How to Clean an Electric Kettle

When the weather turns cold, my drinks turn hot and my tea is no different. Come the afternoons and evenings, when I need a warm drink I pour a cup of tea. Today, I am going to share how to clean an electric kettle so you can enjoy yummy tea.

Winter is such a cozy time of year.

As homemakers and homebodies, we do our best to get through winter without succumbing to the cabin fever that can set it.

One way to enjoy the bitter cold is to steep a cup of tea and sit in your cozy living room by the fire with a good book.

If you have yet to get yourself an electric kettle, this year is your year because they do so well with heating your water to the perfect temperature quickly.

What is an electric tea kettle

Electric kettles are a small appliance that is used to boil water quickly.

They are quite and very efficient. Often times, they will have an auto shut off so you can walk away from the kettle without worrying that it won’t turn off.

How often should you wash your electric kettle?

Washing your electric kettle depends solely on how often to use it.

Thankfully, the only thing you will use the kettle for is to heat water, so it won’t get dirty, otherwise.

If you use your kettle daily, you will need to descale and remove mineral deposits on the inside on a quarterly basis to keep build up at bay.

Some families have special water filtration systems that remove the minerals, if that’s the case for you, you will have to descale your kettle even less!

You might have your kettle sitting on your countertop during the cooler months. Wiping down the outside once a day will help keep the outside clean and free from splatter.

How to clean an electric kettle

Cleaning an electric kettle is simple and quick.

You don’t need to clean it very often, so if you only use it during the winter time you can clean it at the end of the season and it will be ready for you next year.

To clean your kettle, you will need a few simple tools to get the job done.

Tools for cleaning an electric kettle

• Distilled Vinegar- the acidic nature of vinegar will help to descale your kettle
• Baking Soda
• Dish soap
• Bottle Scrub brush or sponge
• Microfiber cloth

Steps for cleaning your electric tea kettle

1. Mix Solution– Make a 1:1 mixture of Distilled vinegar and water in a measuring cup. Fill the kettle half way full with this solution.
2. Boil Solution– Bring your solution to a boil inside of the kettle.
3. Allow Solution to sit– Turn of your kettle and allow it to sit for 20 minutes.
4. Scrub the inside of the Kettle– Once the solution has cooled, use your scrub brush to scrub every corner of your kettle.
5. Pour out solution– Pour out the solution and rinse the inside of the kettle.
6. Boil Water– Boil plain water to make sure all residue is gone and pour water out.
7. Wipe the outside– With your microfiber cloth, wipe the outside of the kettle.

How do you clean the inside of an electric kettle?

If after the steps above you still have build up in your kettle, make a paste with baking soda and water.

Use a soft cloth or sponge and scrub the inside of the kettle with the paste to loosen any build up.

Rinse and repeat if necessary.

How do you clean your electric kettle without vinegar?

If you don’t have vinegar on hand or you want to use something different to clean your kettle you can use a couple of other things.

Clean your kettle with Citric Acid

1. Bring water to a boil in your kettle.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of citric acid to your kettle.
3. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then scrub and rinse.

Clean your kettle with Lemon Juice

1. Mix a 1:1 solution of water and lemon juice.
2. Bring this solution to a boil in your kettle.
3. Allow the solution to sit for 20 minutes.
4. Pour the solution out and rinse thoroughly.

How to clean the exterior of your kettle

Cleaning the exterior of your kettle is quick and a simple maintenance step. It should take about ten seconds to clean it.

Take a microfiber cloth and wipe down the outside of the kettle.

If there is splatter or build up on the outside of the kettle, get the rag damp and wipe it off.

Sometimes, food splatter can get really stuck on our small appliances that sit on the counter.

If that is the case, use a bit of warm water and mild dish soap to scrub it clean.

Cleaning your kettle filter

Some kettles have filters, so you will want to clean it if your kettle has one.

Cleaning your filter will be as simple as soaking it in a warm water and vinegar solution.

Pour a couple of tablespoons into a small bowl of hot water and allow the filter to sit for 10 minutes.

Scrub the filter to loosen any mineral deposits, rinse it in clean water, and put it back in your kettle.

Frequently asked questions