What causes the black discoloration on this plastic electric teakettle?
In the break room at work, there is a tea kettle that has some unappealing discoloration. I would like to use it, and lots of people do, but I find it terribly unappealing.
I can't remove it with soap, and my fingernail has no effect. I can't even feel it, so it doesn't seem like buildup. What causes this, does it adversely affect health or water taste, and is there a way to remove it or improve this teakettle?
Best Answer
See this previous post that explains how to clean an electric kettle. The suggestions include boiling citric acid, vinegar, or descaling solution in the teapot.
Presumably these are impurities from the water that have solidified on the plastic. It is possible that the lack of texture that you mention is because the impurities have bonded with the plastic.
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How do I get black marks off my electric kettle?
Grab a bottle of vinegar. If you have distilled white vinegar on hand, add equal parts water and vinegar to the kettle until it is about halfway full. Bring to a boil; allow the boiled vinegar water mixture to sit in the kettle for 15 or 20 minutes. Pour out the mixture and rinse the kettle.Why does my kettle turn black?
Mold needs something to eat, there's nothing in a kettle for it to feed on. The dots you see are likely discoloration due to mineral deposits in your water. You'll probably find that the dots are occurring where the air bubbles form as the water heats.Why does my tea kettle have black residue?
This residue, called scale, is a harmless buildup of minerals -- primarily calcium and magnesium, found in hard water. To remove the deposits inside your tea kettle, boil equal parts white vinegar and water.Can electric kettles grow mold?
If your kettle has a filter, you need to clean or change it frequently. Otherwise, the damp interior is the perfect place for mold to grow and thrive. This can also happen if you leave water in your kettle often. This is a pretty serious issue, as the mold can make you sick.Why You Need To Replace Your Toxic Plastic Kettle
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Answer 2
using purified water will help. distilled or filtered. after you clean it with vinegar. otherwise it might be possible that someone is putting his or her tea bag (or other) in the pot and that can cause discoloration.
Answer 3
The best way to clean the inside of a kettle is using lemon.
Cut a whole lemon into quarters, fill the kettle with water and place the cut up lemon inside.
Boil the kettle a few times. Empty the water out and remove the lemon. Wipe out the inside of the kettle with a cloth. It will literally wipe clean :)
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