October 29, 2024, 1:53 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Everyone probably has a coffee machine at home, but very few people take the time to de-scale it. Cleaning a coffee machine properly is not at all complicated – and you don’t have to use chemicals straight away.
Ideally, you should de-scale your coffee machine two to three times a year. If you use it more than average, for example, in an office, it should be done more often. But to be honest, who does that? However, it’s not that complicated. With the right household remedies, a coffee machine can be de-scaled with minimal effort. myHOMEBOOK explains what you should bear in mind when de-scaling your coffee machine.
Overview
De-scaling the coffee machine with household remedies
You don’t always have to use harsh chemical cleaners to de-scale your coffee machine. It also works with completely natural household remedies that you may already have at home and are also cheaper. We will present a few options.
De-scaling your coffee machine with vinegar essence or vinegar
Most households have a bottle of vinegar essence in the cupboard. Vinegar essence is an effective household remedy for de-scaling your coffee machine.
- First, dilute the vinegar essence with water in a ratio of 1:4. It is crucial not to use the essence undiluted, as it could damage rubber and plastic components. For normal household vinegar, as used for salad dressings, a mixing ratio of 1:1 is sufficient. The mixture is now added to the coffee machine’s water tank.
- Next, place a coffee filter in the device provided. This will catch any limescale that has dissolved. Now, you can start the machine as normal, just as if you were making coffee.
- When about half of the vinegar and water mixture has run through, you should switch off the coffee machine for about 30 minutes so that everything inside can take effect.
- After de-scaling, it is important to run the coffee machine through three or four more times with clear water. This step ensures that no vinegar residue remains in the machine.
De-scaling the coffee machine with citric acid
If you don’t have vinegar essence on hand, you can also use a lemon. Using a lemon is also an especially environmentally friendly method.
- Squeeze the lemon completely and strain the juice. Straining is essential to prevent any pulp from entering the machine.
- The next step is to mix the lemon juice with about one liter of water and pour it into the water tank of the coffee machine.
- Next, start the machine as usual.
- After de-scaling the coffee machine, it is important to run it through three to four more times with clear water so that the next coffee that is brewed does not have an unpleasant lemon flavor.
De-scaling the coffee machine with baking powder or baking soda
Baking powder and baking soda are wonderful household remedies that can be used for more than just de-scaling the coffee machine. Therefore, it’s recommended to keep a few packets on hand for when you need them.
- The first step is to mix a packet of baking powder or baking soda with enough warm water and pour it into the water tank of the coffee machine. The water must be warm to ensure the powder reacts and produces the necessary foam.
- Next, start the brewing process as specified by the manufacturer.
- Once the mixture has cycled through the coffee machine, it’s crucial to repeat the brewing process three to four times to ensure all residues are completely removed.
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Can limescale in the coffee machine be prevented?
Unfortunately not. Limescale is an inevitable occurrence, but there are effective methods to minimize its buildup. You can dry all accessible areas of the coffee machine with a cloth after each use. Another but more expensive option is to use low-limescale water. For this purpose, you can opt for commercially available still water.
Another way to reduce the hardness of the water, i.e., the limescale content, is to use water filters. For this method, pour tap water into the filter and allow it to fully filter through.