How often should you descale a kettle?
About every two months, monthly where the water is hard and every three where it is soft. Sooner if the kettle takes longer than it used to, rattles, or leaves white flakes in your cup.
How to tell it is time
Limescale builds up quietly. The first sign is usually the noise: a kettle with a furred element rattles and takes noticeably longer to boil. Then come the white flakes on the water's surface and a chalky ring at the bottom. If you can see a crust on the element, you are already late.
Why it matters
Scale sits between the element and the water, so the kettle burns more electricity for the same cup of tea. It also shortens the kettle's life: elements that run hot fail early. And it eventually flakes into the water, which is harmless but unpleasant.
How to do it
- Fill the kettle halfway with equal parts water and white vinegar, or use a tablespoon of citric acid per litre of water.
- Boil it, then switch it off and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Pour it away, then rinse well, twice.
- Boil a full kettle of clean water and throw that away too, so nothing tastes of vinegar.
How to make it happen less often
Empty the kettle after use rather than leaving water standing, and fill it only with what you need. In a hard-water area, a filter jug cuts the scale noticeably, though the jug then wants a new cartridge every month.
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