How To Clean A Tea Kettle

Now that January has arrived, we’re smack-dab in the dead of winter. For many of us, that means a few more months of bundling up in scarves and sweaters, eating as much hot soup as possible, and brewing lots of tea.

Whatever your favorite blend—chamomile, earl grey, chai—it’ll taste better if you use a fresh, clean kettle.

Have you ever peered inside yours and noticed a white, powdery substance lining the inside? That’s scale, a buildup of minerals that comes from hard water. It’s no big deal at first, but, over time, it can make your hot water (and tea!) taste kinda funny, and it could even damage your kettle.

During the colder months, when you’re putting your kettle to work a lot more often, make sure to keep it clean. Use this method at least once every few months.

First, wash it thoroughly with soap and water. Then fill it with equal parts white vinegar and water, and bring the mixture to a boil. Boil 10 to 15 minutes, then dump it out. Next, fill the kettle with plain water and boil 10 to 15 minutes. Dump it out again, and wipe the inside of the kettle with a clean towel.

Voila—now your have a perfectly spic-and-span kettle ready for tea time all winter long!

This trick works on coffee makers, too.

Photo credit: Alicia Cho