Removing Calcium Deposits in a Hot Pot

Step 1

Unplug your appliance from the wall outlet, and allow it to cool down.

Step 2

Mix equal parts white vinegar and lukewarm water in an empty sink, and put the cookware in the sink. If you want to clean heavily stained cookware, use 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water. White vinegar contains acetic acid, which reacts with calcium to dissolve it.

Step 3

Allow the cookware to sit for 20 minutes. This gives the mixture time to do its work.

Step 4

Pour the mixture out, and wipe the cookware clean with a soft sponge.

Step 5

Wash it as normal.

Tips

Running a water-vinegar mixture through your coffeepot cleans the grime and old grounds from the carafe, making for better-tasting coffee. Just run plain water through the pot afterward to get rid of the vinegar aftertaste.

Heat a water-vinegar mixture for 15 minutes in a teakettle to remove stubborn calcium deposits from the inside of the kettle.

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Warnings

Leaving calcium stains on cookware for too long ensures that it's there permanently, so regularly cleanse with vinegar.

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Photo Credits

Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

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