The majority of British households will use a kettle every day – often multiple times a day.
However, what most people don’t realise is that limescale quickly forms inside kettles.
Since most kettles are not transparent, it can be difficult to spot it, so many people may not even realise it’s there.
While limescale is not harmful or dangerous for humans to consume, there are some reasons why households wouldn’t want to have this substance sitting at the bottom of this appliance.
In addition to being unsightly, limescale can cause a kettle to corrode over time. This means that the kettle will have a shorter lifespan, resulting in the need to buy a new kettle sooner.

vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
With this in mind, cleaning expert Sarah Dempsey at MyJobQuote.co.uk has created this guide on the best way to descale a kettle. The great thing is it’s an “incredibly cheap and easy method”.
She claimed: “Limescale can affect your kettle’s efficiency and may make it take longer to boil. It’s a good idea to aim to descale your kettle once every few months.
“This method highlights the best way to descale your kettle. It’s super quick and easy and won’t break the bank.”
Sarah claimed that “the best way to descale a kettle” is with “one simple ingredient” – distilled white vinegar. She said: “It’s cheap to buy, and the process is incredibly simple.”
Start by filling the kettle with half water and half distilled white vinegar. Turn the kettle on and allow it to boil. Pour all of the water and vinegar out.
Fill the kettle with just water this time and then boil again (this will remove any lingering vinegar). Empty the kettle and inspect it for any remaining limescale. If there is still some limescale remaining after this process, simply repeat the process.
After following this method, it’s a good idea to turn on the extractor fan and open the doors and windows. When you boil the vinegar, it will produce a pungent vinegar steam.
This method is very quick and easy and doesn’t require any specialist products. Plus, it’s free from any chemicals, so it’s a very clean and green way to descale a kettle.
Express.co.uk also tested out white vinegar to descale a kettle and it worked very well.
There are several other methods for descaling a kettle. For example, households could purchase a descaling kit designed to tackle this problem, or they can use baking soda for descaling.
However, bicarbonate of soda is not always an effective solution for large build-ups, and descaling kits can cost more than vinegar and will take longer to remove the limescale.