Many coffee lovers cannot imagine their life without strong, tasty, aromatic coffee, and prepare it according to all the rules in a coffee machine. But a coffee machine, like any other household appliance, gets dirty over time, and most often the problem arises with scale. Cleaning your coffee machine from scale with citric acid is the easiest way to return parts to their original cleanliness.
When is it time to clean
A coffee machine allows you not only to prepare a drink according to all the rules, but also to enjoy its strong aroma. When operating an electrical appliance, it is necessary to ensure that the safety requirements and precautions specified in the instructions are met. Like any other household appliance, the coffee machine should be regularly cleaned to remove dirt and scale. This is due to the mechanism of its functioning.
Many housewives claim that using citric acid is the best way to clean an electrical appliance. The use of powder allows you to restore cleanliness to the parts and preserve the pleasant taste of the prepared drink.
Scale is limescale deposits. When the coffee machine operates, water is heated, which contains chloride compounds and minerals. The resulting scale enters the drink in the form of white flakes. The coffee becomes tasteless, with a bitter aftertaste.
Drinking such a drink can cause disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which is manifested by pain and flatulence. The danger of scale formation if it is not cleaned also lies in the corrosion of internal elements. It is known that lime deposits have a porous structure and are favorable soil for the growth of bacteria.
Important! The process of cleaning a household appliance is often called decalcification. Plaque is usually formed due to the calcium content in the water.
It is necessary to promptly clean the coffee machine from scale and other contaminants. This will increase its service life. It is recommended to clean the device using special products. It is important to use them regularly. The following signs indicate the need to clean an electrical appliance:
- change in the taste of brewed coffee and the sound of a household appliance;
- insufficient strength of the drink;
- reduction in steam pressure.
Attention! It is advisable to give preference to coffee machine models with an installed sensor for checking lime deposits. Informing about the need for cleaning occurs using a flashing indicator or a message appearing on the panel.
Let's sum it up
Carry out the descaling procedure regularly , without waiting for your machine to signal the need for descaling. The sensors installed in it do not monitor the degree of contamination, but only control the number of cups of coffee prepared. Therefore, even if the equipment does not “ask” for cleaning, this does not mean that limescale has not formed on its heating elements.
To eliminate hardness salts, use special preparations in the form of tablets, liquids, or homemade products based on citric acid, vinegar, soda and salt.
Before using professional decalcifiers or traditional methods, be sure to carefully read the operating instructions for coffee equipment and strictly follow all proportions of components when preparing solutions.
It is unacceptable to pour aggressive chemicals (concentrated alkalis, acids) into the tank - these substances can damage the rubber and metal elements of the device, which will lead to damage to the device. After using such preparations, substances hazardous to health settle on the internal surfaces of the equipment, which may be impossible to remove even by repeated washing of the unit.
ATTENTION! It is also undesirable to clean the device with solid or liquid soap: coffee brewed after cleaning will have an unpleasant soapy taste and aroma for a long time.
Is it possible to clean a coffee machine with citric acid?
Well-known manufacturers produce special products. Using names related to household chemicals, you can clean your coffee machine. They come in the form of tablets or liquids.
Attention! Do not use kitchen products to clean electrical appliances.
There are universal formulations. They are used to clean scale that forms in the coffee machine. Typically these products include citric acid. The powder is suitable for cleaning household appliances of any manufacturer due to the following characteristics:
- harmlessness to human health and the environment;
- effectiveness against old plaque;
- no formation of toxic fumes during the heating process;
- accessibility, simplicity and low cost.
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Why is it better to choose lemon?
Positive aspects of the method
Citric acid is suitable for cleaning dishes and household appliances. It dissolves calcified formations in water.
Descaling a coffee machine with citric acid has its advantages. It does not contain aggressive toxins or flavors, so it does not cause allergic reactions. The exception is people with individual intolerance to the component.
Cleaning coffee machines from scale with citric acid helps remove all dirt. The substance also has a gentle effect on the mechanisms of the unit. Makes the equipment operate silently, which is considered a plus for a coffee machine.
How to clean a coffee machine with citric acid
For cleaning to be effective, certain nuances of using the powder should be taken into account. Observance of proportions and algorithm of actions is essential.
How much citric acid is needed to clean a coffee machine?
The amount of powder is not arbitrary. For effective cleaning, you need to prepare a solution that includes citric acid and water. For 1 liter of liquid you should take from 25 to 30 g of powder.
You can use a large sachet containing 25 g of product, as well as 3 small ones (10 g each)
How to dilute citric acid to clean a coffee machine
It is noteworthy that there is no need to calculate the required amount to the gram. However, you cannot use a concentrated solution.
Important! If you clean your coffee machine with too much citric acid, it may damage the parts. This will lead to a reduction in service life.
The volume of water required to clean a household electrical appliance is indicated in the instructions
Process
The duration of removal of lime deposits depends on the degree of contamination. You can usually clean a coffee machine in half an hour.
The process requires compliance with safety rules
Before cleaning, you need to unplug the electrical appliance and then remove the water container. It must be rinsed and filled with the amount of solution corresponding to the model of the household appliance. The average proportion of citric acid for washing a coffee machine is 25-30 g.
The container is placed in an electrical appliance, which is then plugged into the network. After 20 minutes you need to start the cooking process, but without adding coffee. The procedure is repeated several times. It is necessary to use up the solution completely.
After turning off the coffee machine, remove the container and rinse it with running water. However, first of all, you need to make sure that it is cleaned properly.
Fill the container with water and turn on the coffee preparation mode. The procedure is repeated several times to completely use up the water. It is advisable to perform 2 washings of the electrical appliance.
Attention! Some coffee machines have an automatic cleaning function. In this case, you just need to enable the specified mode.
Experts say that descaling a coffee machine with citric acid must be done once every 3 months. You should also focus on the water hardness in a particular region.
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How much substance do we need?
Many people mistakenly believe that in order to efficiently and quickly get rid of plaque in a coffee machine, it is necessary to add as much acidic powder to the unit as possible: Therefore, when preparing the solution, follow the recommended proportions of acid and water:
- for regular cleaning of the unit, you will need 30 g of crystalline substance per 1 liter of water;
- if the device has been decalcified for a long time, the product can be made more concentrated by increasing the amount of acid to 50 g
Is it possible to clean a Delonghi coffee machine with citric acid?
The model of this manufacturer is popular. This is due to the ease of operation, convenience and reliability of household appliances.
The manufacturer produces coffee machines both with a self-cleaning system and without this function. In the absence of a regime and using ordinary water, it is necessary to promptly remove the resulting limescale deposits.
You can clean the electrical appliance using special purchased household chemicals. They were developed by coffee machine manufacturer Delonghi. The most inexpensive method is cleaning with citric acid.
Thanks to the safety of the powder, you can use it to clean plaque
Precautionary measures
Before cleaning the coffee machine, you must read the manufacturer's instructions, which indicate the frequency of the decalcification process. When cleaning the unit, all safety precautions should be observed:
- Before carrying out the procedure, you must disconnect the device from the power supply;
- For cleaning, use only products approved by the manufacturer;
- do not use concentrated solutions that may adversely affect the operation of internal elements;
- Avoid getting water on the internal parts of the coffee machine so that a short circuit does not occur after turning it on.
Is there a need to get rid of scale?
Let's look at the signs by which you can understand that scale has formed in your car:
- The taste of the drink has changed.
- The smell of the drink has changed.
- A light precipitate appeared.
- The finished drink flows in an uneven stream, almost no flow.
- The device is noisy and unusual sounds are heard.
- You have to spend more time making coffee.
Thus, the answer to the question of whether it is worth getting rid of deposits is obvious - when they are gone, you can quickly make delicious aromatic coffee.
There are a number of other reasons why you should get rid of deposits as soon as you find them:
- It will take more and more time for the device to heat up.
A large amount of deposits causes great harm to the machine and reduces thermal conductivity. This means that the thicker the layer of deposits becomes, the more time it will take for the device to heat the liquid;
- Leaks may occur. When deposits accumulate, they deform the structural elements of the device and can break or tear them;
- Device overheating. Deposits impair the performance of cooling systems, which over time leads to overheating and failure.
Please note that in boiler-type machines, deposits form faster, which means they need to be cleaned more often.
Cleaners
The following cleaning agents are available for coffee machines:
- Powders. Before starting the procedure, the drug in the proportion specified in the instructions is mixed with water and poured into the liquid reservoir in the device. Such products prevent the formation of rust on the metal parts of the device, eliminate coffee oils and scale deposits.
- Liquid substances. This preparation can be used immediately by pouring it into a water tank.
- Tablets and capsules. Manufacturers produce two versions of this drug: for eliminating coffee oils and for decalcification. One type of substance cannot replace another. To remove scale, you need to use the appropriate tablet. One tablet is needed for one cleaning procedure. You can begin the cleaning process after the drug has dissolved in water.
The procedure for removing contaminants depends on the type of device. Therefore, when choosing a cleaning product, read the recommendations provided by the manufacturer in the instructions.
Useful tips
Proper operation and proper care of the coffee machine is a guarantee of long-term operation. Clean your appliance's major systems regularly and you'll be enjoying fresh coffee for years to come.
Basic rules of care:
- Make sure that the equipment is always dry and immediately remove moisture with a napkin.
- Change the filter promptly.
- Wipe off spilled coffee from the auto-heating stove; it will retain heat longer.
- Clean the container of any remaining coffee grounds and milk so that the sour smell does not spoil the taste of the coffee.
- Descale in a timely manner.
Professional or folk remedies will remove residual milk, coffee fats, and limescale. It is important to do this regularly, following the instructions.
To make caring for your coffee machine easier, prevention is necessary. Use clean, soft water, bottled or filtered, to make coffee. Water that has undergone double purification (the first - using a household device, and the second - directly in the coffee machine) causes the formation of limescale to a lesser extent, and decalcification is required much less frequently. If you follow all these rules, breakdown of coffee equipment is practically impossible.
Requirements and rules
Basic
Cleaning with lemon juice is considered a safe chemical method. The main thing is to follow the proportions and rules of use. And then you will be able to avoid malfunctions in the operation of the coffee machine.
To properly descale your coffee machine with citric acid, please refer to the instructions for use. It will help you understand whether home methods can be used. Your coffee machine may have a special sensor and a self-cleaning system.
If your coffee maker has removable brewing units, wash them every 2 days. To do this, use running water. This will help prevent future breakdowns.
Before washing, make sure that there is no water or coffee beans in the coffee maker. This is especially true for carob-type devices and those with a coffee grinder. This way you can prevent unpleasant noise and malfunctions during the operation of the device.
Additional
When washing, pay attention to the sieve and holder. It is better to clean them under running water without special products or soap solutions, so that the drinks do not have an unpleasant odor or taste.
After cleaning the coffee machine, rinse its parts with plain water. This will remove acid residues and prevent salt stains and damage.
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Follow the recommendations and quickly remove scale from the mechanisms of household appliances. The tips will also help if you don’t know how to descale your coffee maker.
Information on the topic is contained in the article “How to properly descale a coffee maker at home.”
Standard method - hand washing
Even washing the device with ordinary means helps slow down the formation of scale. To understand how to do it correctly and get the desired result, use step-by-step instructions:
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- The tray is removed from its mounting location and washed using the usual dishwashing detergent or soap, and then under running water. After leaving it to dry, we take on the next knot.
- The same procedure applies to the capsule container, water tank and machine lid.
- Be sure to wipe the capsule intake sensor.
- The drink dispenser is also washed.
- Wipe and, if necessary, wash the outside of the body and accessible components. Afterwards the device is assembled in the reverse order.
