How to Clean a Tea Kettle

Although a tea kettle does nothing but boil water, build-up still occurs over time. The ring that you see is actually a lime deposit. Every now and then, follow these steps to keep your tea kettle looking clean and new.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tea Kettle
• Water
• Tea Kettle Spout Cleaning Brush
• White Vinegar or Lemon Juice
• Anti-Lime Disc

1. Fill the tea kettle half way with water.

2. Add white vinegar to the kettle of water to fill the entire tea kettle.

3. Boil the half water, half white vinegar mixture.

4. Set aside the tea kettle for a few hours or overnight.

5. Pour out the white vinegar and water from the tea kettle.

6. Fill the tea kettle again with water.

7. Boil again.

8. Repeat this until the vinegar smell is no longer present.

Tips & Warnings

• Lemon juice may be substituted for the vinegar.
• Prevent the lime build-up by placing an anti-lime disc in the kettle. This keeps the lime deposits from forming.
• If you wish, use a tea kettle spout cleaning brush to clean the kettle's spout.
• Corningware suggests using only 1/4 a cup of vinegar and hot water to clean its tea kettles.

[tron20]

on 11/27/2009 I couldn't find vitamin c crystals in my area. I don't have Trader Joes. I tried vinegar an water boiled it. It really worked afterwards. I seen lemon juice like to try that method next time. Thank, robert

[JanetRuth]

on 9/21/2008 I think the other user meant TRADER JOE'S by the way and not "tarder joes" LOL!

[JanetRuth]

on 9/21/2008 ditto on the Vitamin C - works wonders and you don't have to deal with vinegar stink

[lisapollison]

on 10/28/2007 I find using Vitamin C crystals (Ascorbic Acid) to be much less troublesome. Add 1/8 of a cup of Vitamin C Crystals or 1/4 cup for heavily scaled kettles and pots - add 4 cups of filtered or distilled water. Boil at a rolling boil for a few minutes and then let sit overnight. In the morning, you should be able to just pour out the contents and see no more lime scale. Rinse the kettle well with warm or hot water several times. Boil some distilled water once more and you're good to go with no vinegar smell or taste. You can buy a huge bottle of Vitamin C crystals at tarder Joes for $11 that will lasy you for years of descaling.