Your kettle is an important kitchen solution, it boils the water for tea brewing and other foods. However, you want to know how to descale a kettle with lemon because limescale builds up with time.

To descale a kettle with lemon, mix lemon juice with water and bring to a boil. Allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes or overnight for the lemon juice to dissolve limescale. Pour out the kettle content and bring the kettle to boil again with ordinary water. Rinse it thoroughly.

When limescale builds up in your kettle, it changes the water flavor, and sometimes produces a different smell. If you brew tea with your kettle without descaling it, you will not get the desired flavor.

What Causes Limescale in Your Kettle

The tap water you use contains aluminum, chlorine, calcium, magnesium salts, and even pesticides. This eventually builds up in your kettle, making your water or meal taste differently.

You will think that the HEPA filter in your water source or kettle can keep limescale away. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Filtration does not remove all water impurities, so scale builds up inside your kettle.

When you boil water in the kettle, the heating element and kettle walls attract salt. You will even pour some of it into your cup which is not healthy for you.

Merely scrubbing your kettle to descale it will not be effective, you need something acidic like lemon. Lemon is also natural and does not damage the kettle or make subsequent water unsafe for drinking.

How Does Lemon Descaling Kettle Work?

Normally, using harsh chemical solutions is not safe when descaling a kettle. A mild natural remedy like lemon is safe and also effective. It contains acid that breaks down limescale from the kettle walls. These scales become readily soluble and can be poured or rinsed out.

First, you will mix the lemon with water and bring it to a boil. After the mixture rests and becomes cool, you pour it out, you are also getting rid of the scales.

Some solutions can contaminate your electric kettle after descaling with them. Lemon juice is perfectly safe.

Lemon juice also works like some strong descaling solutions or formulations. However, lemon juice is obtained from fresh lemon which has less acid concentration. You can also use lemon peel for cleaning your electric kettle.

How to Descale a Kettle with Lemon

Again, descaling your kettle with lemon juice is natural and safe. Its acidic content is mild compared to some harsh chemicals.

Below are the steps to descale a kettle with lemon:

1. Disconnect your kettle from its power source

The first thing you want to do is to disconnect your electric kettle from the power source. Do not start the process while your kettle is plugged in to avoid electric shocks.

2. Mix the lemon with water

• Lemon juice. Get the lemon ready, cut, and squeeze it into two halves to obtain lemon juice. The lemon juice is mildly acidic for descaling your kettle. You need about 30g of lemon juice in your kettle. After squeezing the juice inside your kettle, use the halves of the lemon to rub the interior of the kettle. This should get rid of hard water residues or stains. Shred or cut the lemon into smaller pieces and add them to the kettle.
• Water. Add about 500ml of water to the kettle without filling it to the top. You only want the water mixture with the lemon juice to be enough to cover the elements at the bottom. You can fill the kettle halfway.

3. Bring the mixture to a boil

Your mixture is now lemon water. Bring it to a boil for the acid to get to work faster. The water should reach boiling level depending on the heating speed or wattage of your kettle.

Turn off the kettle, disconnect it from the power source and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight so that the lemon juice can dissolve the limescale. Leaving it overnight is preferable for the acid to remove all limescale.

4. Pour the mixture and scrub

After the mixture sits till cool, pour it out and scrub your kettle interior with a soft sponge. Scrub gently to avoid scratching your kettle or damaging any part.

Rinse the kettle with cool water to get rid of residues from scrubbing the kettle.

5. Bring your kettle to boil again

This time, you add ordinary water to your kettle. Let the water reach boiling temperatures to remove leftover scale.

Again, rinse the kettle. You can rinse the kettle at least 4 times to get rid of the lemon taste. This is not good for your tea or any meal you will prepare with the kettle water.

Finally, ensure the exterior parts of your kettle is dry. Stop water from contacting the heating element at the bottom.

You do not also want to boil with your kettle while the exterior is wet. Use a damp cloth or microfiber fabric to wipe the outside of your kettle.

The Roman Electric Co. confirms that water and electricity make a dangerous combination, water has extremely conductive ions which can cause electric shock. This can also ruin your kettle.

Descale a Kettle With Lemon Tips

• Clean your kettle filter. Limescale can stick to the filter of your kettle. You can soak it in water mixed with lemon juice to loosen or dissolve it for approximately 20 minutes. Scrub it gently, rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry before replacing it in the kettle.
• Avoid the heating element. You may be tempted to clean the heating element but do not. Avoid scrubbing the kettle heating element, ensure to keep water from it as much as possible.
• Clean regularly. Regular cleaning can keep limescale from building up in your kettle. This means your tea and other foods do not have different flavors.
• Do not store water in your kettle. When not using water, ensure to pour it out of your kettle. Storing water in your kettle for too long does not only result in limescale but also bacteria can find a way inside.

Final Thoughts

Descaling your kettle is helpful, especially if you use a natural cleaning remedy such as lemon.

Apart from removing limescale, lemon juice produces a refreshing and pleasant smell in your kettle. The water is also safe for consumption by adults, children, and pets.

Meanwhile, removing scales from your kettle is also possible with vinegar.