How to clean an electric kettle with lemon juice
An electric kettle is one of the cheapest, fastest and safest methods of boiling water. They are designed to be safe to use with helpful features like stay-cool handles and the ability to automatically shut off once your water boils. Also, there is no open flame or exposed surface that can get very hot, which is typical of the traditional stovetop kettle. However, they will need a regular cleaning schedule to help maintain their full operating performance.
The process of descaling a ready-to-use container of liquid, such as a kettle, is relatively straightforward. Although it is possible to descale the surface of the kettle, the scraping process is likely to damage the finish. For this reason, it is more practical to take a slow approach and use a mild acid to dissolve the limescale.
How to remove limescale
First, the kettle must be filled halfway with a mild acid such as lemon juice and topped up with plain water. This is a very effective descaling agent that can prevent and remove limescale buildup. Once the solution is poured into the kettle, it should be left on for at least 7 hours or simply left overnight.
After letting the acid do its work, empty the kettle and give it a good rinse under several changes of cold water. This is the first step to removing any traces of lemon juice, which probably doesn’t taste good with your coffee.
The kettle must be completely dry before plugging it in and boiling water again. Take care to keep connectors and electrical parts dry during cleaning. Also, to further minimize the risk of any aftertaste, refill the kettle with tap water to the limit and boil and pour at least two or three times.
Other helpful acids that can be used if lemon juice is not available at home include clear vinegar, malt vinegar, baking soda, and citric acid.
Also, this simple method of descaling a kettle can be just as effective on other small kitchen appliances, such as a coffee maker. When cleaning a coffee pot, you will need to fill the water compartment with an equal mixture of lemon juice and water. Rather than simply letting the solution work, it is more effective to let the appliance do a single brewing process. After a full cycle is complete, rinse the coffeemaker by repeating the process under running water only. Do this at least twice to make sure there is no aftertaste left.
