I live in an area where kettles do not fur up but the element does rust - I would like to be able to stop this happening to my new kettle. The element in my last kettle was very badly rusted. My old kettle was a Haden and my new kettle is a Bifinett, which I bought in Lidl, and is all stainless steel!

Angela Allchurch, November 2007

The Element itself wil not be rusting and in the Bifinett the element is not exposed, I would suggest your water supply is carrying water born rust which will build up on the bottom inside of your kettle, This rust and deposits can be cleaned with Citric Acid crystals 1 teaspoon with about half pint of water(maybe your Chemist will supply the Citric Acid) just boil in the kettle and it soon clears the deposits away.

On the subect of kettle busting into flames I have had a similar problem caused by over filling the kettle which then allows water to over flow to the base of kettle and onto the power base shorting the power base with a few sparks etc.
before blowing the fuse.

Happy Brewing

Barn Owl, October 2009

I do not have an answer re. the rusting - but I would like to tell you what happened to my Bifinett yesterday. I had just switched it on to boil when suddenly actual flames started shooting out from the base. I am only just recovering from the shock. Good job I was nearby or I dread to think what might have happened.

Hazel Ripley, September 2009

Well to be honist Stainless steal should not rust. The problem is it may not be pure stainless try the magnet test if a magnet sticks to any part of the kettles internal area these are the parts that will rust as they have a steal content which the magnet is sticking to. For a salution I'm not sure there is one apart from useing the microwave with a glass jug to boil your water. What part of the UK do you live in. I have never heard of this problem before.

Dave from Weston-super-Mare, July 2009

If you have an Iron Mongers or diy store like B&Q they provide a remedy for this and i know you can buy it!
Obviously you have to be careful what you put in there but there is a brand available to stop this just that i cannot recall the name.
This is very odd considering that all parts are not made with metals which rust.I did know of an old remedy which my grandmother used to use for her kettles and that was an old sea shell in the bottom of the kettle her kettles were always spotless inside.

Carlito Corway, January 2008