White crap in my kettle

saz_1989

This is so strange. I've just poured myself a hot drink and there's all white bits floating around. But when I pour myself a cold drink from the tap, there's nothing in the water! :confused:

But I've washed my kettle. Should I report it to the halls?

Reply 1

George Agdgdgwngo

17

Firebird

This is so strange. I've just poured myself a hot drink and there's all white bits floating around. So I emptied out the kettle, washed it a bit, and made another, and there's still loads of white crap. But when I pour myself a cold drink from the tap, there's nothing in the water! :confused:

But I've washed my kettle. Should I report it to the halls?

It's minerals and stuff in the water supply. Harmless.

Reply 2

Juno

20

It's called limescale and is perfectly normal. Are you down south? They have hard water, so it's more likely.

All you need is some vinegar. Yes, the brown stuff you put on your chips, although white vinegar if you can get it is better. Fill the kettle with vinegar so it covers the element, and leave it overnight. If it's really bad you may need to leave it longer. Then, empty it out and boil the kettle a few times with new water each time. Then, your kettle should be as good as new!

Reply 3

George Agdgdgwngo

17

Juno

It's called limescale and is perfectly normal. Are you down south? They have hard water, so it's more likely.

All you need is some vinegar. Yes, the brown stuff you put on your chips, although white vinegar if you can get it is better. Fill the kettle with vinegar so it covers the element, and leave it overnight. If it's really bad you may need to leave it longer. Then, empty it out and boil the kettle a few times with new water each time. Then, your kettle should be as good as new!

That's the word I was looking for, just wouldn't come to me. :biggrin:

Reply 4

pikaboo

13

Juno you're really practical! :smile:

Reply 5

Juno

20

You can't get it out of the water, but now ou know about it you can keep an eye on your kettle and get rid of it before it gets as bad again. Your kettle will be fixable. It may need a few goes with vinegar, but limescale is perfectly normal and it's been around for longer than kettles have. If you're really desparate, you can buy limescale removers but they're not as good as vinegar. They're usually bad for you if you drink it by mistake, whereas vinegar will just taste vile. And they're expensive. And they smell worse than vinegar.

Reply 6

*StarrySkies*

Juno

It's called limescale and is perfectly normal. Are you down south? They have hard water, so it's more likely.

All you need is some vinegar. Yes, the brown stuff you put on your chips, although white vinegar if you can get it is better. Fill the kettle with vinegar so it covers the element, and leave it overnight. If it's really bad you may need to leave it longer. Then, empty it out and boil the kettle a few times with new water each time. Then, your kettle should be as good as new!

lemon juice works too and it doesn't leave a smell :wink:

Reply 7

Pseudomuse

1

thats the reason you water tastes wierd is because of the minerals in the water system. however it is a very good way of getting calcium into you body. the taste will take some getting use to, unfortunatly you can;t get it out of the water. lemon juice is also good for getting rid of limescale as well but i would go for the vinagar. it's cheaper and there is no need to stand there squeezing a lemon into you kettle lol

Reply 8

glance

17

I think buying a water filter which you just pour the water through before you put it in the kettle might remove the minerals, but I'm not sure.

Reply 9

dogtanian

16

You mean they don't have limescale up north?

Crazy....

Reply 10

Juno

20

dogtanian

You mean they don't have limescale up north?

Crazy....

It's not as bad, as they don't have such hard water.

Reply 11

dogtanian

16

I'm just used too used to it. Hmm.

My kettle is probably whiter on the inside than the outside.

Meh, it's just chalk. Kinda.

Reply 12

Clarence

14

Washing machines live longer with calgon!!!

Same thing. Bit of Limescale.

Reply 13

Mad Vlad

19

Clarence

Washing machines live longer with calgon!!!

Same thing. Bit of Limescale.

Yes, but this is a kettle... and I wouldn't advise putting in a calgon tablet with your brew.

Reply 14

Clarence

14

Did it to my kettle.
No more white stuff
Voila.

Reply 15

RieLouise

1

dogtanian

You mean they don't have limescale up north?

Crazy....

We didn't get it in the Midlands either.
(It's pretty horrid if you're not used to it.)

A water filter works wonders. Or bottled water.

Reply 16

db

17

Clarence

Washing machines live longer with calgon!!!

Same thing. Bit of Limescale.

mmm danone

our kettle at work is like that and it's filled from a water cooler, surely bottled water isn't hard water :??:

Reply 17

Saffie

11

Firebird

Thanks for the help everyone. Yes, I'm in the South at uni. How can I get this stuff out of the water? I don't really know about this since I'm from up north. Can it be fixed? I've always noticed the water tastes dodgy but didn't use my kettle till this year (need more coffee hehe!).

My kettle heats up from the base and it's all covered in limescale, if I can't fix it is there anywhere I can claim money from to replace it? Maybe halls? I bought a fancy one (about £30 - it has funky lights :biggrin:

).

don't they teach you anything in GCSE science? :eek:

You can't get the calcium carbonate out of the water, it can't be fixed. (reason it has it in is cause it runs through chalk and the minerals dissolve into it) Funny you call it dodgy, I see soft water as dodgy! :p:

There's no point buying a new kettle, just keep this one clean. Doesn't have to be very clean at all.

Reply 18

sophisti_kate

You want limescale? You should come to Belgium...it's that bad that most households have big water softeners attached to the water pipes but it doesn't really work! Don't live anywhere near a limestone area...granite all the way!

Reply 19

Leigh

15

I'm from Southern England so found the OP's post about it as if it was some alien concept quite funny.

But no, it's nothing to worry about, just rinse the loose bits out of your kettle; the stuff that's stuck to the filament isn't going to end up in your drink so it's ok there!

White crap in my kettle

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