Descaling the outside of a kettle

[WingsofRain]

My lovely brushed steel kettle has a horrible build up of limescale on the outside of the lid and the spout.
I’ve done the inside with normal kettle descaler but I don’t know if it’s safe to rub that around the top, or even if that would work.

I’ve considered trying vinegar but I don’t want everything tasting and smelling of vinegar.

Any tips or ideas?

Don't worry about it - go ahead with the vinegar and just wash it afterwards.

I only use vinegar to descale my kettle. Once it's rinsed out there is no smell or taste left.

To descale the rim I pour white vinegar into a plastic hood tub that is just the right size to take the kettle, then put the kettle in upside down, and leave it for a few hours. Now idea for how long, as I just go off and do something else. If there's any limescale left when I come back, I chip at it with a wooden spatula (so as not to scratch the kettle) and put it back in the vinegar. If there's a build-up on your kettle, it will probably take several goes to remove completely, but regular descalings after that should not need more than one go at it.

I obviously need to overcome my concern about everything smelling of vinegar! 😀

I would use Viakal on the outside. I have before with no ill effects.

OH NO! THE MARTIANS ARE BACK AGAIN!

Ah it's okay, not to worry, they've gone back in to their hole now. Phew, that was close. 😰

Viakal is available in most supermarkets and many good hardware stores.

I do have plenty of Viakal but I assumed it wouldn’t be safe to use on something that we would effectively be eating off.

I’ll try vinegar and if that doesn’t do it I’ll attack it with Viakal.

Vinegar! But rinse it well.