Especially if you have chosen a kettle made of plastic, you will notice a strong smell of the device after unpacking - sometimes even the first prepared hot drinks taste slightly of plastic. The reason for this is plastic dust that settles on the kettle during production.

Therefore, before using the kettle for the first time, you should run it through three to four times with the kettle fully filled. Pour away the water after each run and fill with fresh water.

In most cases, you will find detailed instructions in the operating manual of the respective appliance on what you should observe before using the appliance for the first time.

Limescale deposits in the kettle cannot be avoided. However, with the following three home remedies, which you will probably find in your kitchen anyway, you can easily get rid of them:

• Vinegar essence: Add two tablespoons to a cup of water, boil the solution and leave it in the kettle for about half an hour before pouring it away. Rinse thoroughly with clean water afterwards.
• Baking soda: Pour a packet of baking soda and 200 millilitres of cold water into the kettle and run it through. The liquid should remain in the kettle for an hour after boiling.
• Lemon: Cut the citrus fruit in half and rub off the calcified areas with the cut surface.

Basically, the higher the wattage, the faster the appliance will boil the water.

How many watts your kettle should have depends on the maximum capacity. An appliance with a capacity of 1.7 litres should not have less than 2,000 watts.

Basically, the kettle is one of the low consumers in the kitchen and is more economical than the cooker and microwave.

The exact power consumption depends on the time the device needs to bring the water to the boil - thus results from the capacity and the power.

If you want to calculate the exact consumption and costs, you can find helpful online calculators.

First of all, you need to find out what is causing the dripping. If water leaks when boiling, this does not necessarily mean that the appliance is leaking.

The reason can also be overfilling. In this case, bubbling water spills over while boiling.

To test if your appliance is leaking, fill it completely with water and let it sit on a towel overnight. If it loses moisture without being put to work, something is wrong.

Do not under any circumstances try to fix a leaking appliance yourself - electricity and water is a dangerous combination. Leave the repair to a professional. Sometimes you can even get away with buying a new appliance for less.

Kettles are the simplest and most economical way to heat water - fill, switch on, done. Thanks to the integrated heating coil, no unnecessary energy is lost, as is the case with a hotplate.

Hob kettles, on the other hand, have a charm all of their own, to which the whistling sound that signals the boiling of the water contributes in large part. What's more, you don't need an extra power outlet or counter space to boil water in a kettle. Kettles with a thin, long spout allow for a slow and controlled infusion of tea and coffee.

In summary, kettles are better suited for everyday use and are most impressive for their low power consumption. Kettles are something for enthusiasts who like to celebrate the pouring of their hot drinks appropriately.

You can dispose of your old kettle by taking it directly to your local recycling centre.