If you’ve noticed gray scaly bits in your kettle, then it’s time to give it some attention. If you live in a hard water area, you will know what I’m talking about. It can be a never-ending battle to keep it scale-free.
As a tea drinker, I’m pretty sensitive to this because it actually changes the taste of the tea, and who wants gritty bits in the bottom of the cup?
Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy way to fix it, and all you need is some vinegar.
Don’t have any vinegar on hand? Here’s how to do it just as well with a lemon. (In fact, this is my preferred option)
Heads up: I sometimes use affiliate links. When you click these links and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. It won't cost you anything but it helps me to run this site.
Why descale your kettle?
Descaling means removing mineral deposits that build up over time in appliances like kettles and steam irons. These deposits, often called limescale, mainly come from calcium and magnesium in water.
When you heat water, these minerals turn into a hard, chalky substance.
This build-up can affect how well your kettle works. You might notice that your kettle takes longer to boil, thus using more energy.
So keeping it free of scale is going to help you save money on your electric bill.
Why vinegar is great for descaling your kettle
Vinegar is effective because of its acidity. This acidity helps break down and dissolve limescale. I recommend using distilled white vinegar because it usually has a higher acid level, and so is more effective at dissolving limescale.
Using vinegar for descaling is not only easy, but also inexpensive. Most of us already have vinegar at home.
Often, preparatory cleaners can tarnish the taste of your hot drink after using them.
How to descale your kettle with vinegar
Before you start:
- Always unplug the kettle and never boil it during the cleaning process.
- If the kettle has been recently used, let it cool down completely.
- Take care when handling vinegar, especially if you have sensitive skin. Use gloves to keep your hands protected. Have a towel ready to wipe up any spills, too.
- Make sure to open a window or switch on your extractor fan. Vinegar can smell quite a bit!
Things you will need:

- Distilled white vinegar. This breaks down limescale.
- Water. You’ll need to dilute the vinegar.
- Measuring jug. For mixing water and vinegar in the right amounts.
- Cloth or sponge. For wiping the kettle down after descaling.
- Rubber gloves. For protection
Distilled white vinegar is the best kind to use for descaling your kettle, it’s cheap and colorless and usually has higher acidity. However, you could use any kind of vinegar for this.
Step 1: Make your cleaning mixture
- Fill the kettle with water. Ensure the water covers all the limescale deposits.
- Pour all the water into a measuring jug and then pour half of it away, replacing what you took away with distilled white vinegar.
- Stir to combine.
- Pour the vinegar and water mix into your kettle.
If you have a heavily scaled up kettle, you might want to use a bit more vinegar.
Step 2: Allow the vinegar solution to sit
- Let the vinegar solution sit in the kettle for at least 20 minutes.
- Stir from time to time.
- Do not boil it as it will fizz and overflow!
- If your kettle was quite scaled, let it sit for a bit longer, even up to an hour.
Step 3: Rinse
Once you’ve let the vinegar solution work its magic, it’s time to rinse.
You’ll want to ensure that any vinegar taste and smell are gone before you use it again.
- Empty the vinegar solution.
- Rinse with fresh water.
- Refill the kettle with fresh water up to the maximum mark and boil.
- Repeat this a couple more times until there is no smell.
How to keep your kettle scale-free
Now you have a super-clean kettle, you will want to keep it that way!
Here’s how you can keep your kettle in top shape:
- Use filtered water: If you filter your water instead of using it straight from the tap, your drink will not only taste better, but it will also protect the kettle from limescale buildup.
- Weekly Rinse: Fill the kettle with a mix of half water and half white vinegar. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse well before using it again. You can also do this with a lemon if you have one spare. Simply cut it up into chunks and boil it in the kettle, let it sit for 20 minutes and then rinse.