Kettle descaling balls - anyone know what they are?!

studentsaver166

Evening all,
I was just thinking back to the time when my housemate bought a whole new kettle because she didn't understand what limescale was or how to get rid of it (!!) and was thinking how scaley our current kettle is. My aunt told me about these little metal mesh ball things that you can apparently buy which you put in the kettle and the limescale is drawn to them instead of the element and then you just wash them out and use them again. Has anyone got any idea what these are called or where you get them from? I had a quick look on the Lakeland site and couldn't find anything but they sound pretty ingenious. Any ideas folks?
SS x

stamford

I bought one in Robert Dyas just before Christmas - about £1 I think

studentsaver166

Fantastic, thanks stamford. Have just had a look on the website and found it! I love the OS board, such a mine of information!

clairewp

studentsaver166 wrote: »

Evening all,
I was just thinking back to the time when my housemate bought a whole new kettle because she didn't understand what limescale was or how to get rid of it (!!) and was thinking how scaley our current kettle is. My aunt told me about these little metal mesh ball things that you can apparently buy which you put in the kettle and the limescale is drawn to them instead of the element and then you just wash them out and use them again. Has anyone got any idea what these are called or where you get them from? I had a quick look on the Lakeland site and couldn't find anything but they sound pretty ingenious. Any ideas folks?
SS x

Hi i work in a hardware store and the things you are on about are called cadnets , ours cost 90 p so you could try your local store

squeaky

They're made of metallic vinegar - and the liquid version works just as well

Fruball

I remember these ! I used to have one and they are just fab - the limescale just crumbles off them into the bin when you rub/squeeze them.

I must remember to pick one up next time I see them.

morganlefay

i realise that £1.00 from R Dyas (which is where I get mine - tho family keep chucking them out) isn't very expensive, but my Mum used to use a shell, one of those cockleshell shape ones. It attracted all the scale and was free from the beach, when it got too furry she chucked it and got another (free) from seaside. I liked the simplicity of that !

Bongedone

Thanks. What a good idea. Going to get one at the weekend.

studentsaver166 you now have 34 thanks. Did not want to see 33 posts to 33 thanks.

mrbadexample

It's one of them and doesn't my kettle look mucky?

Bongedone

Was your kettle clean before you put it in ?

Ben84

I tried them and while scale collected in the metal thing, it also stuck to the element too, so it didn't really solve the problem.

I descale the kettle with soda crytals now. It's really easy and inexpensive. Put in enough water to cover element, add 1-3 tablespoons of crystals (depending on how bad scale is), boil the kettle and leave it a few hours, or better yet overnight. The scale becomes soft and is easily wiped away.