Using a water filter is perhaps the most viable option for most people, as this will remove some of the minerals that cause water to become ‘hard’. There’s no concrete evidence that this will solve your limescale problems completely, but a good-quality filter will massively improve your water quality. This is not intended to be a full statement of your rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Full details of your rights are available from your Local Authority’s Trading Standards Office. How To Return A Product

At that point, it’s time to take action. Cleaning limescale is something we should all do, especially if you live in a ‘hard water’ area. And, while it isn’t difficult, it does take a bit of time, particularly if you haven’t done it regularly. It may also involve the use of chemicals and hot water, so it’s advisable to take all necessary precautions to protect your skin and eyes from scalds, burns, and unwanted splashes before getting started. It’s also important to warn any other household members that the kettle is out of action until you’ve finished and thoroughly rinsed it through – you don’t want them making a chemical-laden cup of tea.

Long-time descaler users recommend that you regularly rinse your descaler ball under cold running water and squeeze it. Doing this washes off loose limescale and mineral sediments from the ball. It also helps ensure that your descaler ball continues to effectively protect your kettle by collecting most of the limescale deposits. Limescale is a naturally occurring substance and is not at all dangerous to consume. Tap water containing large amounts of limescale may not taste great though, and it often gives hot drinks a slightly salty or bitter aftertaste. If your kettle is particularly scaly, you can also add a small amount of bicarbonate of soda to the mixture to help shift any stubborn build-up – you should only need about a teaspoon. If you wish to return your item to Robert Dyas, you can do so by one of the following methods: 1. Request a Collection via Robert Dyas Customer Services

Sadly, kettle descaler balls don’t exactly capture 100 percent of the limescale. This works by the mesh ball collecting most of the limescale while the rest of the deposits settle on their kettle’s side, base, and heating element. This is most evident for those who live in areas with hard water. Magnoball uses a magnetic power to change the limescale molecule in the water and prevent it from leaving deposits in glassware, clothes or heating elements. What is a descaler ball? For a hassle-free and cheap way to descale a kettle, fill it with a mixture of half white vinegar and half water, and leave to soak overnight. (Make sure the kettle is unplugged and there's a note on it so nobody uses it accidentally!) In the morning, the limescale will come off easily. Rinse thoroughly to remove any lingering vinegary odours, and boil up fresh water after the treatment. This natural solution doesn’t rely on any chemicals, so it’s both kind to the environment and inexpensive. Thinly slice a lemon and drop the slices into your kettle. Fill the kettle to the top of the area affected by limescale (but not above any maximum fill guide, or below any minimum), then boil it and allow it to cool without pouring out the water or removing the lemons. Once it has cooled, boil it again, allow to cool, then pour away the water and rinse it out. If you pop in the kettle and leave to collect limescale, it will prevent the kettle from getting old and ruining it. The ball can be used again if you leave it in the kettle.Kettle descaler balls, also called kettle fur balls or kettle scale collectors, are balls made of stainless steel that you put inside your kettle to keep it from collecting limescale or from furring up. This rolled mesh will trap the limescale that would otherwise settle and build up in your kettle over time. Add a soapy solution one drop at a time and shake for 10 seconds until a lather forms. Try to use pure liquid soap (a soap derived from vegetable oils) rather than detergent, as detergent creates foam regardless of water hardness. If you’d rather not scrub, you can add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to 500ml of water and boil several times, allowing it to cool between each boiling. Then empty and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Oust Powerful All Purpose Descaler Limescale Remover is one of these products! You get glowing, limescale free results in less than 10 minutes, and it won’t cost you a fortune either. In addition to this, the descaler can boost the performance of your kettle and help to prolong its life. READ NEXT: Our favourite rapid-boil, quiet and smart kettles How to remove limescale from your kettle

The water will start to fizz immediately and this is the start of the descaling process. After a few minutes, or when the fizzing stops, you can empty the kettle and re-fill it with clean water. You need to know that not all kettle descaler balls being marketed as such are good for your kettle. According to New Scientist, you have to avoid using those cheap wire wools that you can buy in hardware stores. These wire wools are prone to corrosion and rusting. And the rust will affect the color and taste of your tea or coffee. You may find loose pieces of limescale floating in your morning cuppa, or even worse, accidentally crunch into oneWhether your water is hard or soft depends on where you live. Hard water is most commonly found in the south east and London, although if you live on the east coast (including large parts of Yorkshire) you might also experience rapid limescale build-up. Similarly, if you use your kettle many times a day, your kettle may be plagued by more limescale, in comparison to a kettle that’s used once a day.

There are a handful of home tests that will tell you whether your water is hard or soft. You can buy special kits or do it yourself using household materials – the latter is not as accurate though.

The Best Kettle Descalers in the UK

You can expect the limescale to break down and easily come off in the morning after soaking in mild acid. Afterward, rinse your kettle thoroughly, then boil up a pot of fresh water and throw it away. This should help get rid of any unpleasant odor from the vinegar. You should look to descale your kettle once every four to eight weeks to make sure scale doesn’t build up because the longer you leave limescale inside your kettle, the more difficult it’ll be to remove. Here are a few things that can happen if you let limescale build up inside your kettle for a long period of time: