While there’s countless chemical kettle descalers available in supermarkets, cleaning gurus claim this household item works like a charm to transform your appliance
There’s nothing that ruins a cup of tea quite like a kettle plagued with limescale. Albeit tasteless, the chalky substance forms a layer of scum on the top of beverages that isn’t exactly pleasant.
But don’t worry, cleaning gurus may just have you covered with a quick trick that involves something you might find in the kitchen cupboard.
You may be surprised to know the magic item is simply citric acid – the compound derived from lemons that’s often used in the likes of lemon cake and even lemonade. According to The Express, this was recommended by the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group, after a troubled user needed some advice.
One cleaning fan wrote: “I need kettle descale ideas please. I’ve tried Oust, lemons and lemon juice. None of which are tough enough for the job.
“They remove about 50 percent, if that. I use my kettle a lot so any suggestions to keep the limescale to a minimum would be great too.”
While a variety of powerful chemical kettle descalers can be found in supermarkets, users of the Facebook group were quick to recommend natural methods as an alternative to this.
One woman shared: “I used to always buy the descaling sachets from Wilko, but someone on here suggested using citric acid as a cheaper and more effective way and I’ve never looked back”
Meanwhile, another user wrote: “Citric acid after kettle has been boiled, leave for an hour or so if bad. You’ll get incredible results.”
This isn’t the first time citric acid has been recommended in the group either, with some users even suggesting it can be used to clean washing machines.
In January, one woman wrote: “I always leave door open for a few hours and remove the dispenser drawer to let it dry out too never had a problem with smell with any of my machines.I’ve only had four machines since the early seventies number four is the latest one soda crystals, white vinegar instead of conditioner and door left open jobs a good’un.”
Another commenter echoed this, saying: “Don’t close the door on a wet washing machine drum. Let it air dry first and the rubber seals will last years.”
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.
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