An Instagram user known as Lucy, who regularly shares home hacks, has shown how citric acid can clear limescale from a kettle. Citric acid is a natural acid found in citrus fruits and is available in powder form from supermarkets and DIY shops like B&Q for around £2.50.
Limescale is a hard, chalky deposit mainly composed of calcium carbonate. It forms when hard water is heated or evaporated and can accumulate on any surface that comes into contact with water, including taps, showerheads and glass shower screens. In a kettle, limescale forms every time water is boiled, as minerals separate from the water and settle on the bottom.
Most people do not thoroughly clean their kettles after every use, so limescale can build up quickly. If left untreated, it can damage the appliance and raise energy bills, because the heating element has to work harder to boil the water.
How to descale a kettle with citric acid
In her Instagram video, Lucy showed a layer of limescale at the bottom of her kettle and some bits floating in the water. She filled the kettle "about a quarter of the way" with tap water and poured in "half a box" of citric acid, which is around 125g. She then boiled the kettle as normal and allowed it to cool before revealing the inside – which was sparkling clean with no limescale anywhere.
Lucy said: "Every time, it amazes me how well it's come out. Can you see that? Not a single bit of limescale inside. It's honestly like magic. There you have it: the quickest and easiest way to descale your kettle."
In the caption, she added: "I have tried many ways, and this is by far the most effective! And if you're wondering why you don't have limescale, it's because you get it with hard water!"
Commenters praise the method
Commenters on the post thanked Lucy, with one writing: "I needed this!" Another agreed: "Citric acid is THE best descaler, nothing else compares! Half a box seems like a lot of citric acid, though; a little goes a long way."
Another commenter shared their own routine: "I fill the kettle to max, pop in the filter near the spout and use 2tbsp of citric acid, and it comes out like new every time!"
Some suggested slicing a lemon and boiling it in the kettle as an alternative, since lemons contain citric acid. For tougher limescale buildup, however, using the acid on its own in a stronger concentration might be more effective.
