LifestyleCleaningNo one wants to open their kettle to see a huge build-up of limescale – but adding one item you probably have in your kitchen cupboards is sure to handle the problem08:12, 18 Jul 2026Not vinegar or baking soda – limescale from kettle will dissolve with 1 household stapleAs a full-time working mum, cleaning is one of those chores I simply don't have time for. Of course I'll always devote some moments of my day to hoovering and mopping, as my inner clean freak wouldn't allow otherwise. But certain tasks can wait, and wait for a long time.‌You know the saying 'out of sight, out of mind', well that's how I feel when it comes to cleaning the kettle. Sure I see the state of it when I brew myself a hot drink, but realistically my husband's the one who has to deal with that anyway. It's generally a case of not having the time to do it, so when I found a cleaning hack which solves the problem in seconds, I simply couldn't resist. So I turned to an old friend – social media – who really helped me out in that moment of need.‌The Viral TikTok Kettle Cleaning Hack That Actually WorksAfter spotting a hack on TikTok where you add citric acid to clean your kettle, I had to get involved. Luckily I keep some of the stuff underneath the sink and just like that, I finally got to work on my appliance, once and for all.‌It was really easy – I filled the kettle about halfway, added a couple of teaspoons of citric acid and switched it on. I even managed to reply to a few messages, book a dentist appointment and take a deep breath, all while the kettle was boiling.Once my trusty appliance finished its job completely, I let the citric acid soak there for a while. That was perfect as it meant I didn't have to deal with it immediately.I'd suggest letting the substance sit in there for a few minutes – perhaps 15 to 20 minutes tops so you don't accidentally forget it's in there when you make yourself a cuppa.‌Why Citric Acid is the Best Natural Way to Remove LimescaleAnd what a relief, once I poured the water out of the kettle, it was completely brand new again. I also rinsed it out a few times and even boiled the kettle again with plain water to remove any excess.Fortunately the hack is completely safe as citric acid is a natural, non-toxic and food-grade acid. It makes it an ideal and odourless alternative to vinegar.How To Descale Your Kettle:Fill and boil: Pour water from the tap about halfway and bring it to boil.Article continues belowAdd the citric acid: Turn off the kettle, then add 1-2 spoons of citric acid. You will see it immediately fizz as it reacts with the limescale.Soak: Leave the mixture to sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. For heavy scale, you can leave it longer and gently reboil it for 1-2 minutes, before leaving it to sit.Rinse: Pour the solution down the sink. Make sure you rinse the kettle thoroughly with fresh water, then boil a full kettle of plain water to discard any residue.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Cleaning