How to Clean a Tea Kettle and Remove Mineral Deposits

Also, we share helpful upkeep tips so you don’t have to clean it as often.

Knowing how to clean a tea kettle is helpful for making thebest-tasting cup of tea.

There is even a name for this build-up of minerals: kettle furring.

A female hand in a rubber yellow glove wipes a blue teapot with a rag.

Irina Tiumentseva/Getty Images

If used daily, a tea kettle should be thoroughly cleaned and descaled at least seasonally.

For those living in an area withhard water, descale the kettle’s interior once a month.

Wipe down the exterior weekly, or whenever splatters happen, to remove stains and fingerprints.

However, a thorough cleaning and descaling shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.

Here’s what you should probably do.

Dip the brush or sponge in pure distilled vinegar to help dislodge any minerals around the spout.

Step 4: Clean Kettle Exterior

Never submerge an electric tea kettle in water.

This will damage the heating element.

Reassemble the kettle and fill it with water.

Bring the water to a boil and then pour it out.

This rinse cycle will get rid of any remaining vinegar and loose minerals.

Also, stovetop kettles tend to get dirtier due to their proximity to grease and flames.

Here’s how to keep it looking new.

Fill the kettle with water and bring it to a boil.

Pour out the water.

This is the final rinse cycle to get rid of any remaining cleaning solution and loose minerals.

Baking soda is mildly abrasive, but it shouldn’t cause damage if you follow the steps below.

If this happens, stop immediately and try a less abrasive option.

Alternatively, make a paste of baking soda and water to help remove the final bits of burned-on mess.

Apply the paste, then scrub until the spots are gone.

(Don’t waste the water: Use it to water plants or rinse the sink.)

This step helps prevent hard water stains or build-up.

Copper and cast iron tea kettles or ones with a metal bottom can corrode if not properly maintained.

Also, if an enamel finish chips off, the metal beneath can rust at the seams.

To prevent this, keep your kettle completely dry when it’s not in use.

Store all kettles in a well-ventilated area.

Some vinegar residue can stick around even after you rinse your tea kettle with warm water.

Do this one to three times until the smell dissipates.

The lemon can help neutralize the smell and potential taste.