KETTLE CHEMISTRY
Dear HIW,
I keep finding white bits floating in the water after the kettle boils. Is this to do with the chemistry of the water being boiled? Is there a way to stop this from happening?
Megan Richardson
If the white substance is chalky and accumulates mostly at the bottom of your kettle, it’s limescale. You’re right to suspect the water’s chemistry, as people living in places with ‘hard water’ are most likely to discover this in their kettles. Hard water is more alkaline and has a higher mineral content. Limescale is a result of high concentrations of magnesium and calcium in the water. As water boils and evaporates, the solid minerals are left behind. There’s no way to completely stop limescale buildup if you use hard water, but there are many kettle cleaners that target limescale.