An Ultimate guide: How to Clean a Tea Kettle

We wash our tea kettle thoroughly with water after pouring out tea so that there is no tea stain. However, over time, the interior of the kettle gets mineral deposits from the water droplets. Most of these minerals are calcium and magnesium present in groundwater. Not just that interior surface, you will notice some build up around the spout. In such cases, your tea kettle needs a deep cleaning as regular cleaning will not suffice to get rid of the mineral deposits.

Need For Cleaning A Tea Kettle

The mineral deposits on the interior surfaces of the kettle can affect its performance. The water inside the kettle will take more time to reach the boiling point. This means it will require more energy consumption, and the lifespan can shorten if the deposits settle down permanently. Most importantly, the mineral deposits can affect the taste and flavour of the tea. The taste and flavour can tarnish, and it can be salty and bitter. As a matter of fact, it can get unhealthy to drink over time. Therefore, you need a thorough cleaning of your tea kettle from time to time.

How To Clean A Glass Kettle

A glass tea kettle is an over-the-stove kettle, and it is quite easy to clean with vinegar or lime juice.

Step 1 – Pour vinegar and water inside the kettle in a 1:1 ratio.
Step 2 – Shake the mixture and leave it inside the kettle for an hour.
Step 3 – Then boil the mixture for a few minutes until the deposits come off.
Step 4 – Pour out the mixture and wash the interior with liquid soap.
Step 5 – Rinse well and make sure the interior gets dry.
If the glass tea kettle manual instructs you not to use vinegar, you can use lime juice instead. As a matter of fact, you can wash the exterior surface of the glass tea kettle by rubbing with a slice of lemon.

How To Clean An Electric Kettle

An electric kettle gets the maximum mineral deposit due to high temperature rise instantly.

Step 1 – Wash the inside of the kettle with liquid soap and rinse thoroughly.
Step 2 – Pour water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio.
Step 3 – Boil the mixture for a few minutes.
Step 4 – Rinse the mixture away and wash thoroughly to remove the vinegar smell.
Step 5 – You can also boil the kettle with water to remove any stench of vinegar.
Step 6 – You can use a boiled mixture of water and vinegar for cleaning the exterior surface. Rubbing the surface with a slice of lemon will also get the job done.

How To Clean A Stainless Steel Kettle

There are many who still use old model stainless steel kettles. You can use the vinegar and water mixture for the interior and a slice of lemon for the exterior. However, the following steps can offer a better cleaning.

Step 1 – Pour a cup of baking soda into the kettle and fill the interior with water.
Step 2 – Boil the mixture and let it cool down for 10 minutes.
Step 3 – Take a scrub brush and scrub the interior.
Step 4 – If, after scrubbing, there are still mineral deposits, add more baking soda and scrub vigorously.
Step 5 – After that, rinse and clean with water. Make sure there is no smell of baking sofa thereafter.
Step 6 – For the exterior part, take a thick paste of baking soda on the soft scrubber and scrub gently.

Conclusion –
It is very important to deep clean the tea kettle from time to time to get rid of the mineral deposits. Besides, it brings back the lost shine of the kettle and makes it as good as a new kettle. This is vital for the personal hygiene and longevity of the kettle. Therefore, make it a point to clean your kettle thoroughly twice a month.