Descaling an electric kettle

[casm]

OK, I know this is probably not something most people in this part of the world have to deal with - but in all the time I've lived here I've never been able to understand why people persist in boiling water in a stovetop kettle when electric ones are far superior

Anyway, I need to descale it. If it weren't for the fact that I (indirectly) drink out of it, I'd just throw some CLR in and be done with it. So far I've tried separately boiling diluted lemon juice and white vinegar, both of which did a beautiful job on the rust stains but not the scale on the heating element. It's definitely better than it was, but could really do with improvement.

Is there anyone else here who has had to handle this? It's driving me nuts, and I've never had to deal with scale this resilient before. Any cures that won't result in a Heathers-style header into the coffee table would be appreciated.

 

[XJ_ranger]

well - get out the torch, cut off the current heating coil, and throw one of these on there:

​

 

[casm]

well - get out the torch, cut off the current heating coil, and throw one of these on there:

Hmm... What do you recommend for the spray? Gasoline's easily-obtained, but I'd prefer something with a bit more kick

 

[ECKSJAY]

OK, I know this is probably not something most people in this part of the world have to deal with - but in all the time I've lived here I've never been able to understand why people persist in boiling water in a stovetop kettle when electric ones are far superior

Anyway, I need to descale it. If it weren't for the fact that I (indirectly) drink out of it, I'd just throw some CLR in and be done with it. So far I've tried separately boiling diluted lemon juice and white vinegar, both of which did a beautiful job on the rust stains but not the scale on the heating element. It's definitely better than it was, but could really do with improvement.

Is there anyone else here who has had to handle this? It's driving me nuts, and I've never had to deal with scale this resilient before. Any cures that won't result in a Heathers-style header into the coffee table would be appreciated.

Why can't you use CLR? I clean my coffee makers with it all the time, as per the directions on the bottle.

 

[casm]

Why can't you use CLR? I clean my coffee makers with it all the time, as per the directions on the bottle.

Heh. Seriously, if it were glass and metal instead of plastic, I'd have no real problem with that.

 

[Dirk Pitt]

Heh. Seriously, if it were glass and metal instead of plastic, I'd have no real problem with that.

I clean my plastic coffee maker with CLR too.

You have a plastic electric kettle? Never seen a plastic one.

Since I've been brewing I've become more familiar with powerful cleaning agents and tried Bar Keepers Friend at the recommendation of fellow brewers.

Now I'm not sure about plastic, but BKF will take anything off stainless.

Sprinkle some powder in your vessel, dampen a paper towel (yes I said paper towel) and rub it in making a paste. I have never used a better cleaner. Afterward wash as normal with soapy water and rinse.

If this doesn't work just use the CLR and rinse several times.

Also you can use bleach to loosen tough stains (it will not harm food grade plastic but may discolor), but don't use bleach on stainless, it will eat it.

HTH

 

[Chancer]

Have you tried good, old fashioned citric acid? We used to live in a very hard water area, and left in a kettle for 1/2 an hour worked wonders. And it was cheap!

 

[old_man]

Scale is a calcium buildup normally. Plain old vinegar works well.

 

[biscuitboy87]

Hmm... What do you recommend for the spray? Gasoline's easily-obtained, but I'd prefer something with a bit more kick

thermoline mixed with a bit of J E L L O so it sticks to the "target"???!!!???

 

[casm]

Thanks for all the suggestions. As it turns out, the white vinegar I tried using initially had gone off (didn't know it could do that, but...). Anyway, one new bottle later and the scale's gone. Lemon juice took care of the rust.