Little-known problem affecting household appliances is adding £37 to your energy bills – how to fix

COST-efficient homeowners should be aware of this little-known problem affecting household appliances.

Limescale build-up in your kettle can make drinks taste off, but a serious build-up can also reduce the efficiency of the heating element.

And it's not just your jug - limescale can build up in other appliances too, adding money to your bills each year.

By following these simple steps, you could make an easy saving of £36.81 each year - here's how to fix.

Kettle

Limescale in your kettle can be minimised by using a water filter to reduce impurities that cause the problems.

Descaling your kettle can be done by using lemon juice or white vinegar.

With either option, all you need to do is fill half the kettle with lemon juice or vinegar and the remaining half with water.

Then leave for at least an hour before boiling, after boiling you just pour it away and boil a second time with water to get rid of any lingering acidic taste.

When the costs are broken down, limescale getting into a kettle can add an extra £9.18 on top of the yearly average cost of £76.51.

Washing machine

Some of the most expensive household appliances to run can be found in the kitchen - including washing machines .

To get rid of not only limescale, but also a build up of grotty bacteria, try this tip.

Run an empty, regular cycle on the hottest setting (a minimum of 60ºC).

Add some white vinegar to the detergent tray - around 250ml.

White vinegar is a great natural ingredient to neutralise bad smells and kill any bacteria in the drum of the washing machine.

Whilst waiting for the cycle to finish, clean the exterior of the machine with a white vinegar cleaning solution and a cleaning cloth.

A Mrs Hinch hack is to use Stardrops' white vinegar spray and a SonicScrubber - to remove limescale.

Run another empty, regular cycle on hot - without any detergent or vinegar but try adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to the drum to clear away any buildup.

After the cycle is complete, take a cloth and a cleaning spray of your choice to wipe down the inside of the machine.

Wait for it to dry completely before closing - as this will prevent any mould from building up.

Shower

White wine has been proven to work wonders on limescale in the shower.

Harvey Water Softeners says limescale can shortens the lifespan of our household appliances and bathroom fittings.

Tony Jones, from Harvey's, says urges home cleaners to stay away from expensive products and start with a regular limescale cleaner from stores.

He says: “They are cheap but read the label properly to make sure it is suitable to use on the affected area.”

It removes limescale naturally by breaking down the calcium carbonate so it can easily be cleaned.

“The only tricky part here comes if you are cleaning vertical glass.