Scale is detrimental to both the kettle and human health. And it doesn’t matter by what principle the water is heated, or what material the kettle is made of - scale forms on the walls and the heating part of the tank. It is impossible to prevent this process even with the help of various water filters, which can only slow down the intensity of sediment formation. But to ignore this problem is not worth it primarily because of the significant effect of scale on the body.
It is also able to disable electrical appliances, having low thermal conductivity, which entails overheating of the heating system. Among other things, scale increases the period of boiling water in a metal kettle and leads to unnecessary expenditure of time and energy. You can deal with this phenomenon in various ways, among which everyone will be able to choose the best option for themselves, how to remove scale in a teapot.
Ways to prevent scale
Everyone knows that it is always better to prevent a problem than to solve it later. Moreover, in the case of scum in a teapot, it is completely not difficult to do, adhering to elementary recommendations:
- The first rule to remember not only for the state of the kettle, but also for the good of your health is boiling water no more than once. Always use fresh water.
- The best option would be to use purchased purified water. Typically, in an urban water system, the level of salts and metals in water is several times higher than a safe indicator for health.
- To soften and purify the water, it is possible to use special filters that require regular replacement. But we must understand that such systems can only reduce the content of harmful substances in water, but not completely clean it.
- Silicon is also used to remove harmful substances from water. A few pieces of it are placed for a week in a small container with water, so if you use a large amount of liquid, this method will not be effective.
- Keep the kettle clean by washing it regularly with fresh water. She must not be allowed to stagnate in him.
- It is recommended that monthly deposits be prevented by diluting 1 tablespoon of citric acid in a full teapot of water and boiling it.
- If the region has very hard water, then regular preventative care for the kettle is required. To facilitate such work, it is better to purchase a plastic electric kettle, from which it is easier to descale than from a metal one.
Cleaning the enameled kettle with soda
Since this type of teapot is very versatile, which is why it has become widespread in our kitchens, many will be interested to know how to descale an enameled teapot.
One of the most common methods is soda cleaning. It is suitable not only for removing a thin layer of scale, but also for old deposits. First you need to boil a full teapot of clean water, and then add 3 tablespoons per liter of soda to it and continue to boil for about 40 minutes. If especially thick layers were formed in the teapot, then for certainty you can immediately boil water for 20 minutes with the addition of vinegar immediately after the first cleaning procedure. The last step will be easy cleaning of the walls of the kettle from thick deposits with a wooden spatula.
The use of vinegar when cleaning enameled and electric kettles
It is possible to remove scale in a teapot with vinegar, only this cleaning method is designed for an enameled surface with a slight layering. Water with the addition of vinegar in a proportion of 5 tablespoons per liter is boiled in a teapot for two hours. For best results, you can use vinegar essence, diluting it in water with a ratio of 1: 5. Boil such a solution takes no more than 40 minutes.
Table or apple cider vinegar can also be descaled in an electric kettle. It is necessary to collect an incomplete teapot of water, add 100 ml of vinegar there, heat the water strongly, but do not let it boil. As the water cools down, it is heated again, after which you can proceed to descaling. Usually, a lot of effort is not required, since the layers fall off on their own.
Peeling an enameled kettle with peel from apples and pears
To get rid of scale in the teapot in the summer season, peel from apples and pears is used. Enough to boil it for half an hour in a teapot, and not only deposits will disappear, but the enamel color will return to its former color.
Purification of metal and electric kettle with citric acid
Descaling from the kettle with citric acid (stainless steel appliance) is quick and easy. It is enough to pour one and a half liters of water into it, stir in it a 25 gram packet of citric acid, wait for the water to boil and keep it in a boiling state for about 3 minutes so that the acid can best react with the precipitate. If the latter managed to thoroughly eat into the surface, then the procedure must be repeated 2 or 3 times. When the kettle becomes clean, be sure to rinse it with fresh water and boil before use.
But citric acid, to remove scale from a teapot from a stainless steel, is suitable not only for metal appliances, but also for plastic electric kettles. Only in a slightly different way. In a teapot filled with water, citric acid is added in a ratio of 1 tbsp. spoon per liter, boil and let water cool. Do not completely fill the kettle with water, since the resulting solution will boil very strongly when boiling and begin to come out. After the water is drained, the kettle is washed. If the precipitate has not completely disappeared, the walls and spiral are wiped with a stiff sponge. In case of large deposits, the solution is recommended not to be drained, but left overnight. Final cleaning with a sponge can be done in the morning.
Descaling in a metal kettle with lemon
Lemon refers to a special method of how to effectively descale a kettle. It is advisable to apply it to metallic materials, since lemon has an aggressive effect, and not every material can safely withstand it. There is an opinion that in this way you can clean the electric kettle, but such actions will be performed at the peril and risk of the owner of the device. The method of such cleaning is simple: the lemon is cut into slices, placed in a kettle and poured into 2/3 of the water. After boiling, the lemon should be boiled for 30 minutes. Water drains only after complete cooling. The remnants of the scale are wiped with a sponge.
Special descalers
Of course, you can remove the scum in the kettle using folk methods, as well as special means. To choose such a tool is better as a general rule: the manufacturer must be known and have a good reputation. This method may not be budgetary, but here everyone has their own priorities.
The procedure for using such products is described on the packaging and usually has no difficulties: the composition of the package is poured into boiling water for a certain time, or is initially added to cold until boiling. The main thing is to observe the specified proportions and thoroughly rinse the kettle after cleaning. You must also understand that all chemical-based products are unsafe for the human body.
Combined descaling method in an electric kettle
This method is used when all previous methods have failed. The water in the kettle is diluted with 1 tablespoon of soda and boiled several times. If the coating does not disappear, then thoroughly soften. Then any of the above methods are used, such as descaling in a teapot. When using products with acid, it is important to add them before boiling water, and not after it. Gloves should also be used.
As a result, we see that in the existing methods of descaling in the kettle there is nothing complicated and costly. Therefore, each of us can easily monitor the state of his teapot, timely removing salt deposits that have appeared. The listed cleaning methods will help prevent premature failure of the kitchen appliance and avoid health problems.