HH Homeowner's Handbook
Home / Appliances / Descale a coffee maker or kettle
TASK NO. 064 Preventive

Descale a coffee maker or kettle

Appliances
Trigger
Every 1-3 months
Who does it
DIY
Est. time
30-60 min
Est. cost
$5-10
Difficulty
●○○○○
Step by step
  1. Fill the reservoir with a 1:1 water and white vinegar solution (or a descaling product).

  2. Run a brew cycle halfway, then let it sit for 30 minutes.

  3. Finish the cycle, then run 2 full cycles of plain water to rinse.

  4. Wipe down the exterior and carafe.

  5. Repeat monthly in hard-water areas.

Video guide
Search: 'how to descale a coffee maker with vinegar'
Watch this guide
This link is a suggested starting point and hasn't been individually re-checked recently — search the title to confirm it still matches before relying on it.
Community editing (coming soon)

See a better technique, a broken link, or a regional building-code note? Contributions will work like a wiki once accounts and review are live.

Bill of materials