Scale in the kettle is formed due to the use of hard tap water. If its walls are firmly overgrown with lime deposits, emergency measures must be taken to remove them.
In fact, the most unexpected means help to cope with the problem, and one of them is a carbonated drink. The well-known Coca-Cola is especially effective.
Read the article about how to descale a kettle using Coca-Cola.
Can this drink be used for cleansing?
Coca-Cola can be used to clean teapots. It is not capable of harming its internal surface, but at the same time effectively corrodes salt deposits. This is possible due to the fact that it contains orthophosphoric acid, which dissolves limescale.
Unlike expensive professional cleaners, sparkling water is cheap and only a little is needed. To remove scale from a kettle with a standard volume of 3-4 liters, 1 liter of drink is enough.
Unlike vinegar, Cola does not emit an unpleasant odor during the procedure. It does not contain components hazardous to humans, and if it is accidentally ingested, no dangerous changes will occur to the body.
Is it safe to wash a kettle with cola?
The calcium carbonate that forms on the inner walls prevents heat from penetrating into the water. The sediment causes bitterness, making the liquid cloudy.
There are various ways to clean kitchen utensils. The safety of the products used is important. You can remove scale with cola. The drink is safe and does not adversely affect the surface of the internal walls.
Important! Cola has a pleasant aroma and is less aggressive than other cleaning products.
Deposit removal occurs due to the acid content:
- orthophosphoric;
- lemon;
- ascorbic acid
The intensification of the process of destruction of mineral salts is influenced by the duration of exposure to high temperatures. The use of Coca-Cola is advisable for cleaning stainless steel products. The carbonated drink should not be used to clean kitchen utensils that contain:
- enamel coating;
- light plastic;
- open spiral.
How to remove plaque with Coca-Cola?
To deal with scale, you need to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
Drain the remaining water from the kettle.- Fill it 2/3 with Cola.
- Leave the container open to allow the gases to evaporate from the drink.
- After 20 minutes, turn on the device or put it on the stove. Bring the liquid to a boil.
- Leave the hot soda in the kettle to take effect for an hour.
- Drain the drink down the sink.
- Remove any remaining softened limescale with a soft brush.
- Fill the kettle with clean water, bring it to a boil and drain it.
After completing all the steps, you can use the clean device. If the plaque cannot be completely removed the first time, the procedure is repeated, increasing the exposure time by 2 times, or leaving the kettle to soak overnight.
This video will show you how to descale a kettle with Coca-Cola:
Recommendation for preventing scale
The appearance of scale and rust is often associated with improper use of the kettle. To protect the device from limescale “disease”, follow the rules:
- Clean once every 7 days.
- Rinse the kettle after each use.
- Take only settled water for boiling.
- Leave the device dry overnight.
- Do not boil the same portion of water twice.
- Install a filter to purify water.
These preventive measures will not eliminate scale formation 100%. They will only allow you to keep the device clean for a longer time.
Important! The amount of money and time spent on its care depends on the choice of kettle. Give preference to appliances made of stainless steel, ceramics, enamel without grooves or grooves inside. Buy electric kettles with closed heating elements.
In the war against scale, all means are good, especially when they are as accessible and cheap as Coca-Cola.
What else can you add to enhance the effect?
Cola copes well with medium-thick deposits, but you shouldn’t expect miracles. If the scale layer is thick and has accumulated for years, you need to add auxiliary substances. These include:
Lemon acid . For 1 liter of Cola take 10 g of powder.- Ascorbic acid . It is added in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. The tablets are first crushed.
- Vinegar. To enhance the effect of Cola, just add 1 teaspoon of essence or 2 tablespoons of acid with a concentration of 9% to the kettle.
- Soda. It enhances the reaction. For quality cleaning you will need 3 teaspoons of powder.
Well, how do you explain this?
Scale is an unpleasant phenomenon; it negatively affects not only the operation of the device itself, but also your health, promoting the formation of sand and kidney stones, as well as worsening the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
With such pollution, the unit spends more energy, as a result of which utility costs increase, and, as we know, thrifty housewives do not need extra expenses.
Deposits of this kind do not stand on ceremony both with electric kettles and with their traditional versions, heated in the old fashioned way by a fire from a stove or from a fire (yes, there are people who still have ordinary kettles, and, moreover, they boil them!) .
Because of lime, water becomes unpleasant to drink - it acquires a specific taste, and pieces of limestone float in it, and a thick white sediment, similar to dust, constantly accumulates at the bottom, which has to be poured out periodically.
Good housewives try to extend the life of their teapots by cleaning them regularly.
But don’t rush to run to the nearest hardware store for expensive goods, because you already have everything at hand!
Alternative methods
Coca-Cola is not the only substance that can come to the rescue in the fight against salt deposits. You can cope with the problem using other available means, or purchase specialized compounds in the store.
Household chemicals
In retail stores that sell household chemicals, as well as in online markets, you can purchase compounds that were developed specifically for removing scale from a kettle.
The following remedies have a good effect:
- HAAX powder for descaling teapots and coffee makers. Use 1 sachet for 1 procedure. Bring the water to a boil, pour the powder into it and leave for 30-40 minutes. After which the liquid is drained and the scale is removed with a soft brush. The cost of a package with 5 sachets is 170 rubles.
- Topper anti-scale tablets. To get rid of limescale you will need 2-3 tablets. They are placed on the bottom of the kettle, filled with water so that it covers all the scale and the liquid is brought to a boil. After 30 minutes, the water is drained and the kettle is cleaned with a brush. Price for 10 pieces – 155 rubles.
- Magic Power descaler. For 1 liter of water you will need 100-120 ml of solution. The liquid is heated to 50 degrees and left for 30 minutes, then drained. The cost of the product with a volume of 500 ml is 185 rubles.
How to cleanse with folk remedies?
Proven folk remedies to combat scale:
Cucumber or tomato pickle .
It is poured into the kettle in such a way that it covers all lime deposits. Bring the brine to a boil, leave for 2 hours and rinse the device with clean water. This recipe really works. The only drawback is the specific smell that comes from the boiled brine.It remains on the walls of the kettle after processing. Therefore, it must not only be thoroughly rinsed, but also boiled by draining the first water.
- Potato peelings . They are placed in a kettle, filled with water, brought to a boil and left for 1-2 hours. The softened plaque is removed with the hard side of the sponge. This method works, but for complete cleansing you will have to make some effort.
- Lemon acid . Its quantity depends on the thickness of the limescale deposit. To combat old deposits, take 20 g of powder for each liter of water. Pour the solution so that it covers the scale completely. Bring the water to a boil, leave for an hour and drain. After treatment, the kettle must be thoroughly rinsed and boiled. The first water is not used. Read more about the cleaning method here.
What to use - chemicals or traditional methods
When a kettle becomes dirty with limescale, the result will be bitter and unpleasant-tasting drinks, as well as the likelihood of experiencing gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, bloating and gas.
To avoid this, every housewife should have at least several effective and safe cleaning methods in her arsenal. There are a number of products that are used to descale kettles, some work better than others and some are safer or more affordable.
The main reason for creating formations on the walls of the container is the hard water that flows from the taps. This sediment is not only unsightly, it also has a major impact on the quality of coffee and tea made from boiled water. But to increase the service life of a kitchen appliance, you don’t need to immediately throw it away and buy a new one.
It is worth trying to remove sediment using unusual substances that are quite affordable. Listed below are several recommendations on how to care for the container so that plaque does not form on it and describes a method for descaling a kettle with cola.
Features for different materials
To avoid damaging the kettle during descaling, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- For glass . Do not scrub the surface of the device with a wire brush or other hard tools.
- For plastic . It is not recommended to pour cola into plastic teapots. It can lead to coloring of parts, so it is better to replace it with colorless Sprite.
- For metal . Such kettles are not afraid of the effects of phosphoric acid, but if it has not completely dissolved the salt deposits, you cannot scrape them off with a knife or other sharp objects.
- For an enamel teapot . They cannot be cleaned with Coke or other products containing acid if there are chips inside. The use of caustic substances will increase the area of damage.
Let's sum it up
So, dear hostesses, remember: if the guests haven’t finished their cola, there’s no need to throw it away! You need to first think about your kitchen utensils - give them a real holiday!
Let the remaining portion of lemonade boil and your kettle will always be in excellent condition!
Why do many people choose Coca-Cola for their dishes? Because it is safe, economical, has no toxic fumes or unpleasant aroma, and is gentle on dishes.
Do not forget about regular prevention, and combine the use of lemonade with other effective means, focusing on the safest ones.
Helpful information
To ensure that the descaling process is as effective as possible, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Before starting cleaning, rinse the kettle and wipe it with a sponge - this will remove some of the plaque;
- after using Cola, the kettle needs to be washed - this will get rid of the remaining soda and its taste;
- If there is not enough Cola to fill the kettle 1/3, you can add a little water to it.
Find out more about descaling methods in this section.
Carry out prevention
To reduce the risk of scale formation, preventive actions are important:
- Every time after boiling, rinse the dishes, this will slow down the process of the formation of new growths.
You don't have to use expensive products! To perform the most complex actions and remove severe stains, you will need the simplest products and additives.
- We advise you to choose traditional methods with less dangerous chemical components, this will help solve our problem and will not have a negative impact on your health, and the dishes will look their best, both inside and out!
