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The no-scrub kettle cleaning hack involving a humble fruit
When did you last clean your kettle?
If you’re like most people the answer probably ranges from ‘never’ to ‘2019’, and we get it – endlessly scrubbing away at stubborn limescale for very little result is not the ideal way to spend your weekend, but sadly unless you like your cuppa laced with flakes it has to be done.
Thankfully, one woman has shared a simple and natural way of effectively cleaning your kettle, with zero scrubbing required.
What’s more, sidestepping chemical-laden products and bleach, the hack uses a humble fruit you’ll likely already have at home.
Kettle hack explodes on TikTok
The woman behind the trick calls herself Mama_Mila_ on TikTok where she shared that she uses slices of lemon as a natural cleaner and deodoriser.
“This is the natural, no-scrub way to rid kettle limescale,” she captioned the demonstration clip on the video-sharing platform.
In the video, she simply fills the kettle with water and adds a sliced lemon.
Once you have added the lemon, Mama_Mila_ explains that you should then boil the kettle twice and keep the hot water in the kettle for 30 minutes before draining.
She then suggests rinsing out the kettle with water and standing back to admire your limescale-free appliance.
That’s it, that’s the trick.
Though it seems impossibly simple, a before and after glimpse reveals the trick removed stains and pesky limescale build-up, leaving the kettle gleaming inside.
TikTok goes wild for ‘amazing’ trick
After she shared the simple trick, TikTok users flocked to the comments, obsessed with the efficacy of the no-scrub method.
“I just did this to my kettle. Amazing result. Thank you,” one impressed fan wrote.
“This really works, thanks,” another added.
How does the lemon cleaning trick work?
According to cleaning expert, Heather Barrigan from MyJobQuote, the hack works so well because the acidity in lemons breaks down limescale.
“Lemons are one of the best natural cleaning products and especially useful for cleaning limescale off your kettle,” she explains.
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“This is because lemons contain an adequate level of citric acid, and also have excellent antibacterial benefits which will not only keep your kettle smelling fresh but will also remove any unwanted dirt and germs.”
Barrigan says you can also use lemons to remove stains from your kitchen countertops.
“All you need to do is squeeze some lemon juice onto the worktop and leave it for around five minutes before wiping it away with a cloth,” she adds.
“On stubborn stains, you should scrub the area with baking soda and lemons which will remove the stain in seconds.”
Other ways you can use the lemon trick around the home
According to Nadeem Abbas, director Love2Laundry, lemon juice can also be used to clean other areas of your home, anywhere limescale is likely to build up, including in the bathroom, tap fixtures and even the washing machine.
“Regularly descaling your washing machine will help it last longer and leave your clothes feeling and smelling fresher,” Abbas adds.
“To descale your washing machine with lemon juice, add 240ml lemon juice to the drum and run it on a long, hot wash. This will break down mineral residue and remove odours.”
Additional reporting by Marie Claire Dorking.
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