How To Clean Stainless Steel Kettle

When it comes to needing hot water, there is no better option than owning an electric kettle. For baby food, tea or coffee, cleaning your utensils, for cooking and baking, or for your personal hygiene, whenever you need warm or hot water, the fastest way is from an electric kettle.

From the different models and brands available in the market, any good electric kettle will give you scalding hot water in a matter of minutes, without having to go through all the trouble of heating water in your stove.

For students living in a dorm or for an office, electric kettles are the perfect way to get hot water without going into too much trouble. You can always have hot or warm water waiting for you in an electric kettle for your tea and coffee, instant noodles or warm soup - the perfect snack for any student or working person.

However, when you use your electric kettle every day, it will get dirty - both inside and outside. More importantly, with being submerged in water all the time, your kettle will show signs of deposits and slime.

It is therefore very important to clean your electric kettle thoroughly if you want to make sure you are getting the healthiest and the freshest water from it.

3 Ways To Clean Stainless Steel Electric Kettle

Using your electric kettle regularly will cause buildup inside your kettle, especially if this is a stainless steel kettle. Over time, it can actually slow down your kettle's boiling time; i.e. it will take longer for your kettle to boil or heat water.

Just because you are using nothing but water inside your kettle, it doesn't mean that you won't have to clean it. Rather, the cleaning method changes significantly because you boil or heat water in your kettle.

Here are some ways to properly clean your stainless steel electric kettle:

1. Use Vinegar Water

Simply water isn't enough for these electric kettles, it is because of water that your stainless steel kettle can gradually lose its efficiency. What you need is vinegar, mixed with water for cleaning your kettle. Vinegar can actually help you descale your electric kettle and remove all the buildup from the bottom.

The procedure is simple. You have to mix a solution of white vinegar and water, half of each ingredient. This solution needs to fill half or two-thirds of your stainless steel electric kettle, careful that you don't fill the whole thing.

Then, switch on the kettle and let the water boil on its own. When the vinegar-mixed water boils, it will automatically descale your kettle, and also clean the bottom where most of the buildup is.

If the amount of buildup is too much or if all the buildup hasn't been removed the first time, try again by increasing the amount of vinegar in the mixture. Use two parts vinegar or more in one part water, and then bring the solution to a boil inside the kettle.

After the water has come to a boil, remove the plug from the electric source and let it soak in the concoction for as long as 20 minutes. After 20 minutes (or more if there is a lot of buildups), pour out the solution and wash away the remnants of the vinegar.

Use a non-metallic scrub, a sponge or a piece of cloth to clean the inside part. Rinse a few times with clean water to make sure that you have gotten all the vinegar and the buildup out of the kettle.

2. Use Lemon Solution

Instead of vinegar, you can also use lemon-infused water. This is especially important in some particular brands where the instruction clearly forbids the use of vinegar. Lemon juice is just as effective as vinegar when it comes to cleaning buildup, and this solution is easier to make.

All you need to do is to fill up one-third of your electric kettle with water; make sure that you don't exceed one-third of the kettle. Cut a lemon into slices and squeeze the juice into the water inside the kettle.

Cut another lemon and put the slices into the kettle as well. Plug in the kettle and let the water come to a boil. After the water has boiled, let the water sit inside the kettle for as long as an hour, until it gradually cools down.

Pour out the water and rinse the kettle with water several times. The kettle may have a distinct lemon aroma for a few hours after the cleaning, but it will eventually go away, especially if you leave the lid open.

3. Use Baking Soda

A third solution is to use a solution made of baking soda and water. In this case, use a teaspoon of baking soda in water filling on-third of the kettle. Mix with a teaspoon and turn on the kettle. Bring the water to a boil and remove the plug; keep the water inside for around 20 minutes to soak.

After the water has gradually cooled down, pour out the water and wash the inside of the kettle with cold water. Rinse at least 5-6 times to make sure all the baking water has been cleared of the kettle.

Baking soda is exceptionally effective in removing any kind of buildup from your electric kettle, as well as sterilize the insides of the kettle.

Another solution is to use commercial cleaning products but they will contain chemicals. While chemical-enhanced cleaning products can actually clean the inside of your kettle, they may be harmful to your health in the end.

It is, therefore, always much better to use natural solutions such as vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda. At least, these are edible products and won't be harmful for your health, even when consumed with water.

It is also important to clean the outside part of your stainless steel electric kettle as well as the inside. The outside part can attract dust, dirt and can even become grimy due to the deposition of water drops.

This part can be cleaned with a non-metallic sponge and dish-washing soap, or the same cleaning solution made from lemon juice and vinegar. If you wipe the outer part of the kettle after rinsing it in water, there will be no watermarks on it and your stainless steel electric kettle will be as good as new.