best way to descale a kettle?

rach_k

saro7nmo wrote: »

If new users are not allowed to write on a topic that already exists, whether they realise it or not, please let us know.

If new users think they can offer additional info we consider helpful, but not on a new post but for a pre-existing topic, please let us know.

If new users are obliged to post content in a style that does not come across as a tutorial, or in a style different to other members, please let us know.

If new users are obliged to write posts that everyone must agree with, or like, please let us know.

I wasn't going to comment again but I'm genuinely perplexed with some of the comments. I'm a research scientist so perhaps, out of habit, I go overboard with detail - for that I apologise, but we're all different..!

I genuinely would like to know what I am doing wrong and how others suggest, as a new user, I should go about correcting what I've written, and how I should write other posts I might consider writing so as not to upset anyone. Are comments such as these made to all new users, or just a few?

You haven't done anything wrong, but if you hang around the forum for a while you will notice that new users regularly sign up just to advertise a particular product. They often copy content that has been posted elsewhere (or that they've written to post across various forums) and often the style is like a tutorial leading to recommending a particular product or service, or a question like 'I'm looking for X, has anybody tried THIS brand which says it is awesome because...?'. Sometimes they get 'clever' and do the first few posts without recommending anything, then when people ask questions e.g. 'Oh that sounds good, do you know where I can get that?' they will 'helpfully' give a link.

Your initial post came across like that. That may just be your style and there's nothing wrong with it - it's perhaps just unlucky for you that people trying to advertise tend to adopt the same style, but I'm sure you can understand people's suspicions as it is quite an unusual approach. I noticed that your other posts also recommended certain products - sodium sesquicarbonate and another about 'descaler'. I did wonder if you worked for Dri-Pak as they sell both of those things, so if you did I played into your hands by suggesting them as a source of citric acid! It may just be that you're passionate about those types of things, but people are just going off past experience when they take it with a pinch of salt.

saro7nmo

Ahhh I see..! No I don't work for Dri-Pak I assure you. I'm a virologist working on technology for new types of vaccines. I know a fair amount of bits and bobs and thought I'd share it. I know about sodium percarbonate due to it's use as a sanitiser for sterilising equipment (important in microbiology) and how it actually works - and what else it can do. I know fair amount of other useful stuff I was considering posting but I think it's a tightrope to post other stuff. Cheers for letting me know - explains a bit now. No one said anything about that until now and all comments came across unwelcoming.. :-)

Hobsons_Choice

saro7nmo wrote: »

Ahhh I see..! No I don't work for Dri-Pak I assure you. I'm a virologist working on technology for new types of vaccines. I know a fair amount of bits and bobs and thought I'd share it. I know about sodium percarbonate due to it's use as a sanitiser for sterilising equipment (important in microbiology) and how it actually works - and what else it can do. I know fair amount of other useful stuff I was considering posting but I think it's a tightrope to post other stuff. Cheers for letting me know - explains a bit now. No one said anything about that until now and all comments came across unwelcoming.. :-)

Thanks, I found the info useful and informative - please feel free to share any more "tips" or info relevant to this thread or others on MSE. Sorry you were made to feel unwelcome, but you can maybe understand why now. (Not that that makes it right)

rach_k

saro7nmo wrote: »

Ahhh I see..! No I don't work for Dri-Pak I assure you. I'm a virologist working on technology for new types of vaccines. I know a fair amount of bits and bobs and thought I'd share it. I know about sodium percarbonate due to it's use as a sanitiser for sterilising equipment (important in microbiology) and how it actually works - and what else it can do. I know fair amount of other useful stuff I was considering posting but I think it's a tightrope to post other stuff. Cheers for letting me know - explains a bit now. No one said anything about that until now and all comments came across unwelcoming.. :-)

You'll probably find plenty of opportunity to post the things you know about and are interested in, especially in the Old Style and In My Home boards and won't have to wait too long. People are always asking about things like cleaning and cheaper ways to achieve the same results etc. Once you've been around a while, people will start to recognise your username and then you won't be 'that new person posting about stuff sold by Dri-Pak' (other brands are available ), you'll be 'saro7nmo who works with this stuff so has good stuff to say'.

MandM90

Have merged with a previous thread on the subject. Welcome, saro7nmo

TiredTrophy

I wouldn't worry too much-a forum user bit my head off for a short answer to a question!

Wizzbang

Loanranger wrote: »

Where can you buy citric acid? I have never seen it for sale. I wold efinitely buy it for descaling around taps and in the kettle. At present I use lemon juice.

Home Bargains have just started selling Dri-Pak's citric acid and it's cheaper than Wilko at only £1.29 a pack. I will be buying it there from now on. I descale my stove top kettle every week, living in a hard water area - otherwise is crackles and pops like crazy when in use. I get 4-5 uses per box. Just boil the kettle, tip it in and leave for 15 mins, tip out and boil again to rinse.

MandM90

We either get ours from Wilko or the local chemist. Am sure Amazon etc will also sell it.