I cleaned the limescale-ridden kettle with 20p staple and it was sparkling

I tend to clean my kettle every few months due to living in a hard water area and the need to keep it free from limescale.

Instead of resorting to chemicals for cleaning appliances, I usually prefer natural ingredients such as white vinegar or baking soda.

However, on this recent cleaning occasion, I chose to use lemon juice, a type of citric acid that can effectively combat limescale.

Lemon juice is one of the top all-natural cleaners with its citric acid properties making it an excellent choice for cleaning the kettle, plus lemons can be bought for as little as 20p each.

It also possesses antibacterial properties, which means it’ll help to sanitize the kettle during the process, reports the Express.

To begin, I filled the kettle halfway and then squeezed the juice of one lemon into the water.

I boiled this concoction and let it sit for approximately 10 to 15 minutes to allow the lemon to do its job.

Particles of limescale started to float in the water almost immediately, and after 15 minutes, there were even more.

I discarded the lemon juice mixture, rinsed the kettle with cold water and boiled it once more.

The aroma of lemon permeated my kitchen and the inside of the kettle was gleaming, with no trace of limescale at all.

You can use either bottled lemon juice or fresh lemon juice but I chose fresh as I had some fruit that needed using.

This quick job barely took five minutes and left my kettle sparkling clean, ready for its next use. Regularly descaling your kettle can keep energy costs down as limescale can make the appliance work harder.

Mark Greig, head of supplier management at nationwide electrical appliance experts, Marks Electrical, commented to Express.co.uk: “Whether it’s being used to make a morning coffee or help boil rice for dinner, our kettle gets lots of use throughout the day .”

“Unfortunately, over time this leads to white deposits, known as limescale, building up in kettles. Not only does limescale build-up ruin a nice cup of tea, but it also affects the efficiency of the appliance as well.”

“At a time when energy prices continue to rise, it’s never been more important to maintain your kettle and ensure it operates as efficiently as possible, reducing the overall cost of your bills.”

Another handy cleaning tip involves using a lemon to clean your microwave, which can often be splattered with grease marks.

Simply slice up a lemon, making sure there are no pips, and place it in a microwave-safe bowl with water.

Microwave this concoction for just a couple of minutes, and the dirt and grime in the microwave will soften up, making cleaning a breeze.