How To Clean An Electric Kettle
Appliances as simple as kettles shock us with how multipurpose they are! Need boiling water quickly for tea, coffee or even instant noodles, soups or pastas? Head straight to your kettle!
Assisting so many tasks can get a bit messy; especially because of dirt building up. Here's how to clean your kettle to have it function at peak efficiency!
We're going to use the term 'descale' a lot throughout, but what does it even mean? 'Descaling' simply means removing a layer or a coating. 'Descaling a kettle' means removing a layer of any hard mineral build-up.
Why Does Your Electric Kettle Get Scaly?
Drinking water does contain a considerable amount of minerals. These get left behind in the electric kettle falling at its bottom and emerging as white scales. When you reside in an area that has water with loads of minerals, descaling or cleaning electric kettle becomes an obvious chore to complete at regular intervals. Otherwise, these scales crud up the kettle's heating element over time, leaving it inefficient for functioning.
Essential Tools And Supplies To Clean Up An Electric Kettle
Here is a list of the essential tools and supplies that you need to clean an electric kettle:
- Dry cleaning towel- Water without minerals
- Non-abrasive sponge
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Non-abrasive Dish Soap
Electric kettles are a piece of game-changing equipment in the kitchen, helping you with quick boils when in a hurry. That is why taking care of the same at regular intervals is important. The tools mentioned above will ensure the best results, but you will also have to go through the right cleaning techniques discussed in the rest of the article.
How to clean an electric kettle? Complete guide
#BorosilTip: Descale your kettles at least 4 times a year (depending upon usage) to clean up hard mineral build-up.
Descale with Lemon Juice
To descale your electric kettle, mix lemon juice and water in a 1:1 ratio to form a solution. Bring this solution to a boil in the kettle and allow it to cool for 20 minutes before you dispose of the liquid away. This successfully descales your kettle.
Descale with Vinegar
Mix a solution of water and distilled white vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. Bring that solution to a boil in your electric kettle. Let the solution sit inside for 20 minutes before pouring it down the drain. Your kettle will be successfully descaled.
Add Baking Soda
Baking soda comes third on the list to clean up your electric kettle with essentials readily available in the kitchen. If you are wondering, “How to wash electric kettle using baking soda?” Then continue accordingly - Take a tablespoon of baking soda, mix it with water, and leave the solution inside the kettle to boil. Once the boiling process is complete, leave the kettle with the solution intact for 10 to 15 minutes. Now, use a soft brush to scrub off the mineral deposit inside the appliance and pour out the solution. Then after, clean the kettle using regular tap water.
Clean the Filter
Before anything, make sure your kettle is turned off. If it has a water filter, clean it by following the manufacturer's instructions. You can soak it in the same mixture mentioned above with vinegar. Soak for at least 5 minutes and then scrub off any dirt. If your filter is at its wit's end, consider having it replaced.
Clean the Interior
Use a soft sponge, or a brush to gently scrub the interior of your kettle.
Dipping the sponge or brush in vinegar will help loosen mineral build-up if any.
#BorosilTip: Pay attention to the spout of your kettle. That's where the heaviest build-up is accumulated.
Clean the Exterior
Wipe down the exterior with a sponge dipped in a solution of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap. This will help in gently scrubbing out any stains or spots that may have racked up during usage.
NEVER fully submerge your kettle in water as that will damage your heating element.
Reassembly
Now that all parts are cleaned, you can reassemble your kettle and run a quick rinse to get rid of any cleaning solutions or loose minerals!
With a clean kettle atyour hands, run it up to enjoy a hot cup of tea. Relish your chai-time with some delicious keema samosas to give it some company!
Some Additional Tips On How To Clean Electric Kettle Inside?
Moving on, here are some extra tips that will ease out your cleanup procedure:
- Disconnect the electric kettle from the power outlet and let it completely cool down before you start cleaning. Also, ensure not to immerse an electric kettle's power cord or base in the water while cleaning it.- Check if your electric kettle comes with a filter. If it does, remove the filter before cleaning the appliance. Put the filter under water separately. Once it is clean, you must wipe it with a clean and dry cloth.
- Doesn’t matter whether your electric kettle is made of glass, stainless steel, or ceramic. The cleaning process is similar across all kettle types.
- When cleaning the kettle for the first time, let your cleansing solution - made of vinegar, citric acid, lemon, or baking soda, sit in the kettle for the whole night. - Rinse the kettle the next morning for a brand-new effect.
- Most manufacturers will tell you only to use an electric kettle when boiling water. Also, they suggest not using dishwashing liquids and abrasive brushes to clean the kettle from the inside.
How To Clean Electric Kettle From The Outside?
When the electric kettle is kept in your kitchen and subject to oil, sauce, and cooking fumes, cleaning the exteriors is also important. For an electric kettle made of stainless steel or borosilicate glass, use one of the following remedies to get a squeaky-clean finish:
Use Dish Soap
You can use a non-abrasive detergent solution to wash the kettle’s body. Wash off the outside with the solution or dish soap. Make sure the water splashes do not reach inside the kettle under any circumstances. Once done, use a dry towel to remove the extra water from the kettle’s body.
Clean With Olive Oil
Olive oil is an excellent cleaning solution for the electric kettle’s exteriors. Also, it is known to help with a polishing effect. You must dab a spoonful of olive oil over a soft microfibre cloth. Now, rub it gently on the body of the kettle. Within a few rubs, you will notice a lustrous shine. Do not use an abrasive sponge or cloth, which can cause scratches.
How Can You Minimise The Frequency Of Scaling In A Kettle?
While decalcifying an electric kettle is quite a concrete plan, you can install a filter for your water supply to reduce the scaling rate. The filter will act as a barrier eliminating the constant flow of minerals with water whenever you use the kettle.
There is no proper evidence that the chalky lime settlements in a kettle are harmful to human health. But in the long run, it particularly affects the taste of water and leaves chalky build-up floating on your beverage.
Conclusion
Now that you have understood how to clean an electric kettle, investing in one would be the right choice, but make sure to descale or cleanse regularly to amplify the longevity of the same. As mentioned above, each kettle is unique, so ensure you follow the right steps. And not exposing the appliance to a direct stream of water under any circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to clean an electric kettle made of borosilicate glass body and remove stubborn limescale?Borosilicate kettles are tougher than ordinary glasses and never disappoint when used regularly. So while cleaning, pour a cup of vinegar mixed with water inside the kettle and let it boil for five minutes. Then wipe the interior with baking soda. Continue like this till the water scale marks are no longer visible.
2. How often should someone descale an electric kettle?
Usually, each electric kettle appliance is unique on its own, and you should follow the advice offered by the manufacturer before getting into a descaling routine. However, on average, every manufacturer suggests a descaling procedure at least four times yearly for a perfectly clean inside. Also, descaling the kettle makes the water boiled inside free from harmful bacteria; in return, you are blessed with good health.
3. Can someone put an electric kettle into the dishwasher?
Do not place your electric kettle under the running water or inside the dishwasher, as the appliance comes with an electric heater and cord embedded within it. Direct exposure to water can damage those, making the electric kettle dysfunctional.
