Low effort, strong results – why household appliances must be descaled regularly
Does the kettle in your kitchen again take ages to bring the water up to temperature? Are glasses and plates still spotted after cleaning in the dishwasher? If so, it could be due to limescale deposits inside the individual appliances. However, they can be removed easily.
General information on limescale
Every morning a chemical experiment can be observed in most households. Namely when the breakfast egg is boiled. After the process there is a thin white layer on the inside of the pot that can be removed with a bare finger. This is limescale that was dissolved from the eggshell during cooking. It initially poses no danger to your pot and you can, if necessary, remove it with dish detergent and a sponge. If you forego this, however, a stubborn limescale layer could form over several days and reduce the pot’s performance.
This chemical process does not only occur when boiling eggs. Rather, it can be observed every day—mostly unnoticed—in numerous household appliances. For example in the iron, the dishwasher, or the kettle. Here limescale can indeed develop into a harmful factor, since it damages important components or gradually impairs the functionality of the appliances. As a result, they often need more time to perform their tasks. This, however, is associated with higher energy consumption. In the worst case, the appliances can tend toward faults, which can lead to costly repairs. It is therefore advisable to descale various household items regularly.
Appliances that should be descaled regularly
Maybe you’ve taken cutlery or drinking glasses out of the dishwasher and wondered about the odd white spots on them. Or your faucet has expelled small crumbs of a yellowish to brownish substance. It might also have been the coffee fresh from the machine that nevertheless showed a peculiar greasy film on its surface. Limescale deposits are familiar to all of us and we encounter them regularly. This usually happens in the kitchen, but can also occur in the basement where the washing machine and the tumble dryer are located. In other words, it concerns all appliances that are operated with water.
They are particularly at risk when they can be heated electrically. Think of the kettle, tea and coffee machines, the dishwasher, the iron and the washing machine. In addition, all faucets are affected; even the pipes leading to them usually show limescale buildup. The same applies to heating systems—especially since these are cleaned only at intervals of many years. Beyond the appliances and systems, limescale is often present throughout the bathroom and can settle on tiles or on the walls of the shower enclosure.
The risks of the chemical sledgehammer
There is no avoiding regular descaling. And it does not have to be difficult: retailers already offer suitable solutions for various devices, machines and systems. These are intended not only to remove limescale but also to support general maintenance and thereby extend the service life of the items. But be careful — the prices can hardly be called cheap. The same applies to the numerous cleaning agents you find in supermarkets and drugstores. Such a purchase should be carefully considered when it costs €15 to €20 per litre.
The advantage of commercial cleaners lies in their simple and effective application. They allow you to reach remote areas inside the device that cannot be cleaned by hand. The downside: these products often contain various chemical additives, and it is not always clear how they affect individual components or the electronics used. Substances such as chlorine or cleaning alcohol may contribute to the cleanliness of devices — but with repeated use can also cause significant damage. When descaling, however, the cheapest solutions are often the best. And they can be found in any household.
Affordable — and ruthlessly effective
If you want to dissolve limescale deposits, you do not need much equipment. Often a weak acid, such as that contained in lemon juice, is sufficient. Chemically processed citric acid or vinegar essence, which is often sold very cheaply, also work wonders. However, caution is required: the higher the acid concentration, the greater the potential risk to components and the device’s electronics. Therefore use it only when diluted with a relatively large proportion of water. Also open the windows when using it indoors in case gases form.
The water‑acid solution is poured into the device. You do not need to run the kettle or coffee machine. Citric acid and vinegar essence can be effective even with cold water. Within 30 to 60 minutes, the limescale should have dissolved under their action. Smaller elements — such as the screen at the faucet opening — can also be immersed in the acid for a few minutes. Where removal is not possible, the acid solution is applied carefully to the affected areas with a brush and wiped off after 30 to 60 minutes. Mild, biodegradable limescale removers based on citric acid are also readily available in retail.
Beware of false promises
If you ask around among acquaintances or research online which tips for descaling are most frequently recommended, you run into risks. Unfortunately, many myths persist that have long since been scientifically refuted. For example, the claim that limescale can be dissolved by using headache tablets. Although the medication does contain a small amount of acid and would therefore, in principle, be an option for use, the acid concentration is so low that you would need a large number of tablets to achieve a satisfactory result. And the cost will likely give you a new headache.
Hardly any better results can be achieved with denture cleaner, alcohol, baking powder or olive oil — in fact, these substances are often recommended for descaling. Occasionally they can even produce a surprising success, but only when the limescale is fresh. Once it dries out and forms a stubborn layer, a strong acid is required. And the substances mentioned are precisely not that. Moreover, alcohol — especially in high concentration — can cause significant damage to the sensitive electronics in appliances on contact. It is therefore still advisable to reach for lemon juice and vinegar essence.
Regularity leads to success
But not only the choice of descaling agents determines good results. The frequency of cleaning also plays a decisive role. You can descale the kettle, the espresso and coffee machines, and the iron at intervals of four to eight weeks. For larger appliances such as the washing machine, the dryer or the dishwasher, the procedure is recommended once every quarter. If you use commercially available descalers, pay close attention to the usage instructions provided. Small components like the aerator screen in the faucet are even cleaned only at intervals of several years to remain functional.
Additionally, a little foresight can make the work easier. Where possible, you should ideally use low-lime water — completely limescale-free water can only be purchased commercially. At relatively low cost today, limescale filters can even be fitted to the water lines. In an increasing number of household appliances such as dishwashers, such a component is already built in. This prevents limescale buildup on household items. The less limescale deposits on them, the more efficient and longer-lasting they will be. If you also keep up regular descaling, costly repairs will be avoided for a long time.