Kitchen plumbing advice

1. The kettle

Any kettle can start to get a build-up of limescale after enough time. And if you live in a hard-water area, it's likely to happen quickly – so you'll need to use a dedicated descaling agent and follow the manufacturer's instructions. If you live in a soft-water area, you probably don't have as much limescale to worry about. So your best bet is to use soda crystals dissolved in a small amount of boiling water.

2. The washing machine

Unlike the kettle, you might not always notice a build-up of limescale in your washing machine. It's more than just a single space, and there are plenty of pipes carrying water that you can't see. Luckily, tackling the limescale is easy. Pour a cup of soda crystals dissolved in boiling water – or a descaling agent – into the empty drum of the machine, and start a washing cycle at either 60 or 90 degrees. This will help to break down any limescale or detergent that's been building up, and it'll help your washing machine to work more efficiently.

3. The dishwasher

Just like with the washing machine, dealing with limescale in your dishwasher is simple. Pour a cup of soda crystals dissolved in water – or a descaling agent – into the main space in the dishwasher and start up a normal cycle.