Why should you clean your kettle?

Cleaning your kettle isn’t just about looks – it’s about making sure every cuppa tastes as good as it should.

When you heat water in a kettle, it leaves behind calcium deposits from the natural minerals in your water. These mineral deposits, or limescale, build up over time. How much builds up depends on your water quality. 

This limescale buildup affects the taste and can impact your kettle’s efficiency. What does that mean exactly? You may end up with a slightly metallic taste to your boiled water, and it might take longer to boil, so it uses more energy. 

Don’t worry. We’re here to help. Regular cleaning and descaling with simple items like vinegar or lemon juice will keep your kettle in top shape, prevent damage, and even extend its lifespan.

Vinegar’s acetic acid content makes it a highly effective cleaning agent. It quickly dissolves mineral deposits in your kettle, and it's a strong, natural cleaner that’s easy to find and use. 

To clean the inside of your kettle with vinegar, follow these four simple steps.

1. Mix the solution. Fill your kettle halfway with equal parts water and white vinegar.
2. Boil. Turn on the kettle and let the solution come to a full boil.
3. Soak. Turn off the kettle and let the vinegar solution sit for 15-20 minutes. This will help break down the beginning of any limescale inside.
4. Rinse. Pour out the solution, rinse the kettle thoroughly with fresh water, and boil another batch of clean water to remove any remaining vinegar taste.

This quick clean keeps your kettle running efficiently and your drinks tasting fresh.

How to clean your kettle with bicarb soda

Bicarb soda is your gentle scrubbing buddy – tough on stains, easy on your kettle. It's not acidic, so it's great for avoiding vinegar and effectively removes light stains and odours. Here's how to clean the inside of your kettle with bicarb soda.

1. Prepare the solution. Add 1-2 tablespoons of bicarb soda to the kettle and fill it halfway with water.
2. Stir and soak. Stir the mixture to dissolve the bicarb soda, then let it sit for 20-30 minutes to break down buildup.
3. Scrub gently. Use a soft brush or cloth to scrub the inside of the kettle, paying attention to areas with more buildup.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Empty the kettle and rinse well with clean water, then boil fresh water once or twice to ensure all residue is gone.

This method is a gentle, non-acidic way to keep your kettle clean.

How to clean your kettle with lemon juice or citric acid

Lemon juice and citric acid are naturally acidic – they’ll break down limescale efficiently and leave a fresh scent compared to vinegar. Citric acid is particularly powerful for stubborn buildup. 

Here's how to clean your kettle with lemon juice or citric acid. (And yes, it’s just four simple steps again.)

1. Prepare the solution. Fill your kettle halfway with water, then add 1-2 tablespoons of citric acid powder or half a cup of lemon juice.
2. Boil. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn off the kettle.
3. Soak. Let the solution sit for 15-20 minutes to allow the acidity to break down limescale.
4. Scrub and rinse. Scrub any remaining residue with a soft brush, then rinse the kettle thoroughly with fresh water. Boil a full kettle of water once or twice to clear any leftover taste.

Your kettle will be fresh, clean, and ready to go.

How to clean a kettle’s exterior

There are two ways we recommend you clean the exterior of your kettle. You can use dishwashing liquid or olive oil and a soft cloth (microfibre is best). Just make sure you don’t scratch the finish when you clean marks off the outside.

Cleaning the outside with dishwashing liquid

Here's a quick and easy way to keep your kettle gleaming, using something most of us have under the sink – dishwashing liquid.

1. Get sudsy. Mix up some hot water with a dash of dish soap. 
2. Wipe it down. Grab a soft cloth or sponge and give the outside a good wipe. Focus on any smudges or spots.
3. Rinse. Wipe off the soap with a clean, damp cloth.
4. Buff. Use a dry microfibre cloth to buff the surface, preventing streaks and water spots.

Voila! Your kettle’s looking as good as new, ready for its next pour.

Cleaning the exterior with olive oil

Here’s how to use olive oil to give your stainless steel kettle a polished look.

1. Start clean. Make sure the kettle is clean and dry from any prior cleaning – oil and water don't mix.
2. Apply a tiny amount. Put a few drops of olive oil on a soft cloth or paper towel.
3. Buff gently. Rub the oil onto the kettle’s surface in small circular motions, focusing on stainless steel or chrome areas.
4. Wipe off excess. Use a clean, dry cloth to buff the kettle, removing any extra oil and leaving a nice shine.

There’s one more thing: you should descale your kettle every few months, or even more often if you're getting significant buildup.

Why do you need to descale a kettle?

Like regular cleaning, descaling or decalcifying your kettle is essential to remove limescale, a chalky deposit formed by minerals in hard water. 

Over time, this buildup can affect the efficiency of your kettle. It might taste slightly metallic and take longer to boil. Regular descaling keeps your kettle running smoothly, makes it more energy-efficient, and keeps your hot drinks tasting great.

How to decalcify a kettle

Descaling your kettle is very similar to cleaning the inside of it – it’s just a bit more intensive. Thankfully, it’s still just as simple.

Descale your kettle with bicarb soda

 Here’s how to descale your kettle using bicarb soda.

1. Mix. Add 1 teaspoon of bicarb soda to 500 ml of water and stir until dissolved.
2. Boil. Pour the solution into the kettle and bring it to a boil.
3. Soak. Let the solution sit in the kettle for at least an hour to loosen any light scale.
4. Scrub and rinse. Use a soft brush to scrub any remaining residue, then rinse thoroughly with fresh water.

This method is gentle but is only suitable for light descaling and regular maintenance. If you’ve got a heavy limescale buildup or it’s been a long time since you cleaned, you should use vinegar instead.

Descale your kettle with vinegar

Here's how to use vinegar and water to deep clean and descale your kettle.

1. Prepare the solution. Fill the kettle halfway with equal parts water and white vinegar.
2. Boil. Turn on the kettle and let the solution come to a full boil.
3. Soak. Turn off the kettle and let the vinegar solution sit overnight to break down the limescale.
4. Rinse thoroughly. In the morning, pour out the solution, rinse the kettle several times with fresh water, and boil a full kettle of clean water once or twice to remove any vinegar residue.

This method effectively removes limescale and keeps your kettle running efficiently.

Descale your kettle with a commercial descaler

You can also buy commercial descaling solutions. Make sure to follow the specified steps on the packaging, but it is essentially the same process: mix, boil, soak, rinse.

Now you know how to clean a kettle, have you thought about how often you should do it?

How often to clean your kettle

Looking after your kettle’s no big deal – we’re all about small, easy steps. A quick weekly wipe of the outside while your tea’s brewing keeps it fresh, and a good descale every few months will keep it running smoothly.

Having said that, you’ll need to adjust the frequency if you use your kettle frequently or notice more buildup. Just keep an eye on your kettle, and you’ll know when it’s time for a bit of TLC. 

Recap: How to clean a kettle

That’s quite a lot of info. It’s actually very simple, though. Choose your cleaning agent (we recommend vinegar, bicarb soda, lemon juice or citric acid), boil it with water in your kettle, let it soak and rinse it out. It doesn’t take a lot to keep your most-used appliance running well.

FAQ

Does boiling vinegar clean a kettle?

Yes. Boiling vinegar in a kettle is an effective way to clean and descale it. The acetic acid in vinegar helps dissolve limescale and mineral deposits inside the kettle. After boiling, let it sit for 15-20 minutes (or overnight for a heavy descale) then rinse thoroughly with water.

What dissolves limescale in a kettle?

Limescale in a kettle can be dissolved using acidic solutions like white vinegar, lemon juice, or commercial descalers. These acids break down the mineral deposits that form limescale, making it easier to rinse away. Regular descaling helps maintain your kettle’s efficiency and prevents buildup.

How do you clean inside a kettle?

To clean the inside of a kettle, you can use a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar, then boil and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. After that, rinse thoroughly with fresh water and boil a full kettle of water once or twice to remove any vinegar residue. Alternatively, you can use lemon juice or a baking soda solution for lighter cleaning.