Kettle often become dirty due to limescale build up (Image: Getty)
Nothing is more embarrassing than offering someone a cup of tea only to find chunky white bits in it, and this can only happen if your kettle has not been cleaned.
Many people do not realise they should give their a , but it is a hotspot for , a harmless yet stubborn stain made up of minerals left over when water evaporates.
Limescale will remain at the bottom of a kettle and not only ruin tea but can build up over the kettle heating element, which means it will take longer to boil and can become damaged.
You do not need to try awkwardly scrubbing a kettle to remove limescale, as the cleaning experts at have shared that all you need is a lemon.
They said: “The soft acidic properties of lemon are great for cleaning kettles and, more importantly, limescale. One thing you cannot get away from is having to clean limescale from your kettle.
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Lemons are a easy and natural way to get your kettle clean again (Image: Getty)
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“It naturally occurs whenever water regularly comes into contact with items. If you want to reduce your limescale, always leave your kettle empty and ventilated.”
Lemons contain citric acid, a natural substance that will react when it comes into contact with limescale to quickly dissolve it.
This is a simple but very effective way to clean a kettle without scrubbing it or using a chemical descaler, as lemons can get rid of limescale in only a few minutes.
Some people also recommend using white vinegar to remove limescale. While this will work, it has a very pungent taste and can take a while to clean from your kettle, so it tends to be easier to use lemons.
How to use lemons to properly clean a kettle
All you need to do is chop up one to three lemons. The number of lemons you need will depend on how badly stained the kettle is, but it is unlikely you will need more than three.
Fill the kettle to maximum capacity, add a few slices of lemons and boil the water.
Your kettle will be sparkling clean again after only five minutes (Image: Getty)
Leave the kettle alone for at least five minutes to give the citric acid time to loosen and break down the limescale.
Once the time is up, pour the water away, and your kettle should be completely clean. If there is still any remaining limescale, boil it again and add more lemon slices.
When the kettle’s inside is mostly clean of limescale, chop one more lemon in half and squeeze the juice directly onto the leftover stains.
Next, wipe the kettle down with a dry or lightly dampened cloth. Be sure to clean the sprout of the kettle thoroughly, as limescale is known to linger there.
Fill the kettle once more and boil it to eliminate any lemon flavours, and your kettle should now be completely clean.