Nespresso descaler and water is all you need to keep your DeLonghi Nespresso coffee machine clean
Pod coffee machines are probably the easiest coffee machines to clean and the DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machines are no exception to this rule. However the good news is that they are incredibly easy to clean. Your DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine will need regular flushing through with water to clean out the internal pipes and regular descaling with Nespresso descaler to ensure that the taste of each and every drink you make is perfect.
- Used regularly extends the life of the machine, preserves the energy efficiency and guarantees the best coffee flavour and crema
- It is powerful, fast, safe and ecological. De’Longhi EcoDecalk uses only natural materials
- The 500ml package allows you to perform five descaling cycles
Lets take a look at the simple steps in more detail, after all, you only need water and Nespresso descaler.
Contents
- Why do I need to descale my Nespresso coffee machine?
- Descaling your Dolce Gusto coffee machine with Nespresso descaler.
- How do I keep my Nespresso coffee maker clean?
- What is Limescale?
- How does limescale get into the tap water?
- What are the effects of Limescale?
- How can Limescale be prevented and removed?
- Limescale removal. What can I expect from a good decalcifier?
- Is vinegar the best limescale remover. What’s wrong with using vinegar or citric acid for decalcification jobs?
- Why do I need to decalcify my coffee machine at all?
Why do I need to descale my Nespresso coffee machine?
All coffee machines will build up damaging lime scale over time. Descaling your DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine is essential to increasing the life of your machine and importantly ensuring your drinks taste great every time from every Nespresso capsule!
You should aim to descale your DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine every three months (max) or 400 uses but it will depend on your water hardness, if you have hard water you will need to do this more often.
Please note that some manufacturers will void the warranty if descaling is not performed regularly, so this really is a must do. Below are some of the issues you might face if you do not descale your DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine regularly.
- Dripping from the spout
- Reduced water flow
- Water flow stops completely
- The machine fails to heat up properly
- Unusual noises
Descaling your Dolce Gusto coffee machine with Nespresso descaler.
Find best priceYou will need water and Nespresso descaler for this process. DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT use vinegar to clean your machine, as it can void the warranty, only use Nespresso descaler. It is cheap to buy (you can check out prices on Amazon) and work an absolute treat.
All you have to do is add the Nespresso descaler and activate the descaling cycle.
If you are unsure on any of the above, have a look at the video which will step you through it and show you how easy it is to descale your DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine with Nespresso descaler.
How do I keep my Nespresso coffee maker clean?
The daily ongoing cleaning is not hard at all. Here are some easy to follow steps you can take to keep your machine clean. Just put the pod holder directly into your dishwasher, and wipe down the drip tray and back panel with a wet cloth and that’s it.
If you are unsure of any of the above, take a look at the video below. It really is easy with a DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine.
Removing blockages
There may be times when you need to remove any blockages, the below video shows you how easy it is to do this using the unblocking tool which comes with your DeLonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine.
What is Limescale?
Limescale is an off-white chalky substance which comprises bicarbonate and calcium. It builds up over time and is the remnants of hard water. It is formed due to the transfer of minerals from limewater or chalk to water.
How does limescale get into the tap water?
So-called hard, i.e. calciferous, water is the result of soft rainwater seeping through mineral-rich rock formations. The minerals calcium and magnesium carbonate leach into the water, which is thus “hardened”. This hard water eventually becomes our tap water. Limescale deposits form when the tap water is heated or evaporates.
Approximately 60% of the UK population live in hard water areas; therefore Limescale is affecting a large part of the British population. Not only does it look particularly unpleasant it can also cause issues with many household appliances containing heating elements such as kettles and coffee machines and in some cases even your washing machine and dishwasher. However, it is not always a subject that is discussed, so here are a few answers to clear up any queries you might have regarding Limescale.
What are the effects of Limescale?
The effects of Limescale include:
• Staining of surfaces
• Clogged pipes
• Skin irritation
• Decreased energy efficiency of household appliances because of heating elements being coated in Limescale
If Limescale is allowed to build up over time, it can hinder the proper functioning of appliances leading to extra costs to repair them or buy new items.
How can Limescale be prevented and removed?
There are several options available ranging from low cost day to day measures to more complex long term remedies. Below are a few popular methods:
Home Remedies
Many believe in the power of the ‘home remedy’ to prevent the build-up of Limescale, through the use of lemon or vinegar. However, these remedies only work on a small scale and take much longer to generate results. They also tend to leave a rather unpleasant residue that affects that taste of the water afterwards.
Water Softeners
Water softeners are devices that are installed alongside the mains water supply and treat the hard water as it passes through the device. They are expensive and treat the water before you have even used it. This means that you get the benefits of soft water, which include more lather in the shower and less Limescale in your pipes. Turning hard water into soft water may seem like the ideal solution, however, the water in hard water areas regularly wins awards as it contains a natural combination of calcium and magnesium that give it a very distinctive taste. Water softeners are an expensive way of removing these minerals and you may find it affects the taste as well.
Descalers
There are many Descalers available from the high street and online that can be used to specifically target Limescale. Whilst they all help remove Limescale, the level of protection against its reappearance differs from product to product so it is worth doing your homework. Most of them will also eliminate the unpleasant smells that Limescale may create within your appliances but be careful as some just replace these smells with unpleasant odours of their own.
Limescale removal. What can I expect from a good decalcifier?
Limescale deposits are dissolved by the acid components in the decalcifier. You can judge the intensity of this chemical reaction by the vigour of the bubbling action.
The effectiveness of a decalcifier at limescale removal is primarily dependent on its acid component. The ideal decalcifier ensures quick and thorough decalcification combined with optimum protection of the materials, if adequately dosed.
Is vinegar the best limescale remover. What’s wrong with using vinegar or citric acid for decalcification jobs?
Many people believe that vinegar is the best limescale remover. However, using a citric acid-based decalcifier may cause precipitation and thus deposits that can prevent your household appliances from functioning properly, for example by clogging the fine lines and valves in coffee machines. The citric acid can also create an insoluble film that seals off the limescale deposits. Moreover, the decalcification process will take significantly longer with citric acid than with DeLonghi Nespresso EcoDecalk descaler.
The acetic acid and flavour additives in vinegar or vinegar essence produce an unpleasant odour during decalcification. A further problem is that the odour can be absorbed into plastic materials, an unwelcome side effect especially in food-related applications. Furthermore, certain plastics can be damaged by acetic acid. As with citric acid, decalcification takes significantly longer with vinegar than with DeLonghi Nespresso EcoDecalk descaler.
Why do I need to decalcify my coffee machine at all?
We recommend you to decalcify your machine regularly and before limescale deposits might become a problem, ideally every three months.
For optimum coffee quality and a long machine life.
- Limescale deposits in the machine lead to an extended brew-time, inhibit heat transfer and diminish the quality of your coffee.
- Limescale deposits build up over time and can ultimately cause clogging. Limescale also accelerates corrosion of the materials inside the coffee machine. Both can damage your machine.
- Limescale deposits increase energy consumption and therefore negatively impact the environment.