Limescale doesn't just spoil the flavour of your tea and coffee; it can also prolong the boiling time of water, causing a spike in your energy costs. Limescale is formed from minerals present in tap water that, when heated, convert into a stubborn residue that is notoriously hard to remove, regardless of how much scrubbing you do.

However, you can now breathe a sigh of relief as cleaning, and home hack enthusiast Ffion Bloomfield has shared a “super simple” way to naturally banish limescale from your kettle that works instantly. In a post on her Instagram account @blooms_abode, Ffion showcased her preferred method for descaling the household kettle that doesn’t involve vinegar, but citric acid instead. Although vinegar does a stellar job of cleaning kettles, it often requires a few minutes or hours to fully remove limescale, especially when the buildup is stubborn.

Citric acid is a great addition to your list of natural cleaning ingredients. Its low pH means it is very acidic, so it’s great for removing limescale, rust, and other minerals.

Ffion captioned the video: “Kettle limescale - when did you last do yours? Here’s a super simple way to get rid of limescale buildup at the bottom of your kettle.”

To try this technique, start by adding a scoop of citric acid to your kettle before filling it halfway with water.

Put the kettle on to boil, pour out the water, give it a rinse, then the kettle should be free of limescale instantly.

To save water, you can pour the citric acid solution down the toilet to help remove limescale buildup in this area.

If needed, a quick sponge scrub can be used to wipe away any stubborn limescale remnants from the kettle.

Citric acid also makes for a great alternative to using vinegar as a general cleaning spray, especially if you’re not keen on the smell of vinegar.

It’s great for removing soap scum and water marks on glass shower doors too.

To make a citric acid cleaning spray, add 500ml of hot water to a jug, add three tablespoons of citric acid and stir to dissolve. Then, transfer this to a spray bottle. You can add a few drops of an essential oil for a lovely fragrance.