My wife was trying to clean our kettle
I said, it needs CLR
she asked what CLR is
I said Calcium Lime and Rust. There is also Lime-Away.
She put the CLR in there. Then she washed it out many times. All of the mineral deposits washed away. She rinsed it out with water many more times, and then eventually cleaned it with vinegar after rinsing it many times. At least, I think that’s how she cleaned it. She’s the kettle cleaner, I don’t know much about it, other than that CLR exists.
It was very clean for a few months.
We got a regular kettle after that


It tastes like pipes
Half n half, vinegar and water. Fill the kettle halfway with this solution and turn it on. It’ll boil, limescale disappears and you can boil a second, water only cycle to get rid of any lingering vinegar taste, or wash with soap as normal.
Regular kettles will also pick up limescale and minerals after boiling water repeatedly. I’ve not found this to be unique to an electric kettle.
It’s unique in that it’s harder to clean. Yes the smooth ones do also build up minerals.
Ah, didn’t realize it’s the kind that has the element exposed. Those aren’t common where I am. The cheap kettle I have uses a hot plate instead so I forgot about the other variety. Don’t blame you for going back to the stovetop one then
The stovetop ones are more common. They’re usually made of ceramic or metal, sometimes glass or cast iron. I had a glass one I really loved, but it shattered. I replaced it three times before I gave up. Metal it is.
Do you happen to live somewhere gas stoves are more common? I live in Canada, where electric stovetops are more common, so stovetop kettles aren’t the norm. Just curious
Nope
Well actually I don’t know