How to Clean Tea Kettle

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Are you planning on having a tea party at home? Such gatherings can be exciting events filled with joy and friendship. It certainly attracts anyone to have a cup of tea. To prepare for your tea party, you should have a clean tea kettle around your kitchen.

To ensure that your drink tastes perfect, it’s essential to clean the outside and inside of your tea kettle. So, how to clean the tea kettle properly? It’s simple. Tea kettles need frequent cleaning, and it’s not difficult at all. There are several types of tea kettles, each with its way of cleaning them.

How to Remove Deposits Inside Tea Kettle?

If you’ve been using your tea kettle for a while now, you’ve probably noticed a white chalky buildup inside and around its sprout. This residue is called limescale, and it forms due to the natural mineral contents of your water.

When you boil hard water in a kettle, reaching the boiling point (100 degrees at sea level), the water turns to steam. As the liquid evaporates, the calcium carbonate minerals in the water do not. The minerals left behind in the kettle are the limescale.

If you don’t get rid of it, the buildup can change the taste of your beverage and affect the performance of your kettle. Now, let’s find out how to clean the tea kettles using products we already have at home.

How to Clean Tea Kettle with Baking Soda?

Baking soda is one of the kitchen’s best and most natural ingredients. It’s suitable for almost every surface in your home. Here’s the process for cleaning your tea kettle with baking soda:

1. Add Baking Soda

Fill the tea kettle at least halfway up with water. After that, add one to two tsp of baking soda.

2. Boil the Mixture

Boil the baking soda mixture for 15 minutes. When done, let it sit for another 15 minutes.

3. Brush and Rinse the Kettle

Pour out the mix. Using a delicate brush, gently scrub the inside of the tea kettle until you see the limescale coming off. Finally, rinse the kettle a couple of times with fresh water.

Learn more about How to Clean Bread Maker

How to Clean Tea Kettle with Vinegar?

Vinegar is a non-toxic and natural cleaning ingredient. We can use it on different surfaces and appliances, including tea kettles. To clean the tea kettle with vinegar:

1. Mix and Boil the Solution

Combine two parts of water and two parts of vinegar. Put the solution into the kettle, and wait for it to boil. Let the solution rest for 15-20 minutes.

2. Rinse Out

Pour out the solution. Rinse the tea kettle a couple of times with fresh water. This helps flush the buildup away.

As a quick tip:

If there’s too much buildup, use a soft sponge or cleaning cloth to wipe the inside of the kettle. To ensure no lingering vinegar odor and taste, refill it with water, boil, and drain.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Tea Kettle?

When cleaning a stainless tea kettle, choosing the right products is essential. We want to make our tea kettle look new again.

Option 1: Baking Soda and Water Paste

Create a paste with baking soda and water. Scrub the outside of the tea kettle using the paste and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, get rid of the paste by using a sponge or a damp cloth.

Option 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar Paste

You can also mix baking soda and vinegar to make a paste. When you combine the two ingredients, it will fizz as an initial reaction. Following this, apply the paste to the tea kettle. Since vinegar is made from acetic acid, it can help remove rust from stainless steel.

Option 3: Dish Soap

Use your dish soap to clean the outside of your tea kettle. Next, wipe it down using a damp cloth and avoid getting soap inside the kettle.

Option 4: Olive Oil

Olive oil is a natural ingredient that you can use to clean your stainless steel appliances. You certainly don’t have to worry about being exposed to harsh chemicals. Wipe down the entire tea kettle using a damp cloth and a dash of dish soap to remove any surface dirt. After that, rinse the kettle and wipe it using a dry microfiber cloth. Have three microfiber cloths ready.

Once dry, add a few drops of olive oil to a different cloth. Following the grain, buff the stainless steel using the cloth until the smudges and scratches are gone. By the way, never use wire-bristled brushes and bleach when cleaning a stainless steel tea kettle. It can damage your kettle’s exterior.

How to Clean a Copper Tea Kettle?

Copper is a metal well-known for its ability to conduct heat quickly and evenly. If your tea kettle is made of copper and is beginning to tarnish, cleaning it won’t be that hard. You must take extra steps and put some elbow grease into the job.

Option 1: Lemon Juice

Lemon juice contains high citric acid, which reacts with tarnish. It can remove the tarnish from the surface of the copper tea kettle. To start, rinse the kettle with plain water. After that, take a non-abrasive scrubber and dip it into the lemon juice. Scrub the kettle gently. Next, grab some salt and scrub the kettle with it. If done, rinse the kettle and let air dry.

Remember: Don’t use a metal scrubber because it can scratch the kettle’s surface.

Option 2: Toothpaste

Who knew toothpaste could come in handy when cleaning things around the house? Toothpaste often contains baking soda, one of the best household cleaners. In addition, it can make your copper tea kettle look brand new again.

First, wash the kettle with plain water to clean the dirt. Next, take a generous amount of toothpaste and rub it all over the kettle. Let it sit for five to seven minutes. Using a toothbrush or a soft cloth, scrub the paste and watch the tarnish come off. For the last step, rinse the tea kettle with plain water and dry it using a soft cloth.

Remember: Use solid white toothpaste only.

Option 3: Tomato Ketchup

Like lemons, tomatoes contain citric acid, which you can use to clean tarnished copper tea kettles. Clean the kettle first, then apply a layer of ketchup to the kettle’s surface. Using a soft cloth, gently rub the surface in a circular motion. When done removing the stains, wash the tea kettle with clean water. To finish, take another cloth and dry the kettle well.

How to Clean a Glass Tea Kettle?

A glass tea kettle is one when speaking of elegance and nice-looking kitchenware. Since this type of kettle is fragile, you must be more careful handling and cleaning it. However, limescale is visible on the glass material if it’s not maintained and cleaned regularly. Don’t use a regular household descaler inside your glass kettle! We only need natural and eco-friendly cleaning solutions for this one.

Option 1: White Vinegar / Apple Cider Vinegar

Fill the kettle halfway up with ¼ cup of vinegar and water. Mix it well and turn the kettle on. Once the solution has come to a boil, turn off the kettle and leave it for 20 minutes. If the limescale hasn’t lifted off, gently scrub the kettle’s interior with a soft brush. After that, rinse the glass kettle thoroughly a couple of times. Use apple cider vinegar if you want a more wonderful smell.

Option 2: Baking Soda

Mix one tbsp of baking soda and one litre of water. Pour it into your kettle and boil the solution. Unplug the kettle and let the solution sit for 15 minutes. Rinse immediately after.
If the limescale is hard to remove, make a paste by mixing a tsp of baking soda with a few drops of water. Gently scrub the paste onto the limescale until it loosens.

Option 3: Lemon Juice

Slice a lemon into half, squeeze the juice into a bowl, then remove the seeds. Slice the peel and pulp, and add this to the bowl. Add water to the lemon mixture and pour it into the glass kettle. Let the mixture boil, then unplug the kettle. Leave the lemon mixture until it’s completely cool. After that, gently scrub the inside of the tea kettle using a soft sponge. Finally, pour out the mixture and rinse the appliance well.

Remember: Don’t expose your tea kettle to sudden extreme temperatures. For instance, never put a hot tea kettle in a freezer.

Conclusion

How to clean the tea kettle properly? The answer depends on what type of tea kettle you have at home. Opting for a natural household cleaner is the best choice rather than using harsh chemicals.

While limescale isn’t harmful to your health, it may cause damage to your tea kettle. Make sure always to empty your tea kettle after every use. This way, you can avoid limescale buildup. Using products found in your kitchen can increase your tea kettle’s lifespan and make it look as good as new.

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