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Let the kettle light up in time and have some tea.

Never underestimate the power of the kettle. In the cold winter, what could be more wonderful than drinking a cup of warm tea and cider by the fireplace? Or remember when you were in college, you couldn't bear the thought of going to the cafeteria-just a cup of ginger garlic chicken ramen would do? Boiling water in a kettle is essential for comfort! Although you can put a pot on the stove (or hot plate), add water, and turn on the gas, plugging in an electric kettle and pressing the switch is faster and more energy efficient. When you are thinking, how dirty can boiling water be? After repeated use, the kettle was full of white salt-like scales, and the speed of boiling water was not enough to satisfy this desire. You know how to clean the dishwasher. You know how to clean the washing machine. Now you can learn how to clean your kettle, and you will soon be able to brew that cup of Earl Grey tea!

Water contains minerals. When the water boils, some of these minerals will be left behind and fall to the bottom of the kettle. This is especially problematic if you live in hard water areas-it means your water contains a lot of minerals. Over time, this limescale (also called "fur") can clog the heating element and cause your kettle to be extremely inefficient.

Acidic compounds, whether in the form of vinegar or powders like citric acid, are the perfect tools to remove those nasty scales.

If you have distilled white vinegar on hand, add equal amounts of water and vinegar to the kettle until the water is about half full. Bring to a boil; let the boiled vinegar and water mixture sit in the kettle for 15 or 20 minutes. Pour out the mixture and rinse the kettle. If there is still limescale or stickiness in the kettle, use the rough side of the sponge to remove anything that is stuck around.

Citric acid is a naturally occurring element in citrus fruits and has been commercially produced since the beginning of the 20th century. Good at decomposing garbage and dirt, and also good for removing mold, mildew and bacteria. To use it to clean the kettle, first fill the water tank with water and boil it. Once the water boils, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of citric acid and let the mixture sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Pour out the water and scrub with a sponge as needed; rinse.

If you have some flat Coke or Pepsi (you can use soda, but why waste it?), don't throw it. Throw it in your kettle and use it to remove those limescale. Fill the kettle with soda water about 1/4 to 1/2 full. Bring to a boil and let stand for about 30 minutes. Pour out pops, scrub as needed, and rinse thoroughly.