How to quickly and easily descale a kettle with baking soda and vinegar. Descale the kettle with vinegar

Vinegar is sure to be found in any kitchen. With it, you can not be afraid of such a problem as limescale on the kettle. There are several ways to use vinegar. Let's look at why you need to descale the kettle, and how exactly to do it.

Why should you get rid of limescale?

Limescale (or scale) very often occurs on the walls of dishes. Basically, this happens with teapots. The hard water that so often flows from our taps contains substances such as calcium and magnesium salts. As the temperature rises, they begin to decompose with the formation of an insoluble precipitate. It is he who is deposited on the walls of the dishes. Gradually accumulating, lime destroys enamel coating, the metal is exposed and begins to rust over time. All this negatively affects the quality of cooked food and the taste of drinks.

If scale has grown on the coils of an electric kettle, it will take longer to boil, as limescale conducts heat very poorly. Consequently, the cost of electricity will increase. It often happens that due to scale build-up, the electric kettle cannot bring water to a boil - it automatically turns off before the set time. If from limescale do not get rid of it in time, it can disable the kettle.

How to get rid of limescale in a kettle using vinegar?

Vinegar is a versatile product. It is used for both cooking and cleaning. various surfaces. It will also help with swelling. But before work, you should figure out what vinegar, vinegar essence and acetic acid are. These are all names of the same substance, but with different concentrations:

There are several ways to clean the kettle using these substances:

Acid must be handled very carefully. If it comes into contact with skin or mucous tissue, it can cause severe burns. Vapors of vinegar are also dangerous - they can cause burns to the nasopharynx. When boiling, it is best to turn on the hood and leave the kitchen.

An electric kettle can also be cleaned of limescale using vinegar. But since vinegar is a rather caustic substance, it would be better to use citric acid. It will take quite a bit of time for such cleaning. Pour water into the kettle, dissolve one sachet citric acid and boil for 5 - 7 minutes. To ensure that the kettle does not automatically turn off during boiling, the lid on it must be raised. After this procedure, you need to evaluate the result - if there are still traces of limescale on the walls, the actions can be repeated. If all the scale has gone, the kettle must be thoroughly rinsed from the remnants of plaque and a solution of citric acid.

To prevent lime deposits

If the water in your tap is too hard, then it is unlikely that you will be able to completely avoid the appearance of limescale. But with some effort, the intensity of its formation can be significantly reduced:

  1. Install a filter in your kitchen. It not only purifies, but also softens the water.
  2. Clean the inside of the kettle regularly. So you will not let the plaque firmly settle on the walls. Strong abrasives should not be used for such cleaning, since scale builds up much faster on a damaged surface.
  3. If you notice white flakes in the kettle, be sure to change the water to fresh.
  4. Do not boil water again.
  5. Perform preventive cleansing with vinegar about once a week.

Every housewife should know how to clean the kettle from scale. Unfortunately, not yet invented enough effective ways preventing the appearance of limescale on the walls and heating element functional device. By filtering the water, as well as regularly rinsing the container with a weak solution of soda or citric acid, you can only slightly reduce the rate of scale formation. Fortunately, there are many cleaning methods that allow you to restore the device even at home. Before you change the old device to a new one, you should try one of them.

Causes and consequences of scale formation

Limescale is equally actively formed in teapots of all types and designs. Only if it is an electrical appliance, the scale layer covers mainly the heating element. In a stainless steel container or its enamelled counterpart, the sediment covers the bottom and walls to the level to which water is poured. The harder the water is used (high salt content) and the more often it is boiled, the faster problem becomes obvious.

If you do not try to wash the container, then very soon you will have to face the following consequences:

  1. An electrical apparatus from such an impact can become unusable. This is due to the fact that plaque blocks the contact of the heater with water and the steel is constantly heated to prohibitive temperatures. In the end, the element just burns out
  2. The lime composition, getting into the human body, begins to cause negative reactions. If you do not remove scale in the kettle in a timely manner, you can provoke the development of a disease of the excretory system.
  3. Under the influence high temperatures in the composition of the scale constantly occur chemical reactions, due to which the taste and smell boiled water worsens over time.

Tip: Regardless of what kind of kettle cleaner was used, after handling the container, you need to boil it at least twice clean water. Only then will it be possible to use the device for its intended purpose, without risking spoiling the taste of the drink or earning indigestion.

Of course, to get rid of scale in the kettle, you can purchase special chemical products that are offered by household goods stores today. And yet, practice shows that the problem can be solved with the help of folk remedies. Moreover, the result will be no less qualitative, and the risk of unpleasant consequences will be minimal.

Simple yet effective ways to remove scale

When preparing to work with citric or acetic acid, baking soda and other popular reagents, you need to take into account the type of material from which the kettle is made. Among the most gentle exposure options at home, approaches based on the use of such products are especially popular:

  • The use of citric acid. This tool can be used when working with any materials, even with plastic. Dilute 1-2 teaspoons of the reagent in 1 liter of water. For larger containers, the same proportions apply. Fill the kettle with the resulting solution and turn it on. The composition should be boiled no more than 1-2 times. During this time, the plaque will depart, and the surface of the product will be renewed.

  • Cleansing with Coca-Cola and other carbonated drinks. This method is known to many, but not everyone observes the subtleties of the manipulation. First of all, the container with the drink must be opened so that most of gases. Then we fill the kettle with Coca-Cola to about half (traces of scale should be completely covered) and bring the contents to a boil. It remains only to wash the walls with a soft sponge. It should be noted that such an impact Electric kettle may break. And for cleaning light-colored products, you should not use Coca-Cola or Fanta, they can stain the metal.

  • Soda treatment. The best option for processing enameled and metal containers. Just fill the kettle with water, pour a tablespoon of soda into it and bring to a boil. The mass must be boiled for another half an hour, using a very weak fire. Then the device should be removed from the stove and cool natural way. It remains only to drain the liquid and clean the container manually. You can do no more than 3 approaches. If the procedure does not help, other options for exposure are used.

  • The use of brine. simple and available method. To remove scale in the kettle, you need to fill it with brine from under pickled tomatoes or cucumbers and boil the contents.

  • Purification based product. To remove a light whitish coating, you should use apple or pear peels, and a denser one - potato peels. We put them in a container, fill with water and boil, then remove from the stove (disconnect from the mains) and insist for two hours.

The above methods are considered the most gentle at home. But they should only be used when absolutely necessary. It is better to simply wash the device regularly inside and out with a solution of citric acid (1 sachet per 1 liter of water). There is no need to boil the liquid!

Aggressive limescale removal methods

In cases where the recipes described above do not help, you have to apply more drastic ways to solve the problem. Before you clean the kettle from scale with vinegar, it is worth considering that if it has a plastic or glass body, the consequences can be the most unpredictable. It is better not to take risks and use such approaches only when working with metal products.

  • Vinegar cleaning. For 1 liter of water, take half a glass of vinegar, pour the solution into a kettle and bring to a boil over low heat. After that, we evaluate the degree of plaque removal and, if necessary, extend the manipulation for another quarter of an hour.

  • The use of vinegar baking soda and citric acid. If the methods are over, and the removal of the plaque did not lead to anything, the following should be done. Alternately boil water in a kettle with soda (a tablespoon per liter), citric acid (a tablespoon per liter) and vinegar (0.5 cups per liter). The exposure time in each case is half an hour. Treatment with soda, lemon and vinegar will at least soften the scale, which will allow you to wipe it off with a sponge.

How many housewives, so many recipes for cleaning teapots. Some are ready to clean the product with the help of Whiteness, after that spending a lot of time to eliminate the persistent chlorine smell. The approach, of course, is effective, but it can lead to permanent damage to the material.

When boiling water, solid deposits appear inside the kettle, small particles of which even pass through the mesh and enter the drink. And the view inside the kettle becomes unaesthetic. It will take quite a bit of time to get rid of this problem. In addition, every housewife probably has a life-saving remedy in the kitchen.

Learn how to clean the kettle even from old scale with ordinary table vinegar and enjoy a wonderful tea party!

The reason for the appearance of deposits on the walls of the kettle are the salts contained in the water. Calcium compounds are the most unpleasant for dishes.
In the process of heating water, calcium carbonates (CaCO3) and magnesium (MgCO3) are formed. They settle on the bottom, walls and heating elements of the kettle in the form of a rough yellow-gray coating, which is called scale.

The intensity of the appearance of deposits depends on the "hardness" of the water (the level of mineral salts in it) - the higher it is, the faster the plaque forms.

Note! Scale not only spoils appearance dishes, but also reduces heat transfer - it takes more time to bring water to a boil. If the kettle is “dressed in a fur coat” with a thickness of only 1 mm from the inside, heat costs will increase by 10%!

The harm of scale in electric kettles is especially noticeable. Settling on the heating elements, deposits contribute to their rapid failure. As a result, expensive equipment breaks down without having worked out its entire resource.

If you leave the appearance of scale in the kettle unattended, continuing to boil water in it, tea drinking will soon cease to bring joy and pleasure. And all because along with water, gray flakes - particles of salt deposits - will begin to fall into the tea cup. This "additive" can spoil not only the appearance of the drink, but also its taste.

Today, there are many ways to completely clean drinking water. But it is the content of trace elements in it that makes water “alive”, since they are necessary for the normal functioning of various organs and body systems.

Why is the use of vinegar so effective in the fight against scale?

Many cleaning products contain organic acids, fragrances, and other chemical compounds. All this is included in the price of the product.

In fact, the basis of descaling is the reaction of the splitting of magnesium and calcium salts. Vinegar copes with this task without any problems, and in small concentrations - the most in demand.

Another reason why descaling a kettle with table vinegar shows excellent result, is an liquid state cleaning agent. It penetrates everything hard-to-reach places removing salt deposits.

In addition, vinegar has other advantages over most limescale removers. Among the main ones:

  • availability;
  • profitability;
  • efficiency;
  • relative safety;
  • ease of use.

Note! When used in the correct concentration, acetic acid does not damage the inside of the teapot and washes out easily after use.

Basic Methods for Cleaning a Kettle with Vinegar

There are several ways to use vinegar to descale dishes. Some of them are aimed at preventing the formation of scale, the other - at removing old deposits.

The proposed recipes provide for the use of the most popular 9 percent table vinegar. It is sold in most grocery stores. You can also get a similar product by diluting 1 part vinegar essence with 7 parts water.

Important! For any manipulations with concentrated acid, safety rules must be observed!

  1. Fill the kettle cold water and add vinegar at the rate of 100 ml for each liter.
  2. Boil water, leave for 2-3 hours, and when heavy pollution- all night long.
  3. Then pour out the contents, clean the inner surface with a sponge, easily removing loosened scale residues.
  4. Rinse well, fill with clean water, boil and drain again.

The kettle is ready to use!

"Double composition" with the addition of soda

Easy to clean kettle a large number deposits, and old scale will help a means of enhanced action with vinegar and soda.
This method is step by step process, based on alkaline and acid treatment.

  1. Boil water in a kettle, add baking soda in the proportion: 3 tablespoons per 1 liter of water.
  2. Cool the solution for 30 minutes, then boil the water again and drain.
  3. Rinse the kettle well with water.
  4. Carry out the vinegar treatment according to the classical method described above.

There is another, faster way.

  1. Pour water into the kettle, add soda, immediately pour in the vinegar, boil and leave to cool completely.
  2. Then pour out the contents, clean the kettle with a sponge.

The ratio of ingredients: for each liter of water you need 2 tablespoons of soda and 100 ml of vinegar.

Additional Information! "Double composition" helps to get rid of not only scale, but also rust.

"Triple composition" with soda and citric acid

In even more difficult cases use a three-stage cleaning method, in which vinegar, soda and citric acid are combined.

  1. Boil water in a kettle, add baking soda at the rate of 3 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. Leave for 30 minutes, drain, rinse running water.
  2. At the second stage, bring the water to a boil with citric acid (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water). Also let stand for 30 minutes, drain and rinse with water.
  3. The final, third stage is cleaning in the classic way using 9% vinegar.

How to choose the right method?

Models of modern teapots are diverse: metal, glass, plastic. But all of them are prone to scale formation and need regular or preventive cleaning.

What method will be optimal for a particular type?

Electrical

If the electric kettle has a plastic body surface and a slight layer of scale, use the classic method without leaving the vinegar solution overnight.

Due to the fact that the heat-resistant polymers from which the bodies of electric kettles are made are resistant to solutions acetic acid and baking soda, in some cases the possibility of using phased cleaning is also allowed.

Important! Using acetic acid solutions that are too strong can damage plastic surface and heating elements.

glass

Teapots with a glass case are filled with water, vinegar is added, boiled and left for 2-3 hours. The remaining scale is cleaned with a sponge. With persistent contamination, the procedure is repeated.

stainless steel

With the help of vinegar, you can quite easily descale teapots from of stainless steel.

To do this, first pour the soda solution, let it stand for a while. Then the surface is wiped with a cloth or napkin moistened with a weak solution of acetic acid.

By the way, this method will allow you to clean the dishes not only inside, but also outside - from fat.

Brewing

Pour water into a large enough saucepan, heat to a boil, remove from heat. Add vinegar and baking soda.

Gently lower the teapot into the foaming solution, cover the pan with a lid, leave for 30 minutes. This is enough to remove all plaque, including from a narrow spout.

Finally, rinse the kettle thoroughly.

enamelled

The most traditional attribute in the kitchen requires careful handling. Attempt to descale mechanically leads to damage to the enamel and the appearance of corrosion. Water in such dishes is contaminated with compounds heavy metals extremely harmful to health. Vinegar is ideal for descaling enameled containers. Any method can be used.

Note! Pour cold water it is better to put it in a kettle that has already cooled down so that the enamel coating does not crack and lose its appearance.

A word about prevention

Using vinegar from scale, about the problem lime deposits may not be remembered. It is enough to follow simple rules:

  • Before each use, rinse the kettle and pour required amount fresh water to avoid re-boiling.
  • Once a month, clean the inner surface, even if the sediment is negligible.
  • Use soft filtered water.

Additional information: When cleaning salt deposits with vinegar, persistent unpleasant odors are simultaneously removed.

Thanks to regular descaling using vinegar solutions, the kettle will look “like new” for a long time, and its service life will be extended. Water after boiling does not lose its beneficial features, keeping taste qualities hot drinks.

Regardless of the cost and model of the kettle, after some time of operation, a layer of scale appears on its inner surface. Hard deposits not only reduce the efficiency of the device, but also degrade the quality of the water that is heated in it. We will figure out how to remove scale in the kettle with improvised means and industrial preparations.

Before we learn how to remove scale in the kettle at home, let's find out why it forms. Hard deposits are formed due to the fact that when the temperature rises, magnesium and calcium salts dissolved in water break down into carbon dioxide and solid small crystals. As a result, a gray-brown sediment accumulates on the bottom and walls of the kettle.

The consequences of scale formation:

  • a decrease in the performance of electric kettles - sediment on the heating element increases energy consumption, in addition, the device may break as a result of overheating;
  • acceleration of the destruction of the material from which the walls of the container are made;
  • deterioration in the taste of water;
  • the ingress of calcium, magnesium and other substances into the human body - they accumulate in the kidneys, forming solid calculi (sand, stones).

The rate of scale formation in the kettle depends on the hardness of the water, the level of which is determined based on the concentration of salts. Before a liquid from natural sources is supplied to the supply system, it is cleaned of excess impurities. But in most regions, the level of water hardness remains very high.

Folk remedies

Scale adheres tightly to inner surface kettle and cannot be removed with a brush or scraper. The only way to get rid of the sediment is to apply an organic or inorganic acid to dissolve it.

In search of answers to questions on how to descale an electric kettle, as well as how to restore the original appearance of a traditional metal appliance, it is worth remembering the following popular folk remedies:

  • vinegar;
  • citric acid;
  • soda;
  • carbonated drinks and so on.

Vinegar

There are several methods that make it possible to descale the kettle with vinegar, some of them are suitable for electrical appliances, others for traditional ones.

Ways to process a regular teapot:

  1. Pour water and vinegar essence into a container - 2 large spoons per 1 liter. Heat to 70º, reduce heat and hold on the stove for 30 minutes.
  2. Combine in a teapot 1 liter of water and 150 ml of 9% vinegar. Boil for 15-30 minutes. The time should be adjusted depending on the intensity of the descaling process, which can be controlled by periodically opening the lid.

It is undesirable to use vinegar for cleaning electric kettles because of its high aggressiveness. But with a thick layer of scale this method allow. You can process devices whose body is made of metal, glass or plastic.

Action algorithm:

  1. Pour 0.5 liters of water into the kettle. Boil.
  2. Add 200 ml of vinegar (9%) or 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar essence.
  3. Leave the liquid in the kettle for 15-20 minutes. If the scale has not peeled off, bring to a boil and wait 15-20 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

The scale that has fallen off the walls in the kettle, how to remove it with vinegar, which was discussed above, should be removed from the appliance by washing it several times under running water. Then you need to fill the tank to the top, boil and drain the liquid. It is desirable to repeat the action twice. Such a final treatment should be carried out with any cleaning method.

Important: When choosing how to remove scale in a kettle at home, you need to know that when vinegar is heated, the room is filled with caustic bad smell. Remove children and pets from it, as well as open the window.

Lemon acid

Considering how to clean the kettle from , we note that this method ideal for electrical appliances. The advantages of the method are safety for coating and the absence of a pungent odor.

Cleaning steps:

  1. Pour 0.75 liters of water (2/3 of the volume) into the kettle. Add 2 tablespoons of acid.
  2. Bring the electric kettle to a boil. The device should turn itself off.
  3. After 15-20 minutes, check the result of cleaning. If the precipitate separates, discard the liquid and rinse under running water.

If a slight scale has formed in the kettle - how to remove it with citric acid? You can heat water, add powder to it and leave the liquid in the device for 5-6 hours. It is advisable to carry out such cleaning every month for prevention. In extreme cases, citric acid can be replaced with lemon juice.

Soda

Let's find out how to remove scale in a metal kettle: enamelled, stainless steel or aluminum. It is best to use baking soda or soda ash.

Cleaning methods:

  1. Pour water into the kettle up to the top. Pour soda at the rate of 1 large spoon per 0.5 l. Boil 30 minutes. Drain liquid. Clean off softened plaque with a brush or hard sponge.
  2. Fill the reservoir with water. Pour soda - 2.5 large spoons per 1 liter. Boil 30-40 minutes. Drain liquid. Fill the kettle with water and add vinegar - 4 large spoons per 1 liter. Boil for another 25 minutes.

Consider how to descale the kettle with soda, if it belongs to electrical appliances. It is necessary to fill it with water, boil it and add soda in the proportion of 2 large spoons per 1 liter. After 2 hours, clean the container with a sponge.

Carbonated drinks

When figuring out how to descale the kettle with Coca-Cola, you should pay attention to the fact that the method is not suitable for electrical models. Other drink options are Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes. The last two types of soda are more preferable because they are colorless and cannot stain the surface of the dishes.

The destructive effect of the listed drinks on scale is explained by the presence of phosphoric acid in them. They will not cope with a thick layer of deposits, but they will remove a thin coating without any problems.

Processing steps:

  1. Fill the kettle with drink.
  2. Wait until the gas comes out (all bubbles burst).
  3. Boil.
  4. After half an hour, remove the liquid and wash the kettle.

other methods

Deciding how to clean enamel teapot from scale, it is worth considering the following options:

  1. Put in tank washed cleaning from potatoes, apples or pears. Fill with water. Boil. Let stand 1-2 hours. Remove soft deposits with a sponge.
  2. connect chalk, laundry soap, water and ammonia in proportion 9:2:6:3. Pour into teapot. Boil over low heat for 1.5 hours. Wash under running water.
  3. Pour brine from cucumbers or tomatoes into the kettle. Boil. Wait until the liquid has cooled down. Remove plaque with a brush or sponge.

Chemicals

If a thick scale has formed in an electric kettle - how to remove it and not ruin the appliance? You can resort to industrial facilities. Most often, they contain acids that break down the precipitate.

Popular drugs:

  1. Antiscale by Frau Schmidt - tablets for tea and coffee makers. Composition - sulfamic, adipic and citric acids. Application - boil water in a kettle (3/4 volume), put a tablet, wait 10 minutes, pour out the liquid and rinse.
  2. "Cillit" - a liquid for descaling coffee makers, kettles and other appliances. Composition - sulfamic and oxalic acids. Application - fill the kettle with water, add the product (50 ml per 0.5 l of water), wait 30 minutes, rinse.
  3. "Antinakipin" from TM "Cinderella" - a liquid for removing scale in teapots, washing machines, electric boilers, coffee makers. Composition - organic and mineral acids. Application - fill the kettle with water, add the agent (60 ml per 1 liter of water), rinse after 2-3 hours.

Note: The products described contain strong acids. The instructions for them indicate which surfaces are not recommended for processing. It is undesirable to use them more than once a month.

Prevention

Measures to prevent scale formation in the kettle:

  • the use of water filters that reduce the concentration of salts;
  • removal of the liquid remaining after boiling from the tank;
  • preventive cleaning once a month using citric acid or soda;
  • the use of electric kettles in which the spiral is closed.

Scale in the kettle reduces its service life, increases energy costs for heating water, worsens the taste of drinks and negatively affects the condition of the kidneys. You can remove it with soda, vinegar and other products containing acids. Cleaning is desirable to be done in advance, when the layer of plaque is minimal. After processing, the kettle should be thoroughly rinsed from residues. chemical substances, heat water in it several times and drain it.

How to clean the kettle from scale at home is shown in the video.

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What is the best way to clean the kettle from scale?

In any kitchen, in any home, there is sure to be a kettle, simple with a whistle or electric.

Over time, scale forms in it, which is a certain inconvenience for its owners. Water boils longer, sediment appears in it, even the taste of water worsens. And the electric kettle can generally break down if it is not descaled in time.

Where does scale come from?

Many salts are dissolved in water. The more of them, the harder the water. There are special filters for cleaning hard water. But they cannot clean it completely.

When boiling, some of the salts precipitate, which is deposited on the walls of the kettle. Therefore, it is so necessary to know how to effectively clean scale from the walls of the kettle.

Scale cleaning methods

With citric acid

  • Add 50 g of citric acid to 3 liters of water.
  • Pour into the kettle, but not to the brim. Otherwise it will splatter when boiled.
  • Boil for a few minutes.
  • Leave until completely cool.
  • If there is a lot of scale, the procedure can be repeated.
  • Pour off the cooled solution.
  • Rinse the inside of the kettle with a soft sponge.
  • Pour clean water, boil, drain.
  • The kettle is ready to go.

Vinegar

  • Pour cold water into the kettle.
  • Add for every liter of water 1 tbsp. l. vinegar essence (or 100 g of 9% vinegar).
  • Pour 2/3 into the kettle. So that when boiling it does not splash out
  • Boil.
  • Leave the kettle with the solution to stand for several hours. The best option is overnight.
  • In the morning, drain the vinegar solution.
  • Rinse the kettle well with a sponge.
  • Rinse the kettle thoroughly to remove the smell of vinegar.

Combined method

If there is a lot of scale, it is poorly removed, use several products in stages.

  • Pour cold water into the kettle. Leave a place so that it does not splash when boiling.
  • For every liter of water, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of baking soda.
  • Boil for about 30 minutes.
  • Drain the boiling water, pour a new portion of cold water. Leave space again
  • For 1 liter add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of citric acid.
  • Boil the kettle.
  • Drain boiling water.
  • Pour cold water a third time. Not to the brim
  • Pour 100 ml of table vinegar (9%) per liter of water.
  • Boil for half an hour.
  • Drain the solution, rinse the kettle thoroughly until the smell of vinegar is removed.

To prevent the electric kettle from turning off, open the lid. Make sure the water doesn't boil away.

Folk ways to get rid of scale

There are a few more folk ways scale destruction. At one's own risk.

With the help of Coca-Cola, Sprite or Fanta

  • Just pour any of the listed drinks into the kettle.
  • It is advisable to release all the gas from the drink before this.
  • Boil, pour, rinse the kettle.
  • Drinks contain acid, which is why they act destructively on scale.

An old recipe for getting rid of scale

  • Boil the potato peels in a kettle.
  • It is necessary to wash them and boil them several times in a kettle of water.
  • You can add additional peel from sour apples.

After descaling the kettle, be sure to rinse it thoroughly to remove odors and detergent residues. It is better to boil clean water first, drain it, and only then boil it for drinking.

Why not clean the kettle?

  • Do not use concentrated acid solutions for descaling.
  • It is advisable to avoid iron washcloths.

To keep scale formation as low as possible, buy a special filter for hard water. True, he cannot purify the water completely, but the scale will be much less.

Get rid of scale in time - and your kettle will serve you much longer.

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