Cleaning guru and TikTok creator Lucy Kalice has shared her go-to method for removing stubborn kettle limescale, using an ingredient she says works like "magic". In a recent video, she said: "My husband spat out the cup of tea that I made him the other day because it had limescale floating in it."
In the video's caption, she wrote: "I've tried and tested every single way and this is by far the most effective way! Also limescale happens when you have hard water so if you live in an area with soft water you probably won't get it!"
How to descale a kettle with citric acid
Instead of harsh chemical products, lemon or vinegar, Kalice opted for citric acid. To descale a kettle, she advised filling it a quarter of the way with water, adding half a box of citric acid, boiling the kettle and then letting it cool.
According to Kalice, the citric acid completely melts away the limescale, leaving "not a single bit" behind. She said: "Every time. Every time, it amazes me how well it's come out." She added: "It's honestly like magic."
Why limescale forms in kettles
Limescale, also known as calcium carbonate, builds up when hard water – which contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium – evaporates and leaves behind chalky white deposits. Calcium carbonate remains dissolved until the water is heated, and the problem tends to be worse in hard-water areas.
Citric acid works as a natural descaling agent, dissolving mineral deposits and limescale build-up, especially stubborn scale. It safely dissolves calcium and magnesium without leaving a bad smell.
Optional extra: use a descaler ball
Kalice also recommended an optional extra step: adding a kettle descaler ball, a stainless steel wire mesh tool, to help remove limescale from all the nooks and crannies. The loose stainless steel coils draw and catch floating calcium and mineral particles during boiling, helping to keep limescale from sticking heavily to the heating element and kettle walls.
Experts at Good Food tested a range of descaling methods, including a citric acid-based descaler. They wrote: "The results pictured really speak for themselves, and we felt this method proved the most successful, leaving our previously neglected kettle looking almost brand new – check out that mirror shine on the base!"
