Pickle juice: The surprising solution for a spotless kettle
Descaling a kettle is a simple way to ensure it has a longer lifespan and improved performance. Wondering how to effectively remove stubborn deposits while saving time and money? There is one trick that few people know.
Scale, or lime deposits, forms in kettles primarily due to the hardness of the water used to fill them. Water high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, when exposed to high temperatures, leads to unsightly residue forming on the walls and bottom of the appliance.
Over time, the accumulated layers of deposits affect the kettle's efficiency, increasing energy consumption to heat the water and thereby prolonging the boiling process. This is why regular maintenance and descaling with effective and environmentally friendly methods are so important.
Fighting scale in the kettle doesn't always mean reaching for specialized chemical products. Instead, it's worth using inexpensive kitchen items.
An unusual way to descale your kettle
According to Deccoria, an effective way to descale your kettle might involve using pickle juice, which is a natural source of lactic acid in fairly high concentrations. Thanks to its properties, it can serve as an effective "solvent" for lime and mineral deposits. How to do it?
Strain the pickle juice through a sieve to prevent spices, vegetables, or pickling leaves from getting into the kettle. Pour the liquid into the appliance, boil it, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then pour out the cooled water, leaving the lid slightly open to avoid trapping the smell inside the device.
In the next step, repeat the process, this time adding water with the juice of half a lemon. The pleasant aroma of the fruit will neutralise the aroma of the pickles. After that, rinse the kettle thoroughly with lukewarm water. It will look as good as new!
An alternative is citric acid
Citric acid is a popular homemade cleaning agent, which many immaculate homemakers say deserves the title of a reliable descaler. It allows you to maintain the cleanliness of kitchen appliances without resorting to chemical detergents. One of its great advantages is that it is inexpensive.
The cleaning process is extremely simple. After boiling water with citric acid, leave the contents in the kettle for about an hour. Once the time has elapsed, simply pour out the contents and rinse the appliance thoroughly under running water to remove any residues. If necessary, you can repeat the process for perfect cleanliness. The kettle should shine like new.
