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Limescale is the white, chalky residue that accumulates in kettles and coffee machines, and it is particularly visible on stainless steel. It can be incredibly hard to get rid of, but doing so could mean your “running costs” are slightly lower. Mark Greig, head of supplier management at nationwide electrical appliance experts, Marks Electrical, told 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, 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.”

If limescale builds up in the kettle, Mark said the appliance will require more energy to heat the water.

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In turn, this will increase power consumption and ultimately making “running costs” higher.

Mark added: “Thankfully, removing limescale from your kettle is a fairly straightforward job and is therefore easy to keep on top of.

“The most effective way to clean your kettle is with the white vinegar and water method.

“To do this, you need to fill the kettle up with a solution of half vinegar and half water and let it soak overnight.

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“Be sure that no one tries to use it during this time.”

In the morning, Mark recommended draining the kettle and giving it a thorough rinse out.

He said: “You should be able to see the limescale falling off pretty easily.

“For the final step, boil the kettle with fresh water and empty it one more time just to get rid of any lingering odours from the vinegar.

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“To maintain the kettle overtime and prevent limescale build-up from getting too bad in the future, it’s a good idea to purchase a kettle protector.

“This will mean that you won’t have to worry about cleaning it so regularly because the stainless steel ball will work to attract deposits away from the base and sides of the kettle.”

Kettles may need to be cleaned at least once a month to keep limescale at bay.

Another expert also recommended using white vinegar or lemon juice which can help to keep the kettle germ-free.

Sarah Dempsey, cleaning expert at MyJobQuote, told Express.co.uk: “Descaling makes it more energy efficient and depending on your energy tariff.

“It could save you between one pence and three pence every time you make a cuppa.

“It’s not a huge saving, but if you use your kettle regularly, this will add up over the course of a year.

“You can use a shop-bought limescale remover or simply use white vinegar or lemon juice.”

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