Homemade Descaling Solution for Coffee Machines
Why do we need Descaling Solution for our coffee Machines? In short, this will ensure that your coffee machine will prepare your coffee with pure taste.
Drinking coffee is a favorite pastime of many people on our planet. This drink keeps me and many others awake and active throughout the day. Often it becomes my motivation to get out of bed in the morning and start the day with a smile. But for this to happen, I must pay special attention to its preparation. When it comes to this, I immediately imagine my favorite coffee machine.
However, I should mention that, like everything else in my home, it also needs cleaning. Here the methods are pretty specific. If a simple vacuum cleaner is enough to remove dust from the floor, in this case, I can’t rely on the same. Often I use specific solutions and mixtures, which I decided to talk about a little more in today’s article.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- What is descaling solution?
- Homemade descaling solution – Vinegar / Citric Acid / Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
- Is the descaling solution safe for the coffee machine?
- F.A.Q. for descaling solution
What is descaling solution?
Descaling solution is a liquid with a specific chemical composition that can fight scale. The scale itself contains a high concentration of calcium. This means that acids will be needed to break down the accumulated plaque.
That is why in the composition of these descaling solutions, there is one or several acids. Depending on their pH, scientists can determine the strength of the detergent.
The stronger the acid, the stronger the action of the substance. The bad thing, in this case, is that it can damage some of the elements in the appliances, for example, coffee machines. Here I am talking about plastic or rubber sections. They often withstand a single cleaning with strong acids; there is no problem after that. But if they are used regularly, the end may not be favorable. This would shorten the life of the appliances, and you will soon have to buy new ones.
The truth is that no one wants that. For this reason, today, specific solutions are designed for cleaning coffee machines, for example. They contain certain substances that do not damage the various materials. In the following lines, I will discuss the different types of mixtures for the cleaning scale. It will also be a question of their effect and how they work. Of course, I will give you some easy recipes for similar homemade substances. I hope you will find the content I have prepared helpful.
Homemade descaling solution – Vinegar / Citric Acid / Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
We know that specific descaling solutions can be expensive for some households. Today, I decided to show you a few tried and tested recipes. The effect after them will be visible. The products you will need can be found in any home.
Descaling solution with Vinegar
If you are a fan of home-cooked things, you probably know that vinegar plays a key role almost everywhere. Whether we are talking about a recipe or cleaning a surface doesn’t matter. Why is this so?
Vinegar is a cheap product that every household needs: an acid with medium strength. This makes it suitable for cleaning any surface. In addition, I can say that it does not damage our appliances.
That is why I so often resort to his services. To make a cleaning liquid:
- Mix 1/3 cup vinegar and 2/3 cup of water.
- Place the mixture in the container of your coffee machine.
- Leave it like this for a few hours.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and clean with a microfiber cloth.
The disadvantage of using vinegar is its smell. Unfortunately, it can persist for a more extended period. That will disrupt your daily life and the start of the day with aromatic coffee. If you do not want this to happen, I recommend using citric acid.
Descaling solution with Citric Acid
Mix one tablet or one tablespoon of the substance with water. Leave the mixture in the container. Keep in mind that the pH of citric acid is slightly higher. That means the effect is weaker, and you may need to keep the mixture in the container longer. Using it, you can also count on the fact that your coffee machine won’t be damaged. If you want a slightly more robust descaling solution, reduce the amount of water. This consistency will preserve the long life of your coffee machine. So you will admire aromatic coffee for a long time.
Descaling solution with Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
Two other substances you can use are baking soda and lemon juice. Their effect is also striking on the concentration of scale. Dilute them with water and leave the mixture in the container long enough. You can now easily clean your coffee machine at home. It is not necessary to use specific solutions. They are expensive, and it is not clear that you will find them easily and quickly.
Is the descaling solution safe for the coffee machine?
Frequent use of the coffee machine would lead to its wear and tear. Of course, to prevent this from happening, it is good to clean it often. As it has already become understandable, this can also occur at home. You can use vinegar, citric acid, or baking soda. The effect will be scaled to a minimum, even on the hardest-to-reach surfaces. However, if you want to be 100% sure of the outcome of your appliance, then it is better to use descaling solutions. They are made in exact proportions so that they do not damage even the tiny plastic or rubber parts in any way.
In addition to the cleaning effect, this type of solution can have antibacterial properties. Many of them also contain salicylic acid, which leads to the death of many microbial agents. This way, you will be convinced of the cleanliness of your coffee machine.
Even the biggest proponents of good hygiene at home forget about the coffee machine. Its use is associated with making mine and your favorite drink, but I often forget to clean it afterward. Limescale will accumulate no matter how hard I try to prevent this from happening. That is why it is necessary to clean it regularly. I recommend that you use natural acids that are not too strong. This way, you will not have to worry about the individual elements of the appliance or your skin. Minimizing the scale on the walls of the coffee machine will extend its life. In addition, you will enjoy aromatic coffee, which will be with you every sunny morning!
F.A.Q. for descaling solution
How to clean nespresso machine?
Nespresso coffee machines must be cleaned in a specific way. For this purpose, I use a descaler – to remove the limescale from the pipes and clean water used for rinsing. They are in a ratio of 1:3. A cleaning capsule is also needed to clean the brewing unit. You can also order a specific Nespresso descaler from their certified website. The use of other products, such as vinegar, is not recommended. This may damage the integrity of the machine.
What can you use instead of descaling solution?
Many homemade recipes will make a solution for cleaning your coffee machine, working with the same success as special ones. For example, mix ⅓ cup of vinegar with ⅔ cup of water. If your coffee machine is older, the vinegar may be too strong. In these cases, you can use 1 tablespoon of citric acid pellets dissolved in 1 gallon of water. There is another very easy to clean. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of hard lukewarm water, and then add the solution to the water container.
Is descaling solution better than vinegar?
I can’t say if vinegar is better than a special detergent for coffee machines. Both have their pros and cons. Vinegar, for example, is very cheap and can be found in any household. The downsides are that it has a specific strong aroma, which for some of you, can be unpleasant. In addition, it can disrupt the operation of the machine and ultimately shorten its life. On the other hand, specific solutions are expensive, and probably not everyone can afford them, despite their effect.
Can I descale with vinegar?
Vinegar is one of the best solvents for scale. In fact, it cleans all surfaces very well and is often used for coffee machines. However, the truth is that its regular use can damage some of the basic mechanisms. In addition, it leaves a lasting odor, which can be unpleasant. That is why I recommend using specific cleaning solutions. This will ensure a longer lifespan for your coffee machine and a neutral aroma.
What is a good descaler?
A good descaler removes all the scale and dirt from your coffee machine. This happens even in the most inaccessible places. It does not leave an unpleasant, specific aroma that would disturb the pleasure of coffee. It has a relatively low price and can be easily found commercially. A good descaler prolongs the life of your coffee machine. It does not damage some parts of it but only cleans them.
How to clean Nespresso machine with vinegar?
Cleaning your vinegar machine with vinegar is very easy. It is also a pretty cheap method, so I will briefly explain the mechanism.
Fill the container of your coffee machine with a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Then turn on the coffee machine. Be sure to do at least 5 cycles with this liquid. This method is relatively cheap and accessible to all owners of the Nespresso coffee machine.
