If your water leaves white flakes in the kettle or your coffee tastes flat, limescale is the likely cause. Hard water is common in many cities, and the mineral layer it leaves slows heating and affects flavour. The good news: descaling takes about 20 minutes and uses things you already have.
Signs it is time to descale
- A white or chalky layer on the base or the heating plate.
- Flakes floating in boiled water or in your cup.
- The kettle takes longer to boil or sounds louder than usual.
- Coffee brews slowly, sputters or tastes bitter and flat.
How often should you descale?
- Kettle: once a month, or every two weeks with very hard water.
- Drip coffee maker: every one to two months, or when brewing slows down.
Descaling an electric kettle
- Fill the kettle halfway with equal parts water and white vinegar, or water with two teaspoons of citric acid.
- Bring it to the boil, switch off and leave it for 15–20 minutes.
- Pour the solution away and scrub any remaining spots with a soft brush.
- Boil a full kettle of clean water twice and discard it to remove any taste.
- Rinse the removable spout filter under the tap.
Descaling a drip coffee maker
- Empty the carafe and remove the filter.
- Fill the water tank with one part vinegar to two parts water.
- Start a brew cycle and stop it halfway. Wait 30 minutes so the solution can work.
- Finish the cycle, then run two or three cycles of clean water.
- Wash the carafe and filter in warm, soapy water.
Habits that keep scale away
- Empty the kettle after use instead of leaving water standing.
- Use filtered water if your area has very hard water.
- Wipe the outside with a damp cloth only; never put the base or body in water.
Do not forget the outside
Fingerprints and splashes build up too. Wipe stainless steel along the grain with a soft cloth and a drop of dish soap, dry it to avoid water marks, and clean the glass carafe with warm water and a bottle brush. Check the power base and plug for dust or moisture before each use.
Always unplug appliances before cleaning and follow the instructions in the user manual for your model.
