponge, you can still boil water with citric acid, so remove the most difficult to remove deposits.

Other folk methods of combating scum

1. Boil in the kettle for an hour, potato peelings, apple peel or cut lemon.
2. Instead of water pour in a bowl of pickles from cucumbers or tomatoes and boil for at least an hour.
3. An hour and a half boil in a teapot such a solution: two glasses of water, three glasses of crushed chalk and a glass of ammonia and laundry soap.

How to clean the kettle with acid

But more often than not, modern housewives use acids to remove salt deposits. After all, all folk remedies are not suitable for electric kettles.

Such solutions boil for a long time, but it will be constantly switched off. Therefore, it is best to clean the kettle of scale with vinegar. To do this, pour two thirds of the water, topping up the table vinegar. This solution must be brought to a boil and cooled. The scum should dissolve without a trace, but if its pieces are left, the procedure can be repeated.

Recently, many housewives use "Coca-Cola" or "Phantom" instead of vinegar. In these drinks, too, there is an acid that dissolves the precipitate. The peculiarity of this method is that you only need to pour half the teapot, and before that completely remove the gases from the drink. In addition, when boiling on the walls of the dishes can remain traces of dyes, so it is better to take a colorless soda, for example, "Sprite".

How to properly clean the kettle from scale

1. After using any method, the dishes should be thoroughly rinsed, so that there are no traces of solution left on the walls. It would be good to boil pure water in it and pour it.
2. When cleaning an electric kettle, do not make a highly concentrated acid solution, which can corrode the plastic walls and heating elements.
3. Do not forget to warn your family members that they do not drink tea at this time, because instead of water they can pour acid into the cup.

Many housewives have long known how to clean the kettle from scale with citric acid. But it turns out, there are many other cheap and reliable ways to do this easily.