I'd go second hand for something like that. They rarely wear out.

Found a possible one on Gumtree. I just need to go to the new place and get some measurements first.

Mark

Prevention is better than cure. Scale forms when unused boiled water cools down in the kettle. If you minimise the left over water by only boiling what you need, or the "min" amount marked on the kettle, then it will be very long time before it needs doing even in areas with the hardest water. It also saves energy, money and time.

What happens if you empty the kettle after using what hot water you needed?

I was just about to ask this.

Mark

Then you're wasting water and power. :/

But I imagine no limescale?

I'm tempted to try this as I empty the kettle before I use it anyway, so why not empty it after I've used it instead?

Trouble is, whenever I try any of my experiments my wife generally scuppers it, it's hard enough getting her to break the loo roll tubes up into little pieces and put them in the compost bin. Well not hard exactly, more impossible.

Why not get a water softener fitted?

They're not very expensive (~£300) and would save a lot of work

That works too if it's still boiling hot. If you pour it out the side rather than through the filter, then it also helps get rid of any loose bits of scale that may have gathered. I do this when I only make one cup, because that's just under the minimum amount. It's important not to boil under the minimum because it damages the element.


1. Expensive is relative. Sounds like a lot to me.
2. In a rented property it may not be possible.
3. Putting less water in the kettle is already less work!

try freecycle otherwise, or freegle if you have either in Belfast .
The current dining table came from a council run furniture recycling scheme.

I told The Times to check their Style Guide as I was sure they wouldn't want "pics" in a headline.

Every headline since has said "photos".

So I feel like I've edited The Times.

Given that The Times is owned by Murdoch, (at least it was last time I checked, but that may well have changed by now) I wouldn't shout that too loudly, Chris.

Mark - What about a filter jug? You should be able to pick one up for about £30, and that may well be a solution to your limescale problem...

But then you have the running costs of filters. I used to have a Brita filter jug when in uni and whilst it was awesome, it was ruddy expensive.

Fair enough. Not owning one myself I wasn't aware of the running costs... Mark - Ignore my suggestion about filter jugs!