The Easy Lemon Hack For Descaling Your Kettle

Sometimes, we neglect our countertop appliances, especially if they only hold water, like in the case of a water kettle. How dirty can it get, right? But just like your bathtub and sink tap, water can leave behind plenty of limescale on your kettle, too. Tap water holds many minerals, but calcium in particular leaves a pesky residue behind, better known as limescale. This mineral deposit can be a nightmare to clean if left over time, so it's important to regularly clean any surface where it might collect, such as inside your water kettle. 

While there are limescale removers that might be the best choice for things like showerheads, they're typically made of dangerous synthetic chemicals and aren't meant for cleaning household appliances. A nice eco-friendly alternative is vinegar, but vinegar is also chemically harsh and can damage the lining of your throat and lungs if inhaled in concentrated amounts, per the CDC. Further, vinegar can leave behind a noticeable odor and taste, both of which aren't ideal for a water kettle.

So, is there any solution to removing limescale from your water kettle besides relentless scrubbing? The answer is yes; consider using your citrus bowl as part of your cleaning arsenal — specifically, lemons.

Lemons can do more than just add some brightness to your salad dressing. With a pH of 2.5 out of a possible 14 (via SUNY College), lemons are highly acidic, ranking pretty much evenly with vinegar (pH = 3). However, unlike vinegar, lemons don't have a harsh odor or smell. In fact, you may even add a squeeze of lemon to your tea after it comes out of the kettle. So why not try cleaning your kettle with it?

To try it out, TikToker mama_mila_ demonstrates all you need to do is to boil a pot of water in your kettle, per usual, but with a few slices of lemon in it. The acidity of the lemon will help to break down the alkaline calcium clouding the bottom of your kettle. To eliminate the lemony smell and taste, just give the kettle a rinse and fill it again with water, bring it to a boil, and dispose of the water again.

When you see how well lemons work at descaling the inside of your water kettle, you may be tempted to toss out all of the cleaners in your cabinet. But don't go there just yet. Lemons are great cleaning components — they're affordable, they're usually already in your fridge or on your countertop, and you don't have to worry about little ones being exposed to their fumes. However, as Clean Heart Maids notes, lemons aren't a disinfectant. 

To truly sanitize a surface, or tackle things like mold and mildew, you'll want to keep the bleach and antibacterial products handy. Still, while they may not be able to replace all of your cleaners, lemons are fantastic natural cleaners, and can help you to tackle plenty of tough cleaning jobs without having to gear up with protective equipment. The next time you notice limescale building up on your sink tap or bathroom drain, consider reaching for a lemon.