How to Descale a De'Longhi Coffee Machine with EcoDecalk

The short answer

To descale a De'Longhi coffee machine: take the water filter out of the tank, empty the drip tray and grounds container, pour EcoDecalk into the tank (on most bean-to-cup models up to level A, which is 100ml) and top up with water to the level shown, put a large container under the outlets, start the descale programme, and let it run. Then rinse the tank, fill it with clean water and let the machine rinse itself. It takes about 25 to 45 minutes, most of it waiting.

The rest of this guide goes through each step properly, with the mistakes that stop a descale from working and what to do if the light stays on.

What you need

• A descaler: De'Longhi EcoDecalk, or a lactic acid descaler such as our own Universal Descaler.
• A container that holds at least 2 litres and fits under the spout (a large jug or a washing-up bowl).
• Fresh cold water.
• A new water filter for afterwards, if your machine takes one.
• About 30 to 45 minutes when you do not need a coffee.

How much EcoDecalk to use

Most De'Longhi bean-to-cup machines use 100ml of EcoDecalk each time: you pour it into the empty tank up to a line marked A, then add water up to line B (usually 1 litre). So a 200ml bottle covers two descales. Some models, and the manual espresso machines, give a different amount or a ratio of descaler to water. Your manual is the final word; the bottle's label gives the general dilution.

With our Universal Descaler, use the same amount your manual gives for descaler (usually 50 to 100ml). One 500ml bottle gives up to 10 descales.

Before you start

1. Take the water filter out. If your machine has a DLSC002 filter in the tank, remove it. Descaler running through a filter is wasted, and the filter absorbs it.
2. Empty the drip tray and the grounds container. A descale puts a lot of liquid through the machine, and a full tray will overflow halfway through.
3. Empty the water tank. Start with it empty so the descaler is at the right strength.
4. Turn off the milk system if it has one. Remove the milk carafe or put the steam wand over the container. Some machines ask you to fit the carafe or the hot water spout during the cycle; the screen will tell you.

Step by step

1. Mix the descaler in the tank

Pour the descaler into the empty tank (up to level A on most bean-to-cup models), then add cold water to the level your manual gives (often level B). Put the tank back.

2. Put the container in place

Stand your large container under the coffee spout and the hot water or milk outlet. On some models the solution comes out of both, so make sure the container covers them.

3. Start the descale programme

On machines with a screen (Magnifica Evo, Dinamica, Rivelia, Eletta, PrimaDonna and others), open the menu and choose Descale, or press the descale prompt when it appears. On button models such as the Magnifica S, the manual shows which button starts it. The machine then confirms you have added descaler and asks you to place the container.

4. Let it run

The machine runs the solution through in stages, with pauses between them. Those pauses are the descaler working on the limescale, so do not switch the machine off or stop the programme. This part takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

5. Rinse

When the machine asks, empty the container, rinse the tank thoroughly and fill it with fresh water up to MAX. Put the tank back and the container under the outlets again, then confirm. The machine rinses itself. Some models do a second rinse; let them do every rinse they ask for. This is what clears the taste of the descaler.

6. Finish

Fit a fresh water filter if you use one (or put the old one back if it is less than two months old), refill the tank, and pour away the first coffee. The descale light should now be off.

Manual espresso machines (La Specialista, Dedica)

The idea is the same: descaler and water in the tank, a container under the group head and steam wand, run the descale programme, then rinse with clean water. These machines do not take a tank filter, so there is nothing to remove. Dilution and the way you start the programme vary by model, so follow your manual for those two details.

If the descale light stays on

• The programme was stopped early. If the power went off or the cycle was cancelled, the machine still thinks it needs descaling. Run the whole programme again, rinse included.
• The rinse was skipped. Some machines only clear the light after the rinse finishes. Fill the tank to MAX and complete it.
• The water hardness is set too hard. If the light comes back very soon, check the hardness setting with the test strip from the box. A machine set to the hardest level asks for descaling far more often.
• It is a different light. On some models the filter reminder and the descale reminder look alike. Check the manual's list of symbols.

Common mistakes

• Using vinegar or citric acid. Vinegar is hard on seals, and its smell lingers. Citric acid can leave deposits in some machines. Use a proper coffee machine descaler.
• Leaving the filter in. It soaks up descaler that should be working on the scale.
• Too little container. The solution and the rinse come to well over a litre each.
• Waiting months after the light comes on. Limescale keeps building while you wait, and the next descale has more to shift.

How often to descale

When the machine asks, as long as the water hardness is set correctly. As a rough guide: every 3 to 4 months in soft water, every 2 to 3 months in medium water, and every 1 to 2 months in hard water, sooner if you make a lot of long coffees. We explain how to set it up in how often should you descale a De'Longhi.

A DLSC002 water filter (on models that take one) slows limescale and makes the gaps between descales longer. If you would rather not keep track, our care kit sends filters and descaler on a schedule matched to your water.