How to Clean an Electric Kettle

Why turn on the stove when you can plug in an electric kettle and get boiling water even faster? Whether you’re making a healthy tea, drip coffee or even a quick pasta dish, the best electric kettles are super easy to use — and they’re pretty low maintenance. However, you’ll definitely want to make sure you know how to clean your electric kettle to avoid mineral buildup over time.

Luckily, our cleaning and kitchen appliance experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute know a thing or two about electric kettle maintenance. “It’s important to clean your kettle to keep the water tasting fresh. Plus, you’ll be able to see the build-up if you have a clear kettle, so cleaning it will also help it look its best,” says Nicole Papantoniou, Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director.

While you can opt to purchase a descaling solution, you can also make your own. We’ll walk you through how often to clean your kettle, the three main DIY descaling methods according to our experts and tips on how to clean the outside of your electric kettle.

The reason you need to descale your kettle is due to mineral buildup, namely calcium and magnesium from your local water supply. How often you’ll have to clean your kettle will depend on how “hard” your water is, since hard water contains more mineral deposits, and how often you use it. Typically, you should aim to clean it around once a month, or per the manufacturer’s instructions. Removing the mineral buildup in your kettle is also known as “descaling,” which you may be familiar with if you own a coffee or espresso maker.

Carolyn Forté, executive director of our Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, points out that acids, like vinegar and citric acid, are effective at dissolving hard water mineral residues all around the house, like in the bathroom, dishwasher and even the laundry. If you've ever cleaned a Keurig coffee maker, this method should look familiar.

1. Combine one part white distilled vinegar and three parts fresh water in the kettle. Our experience has shown that you don't need to fill the kettle more than a third full. For a 1-liter electric kettle, use 1/4 cup of vinegar and 3/4 cup of water. If your electric kettle is larger, try 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 1/2 cups water.
2. Bring the water and vinegar to a boil, turn the kettle off then let it sit for 20 minutes.
3. Rinse it out several times with fresh water to flush away the buildup. If the buildup was heavy, you can use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe the inside of the kettle as well.
4. To ensure any lingering vinegar taste is gone, you can optionally refill the kettle with water only, boil and discard.

The acid in lemon juice can also descale an electric kettle, and since tea and lemon pair naturally, you won't have to worry about any unappetizing lingering tastes. Alternatively, you can use citric acid powder, which dissolves in water and then breaks down gunk in the same way as lemon juice. Citric acid powder is often sold alongside spices in grocery stores and is used in canning and preserving. It's also a natural preservative listed on plenty of food labels. For this method:

1. Fill your kettle up half way with water and add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or citric acid.
2. Bring the liquid to a boil, turn off the kettle and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Dump out the mixture and rinse the kettle thoroughly with fresh water.
3. Wipe away heavy deposits using a soft sponge or cloth.

Baking soda is a tried-and-true cleaner and works well for descaling light deposits in the bottom of your electric kettle. Use it this way:

1. Scoop 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the kettle, then add water to at least the halfway mark.
2. Boil, turn the kettle off and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes.
3. Rinse the kettle with water and wipe the bottom with a sponge or soft cloth. Rinse again to be sure you've removed all traces of baking soda.

• If the buildup is especially bad or you're cleaning for the first time in a year or more, you can let your cleaning solution — whether you're using vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid or baking soda — sit overnight before you rinse.
• Cleaning methods are the same whether your electric kettle is made of glass, ceramic or stainless steel.
• If your electric kettle has a filter, most manufacturers recommend that you remove it and run it under water to clean it, then wipe it with a clean cloth.
• You don't need to use dish soap inside a kettle. Most manufacturers only recommend an electric kettle for boiling water, so you shouldn't have grease or food stains inside to worry about. Also, you shouldn't use an abrasive brush inside, because you want to protect the heating element. Bottom line: Be gentle!

We suggest wiping down the outside every so often, and especially if your electric kettle gets splattered with grease or sauce during the course of cooking. Dip a cloth into a sudsy mix of dish soap and water, wring it out so that it's just damp and not soaking wet and wipe the kettle clean. Repeat the process with clean water to rinse the soap. Do not place your kettle under running water. You should not immerse it or put it in the dishwasher either. This could damage the electronics.

Jessica Hartshorn

Contributing Writer

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.

Laura Millar

Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.