If you have ever noticed strange stains at the bottom of your kettle then it is likely limescale and is incredibly easy to remove it in 10 minutes with the right cleaning solution.

Limescale is a harmless substance but important to clean it away as it can begin growing over the heating element, which will make it more difficult for the kettle to boil water and eventually break it.

What is annoying about limescale is that it is made up of minerals from evaporated water which means it will bond tightly to surfaces and can be difficult to get rid of without scrubbing for ages. 

However, Charlotte Diana Gray, a cleaning expert and founder of Ask Charlie How, has shared there is a simple method to “safely and effectively” clean the inside of the kettle without using a harsh chemical cleaning product. 

Charlotte said: “I’m going to show you how I de-limescale with the citric acid, a natural acid derived from citrus fruits.

“You can buy citric acid in the chemist, I buy in bulk because I make a lot of elderflower cordial and it is great for preserving, to stop mould and bacteria forming.”

Why use citric acid to remove limescale? 

Citric acid is a natural substance that comes from lemons, limes or oranges and is an incredibly effective way to clean a kettle since it reacts to the minerals limescale is made up of to then quickly dissolve them. 

The secret to getting rid of limescale is using an acidic substance so you could use simple white vinegar if you have any in your kitchen, but the only downside is that vinegar has a strong taste which can take a few rinses to completely remove it from your kettle. 

You can also use lemon juice if you wish but citric acid tends to be better at descaling kettles as it is a crystallised and stronger version of lemon juice so will be more potent at removing limescale. 

Citric acid can be found in the cleaning aisle of most supermarkets or hardware stores such as B&Q where it only costs £2.25.

How to descale a kettle

All you need to do is fill a kettle halfway, or just enough to cover the heating element, and then pour two heaped tablespoons of citric acid into the kettle as well. 

Boil the kettle and then leave it alone for 10 minutes to let the citric acid work to break down the limescale. 

Pour the water out of the kettle and give it a quick rinse, and your kettle will be completely clean.

If the limescale is particularly stubborn then you may need to reboil once more to get rid of any pesky leftover pieces. 

However, this is an easy and cheap way to clean your kettle without having to scrub or use a harsh chemical cleaning product.

Charlotte said: “I am always really thrilled with the results, it does such a brilliant job, is really good for the environment, and you’ve poured no nasties down the sink.

“I live in a hard water area so I do this every three months, but you can judge your frequency depending on how hard your water is."