Almost every appliance that heats or holds water builds up scale, the chalky calcium carbonate that hard water leaves behind. Citric acid dissolves it. Measure the dose your machine's descaler calls for, run the machine's own descale or clean cycle if it has one, and rinse with plain water afterward until there's no taste left. The tables below give the dose and timing for every machine we make a descaler for, with links to our step-by-step guides.
We make these descalers ourselves. They're formulated and bottled by Think Crucial in the USA, most are citric-acid based, and all of them are liquid concentrates, so there's no powder to dissolve or sachet to tear. We've been making appliance parts and care products since 2007.
Step-by-step guides
- How to descale a coffee maker (Keurig, Nespresso, De'Longhi)
- How to descale a Breville espresso machine
- How to descale an electric kettle
- How to descale a GE Profile Opal nugget ice maker
- How to descale a dishwasher
Coffee, espresso and tea
| Machine | Our descaler | Dose | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keurig, De'Longhi and most drip and pod coffee makers (guide) | Universal Coffee Machine Descaler | 2 to 4 Tbsp, by water hardness | Every 3 months on soft water, every 1 to 2 months on hard water |
| Nespresso Original and Vertuo (guide) | Descaler for Nespresso | 4 tsp (tank up to 0.7 L), 5 tsp (0.8 to 1.2 L), 2 Tbsp (1.3 to 1.8 L) | Per the label |
| Breville espresso machines (guide) | Descaler for Breville Espresso Machines | 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 ml) | Every 3 months, or when the machine prompts |
| Philips 3200, 4300, 5400 LatteGo and Saeco | Descaler for Philips and Saeco | As printed on the label | Every 3 months, or when the CALC/CLEAN light comes on |
| Ninja Luxe Café | Descaler for Ninja Luxe Café | 2 Tbsp | Every 3 to 4 months, or on the descale alert |
| Miele coffee machines and steam ovens | Universal Descaler for Miele | 1 Tbsp | Every 3 months |
| Electric kettles (Breville, Cuisinart, KitchenAid and more) (guide) | Electric Kettle Descaler | 2 Tbsp | Every 2 to 4 months |
| Fellow Stagg kettles and the Aiden brewer (guide) | Descaler for Fellow | 1 Tbsp | Monthly |
| Zojirushi water boilers | Descaler for Zojirushi | 1 3/4 oz (about 3 1/2 Tbsp) for a normal clean | Per the label |
Ice makers
| Machine | Our descaler | Dose | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE Profile Opal nugget ice maker (guide) | Opal Ice Maker Descaler, 6 oz | As printed on the label (about 6 standard cleans per bottle) | Monthly on hard water, every 3 months on soft |
| Countertop ice makers, 2 to 4 L (GE Opal, Frigidaire EFIC and more) (guide) | Ice Maker Cleaner, 16 oz | 2 Tbsp small, 3 Tbsp medium, 4 Tbsp large reservoir | Monthly on hard water, every 3 months on soft |
| Scotsman ice machines | Ice Machine Descaler | 3 Tbsp (Scotsman Brilliance) | Every 6 months, sooner on hard water |
Around the house
| Machine | Our descaler | Dose | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwashers, all major brands (guide) | Dishwasher Cleaner and Descaler | 2 Tbsp | Monthly, more often on hard water |
| Humidifiers (Levoit, Vicks, Crane and more) | Humidifier Descaler | 1 Tbsp per 32 oz of water | Per the label |
| CPAP humidifier chambers | CPAP Chamber Cleaner and Descaler | As printed on the label (6 deep cleans per bottle) | Per the label |
| Garment steamers (Jiffy, Conair, SALAV) | Garment Steamer Descaler | 2 tsp per 10 oz of water | Per the label |
| Water flossers (Waterpik, Sonicare) | Descaler for Water Flossers | 1 tsp small tank, 2 tsp medium, 1 Tbsp large | Monthly or as needed |
| Pet fountains (Drinkwell, PetSafe, Catit) | Pet Fountain Descaler | 1 tsp per 32 oz of water | Monthly |
| Baby bottle washers (Momcozy, Baby Brezza) | Descaler for Bottle Washers | As printed on the label | Per the label |
| Water distillers | Descaler for Water Distillers | 2 oz (4 oz for 2-gallon boiling chambers) | Monthly |
| Enagic Kangen water ionizers | Descaling Liquid for Enagic | 1 Tbsp | Per the label |
| AeroGarden hydroponic gardens | Hydroponic Descaler for AeroGarden | 1 tsp (2 for heavy buildup) | After each grow cycle |
| Saltwater pool salt cells | Salt Cell Cleaner | 1/2 cup concentrate plus water to make 1 quart (1/4 cup for light film, 1 cup for heavy buildup) | Per the label |
"Per the label" means the bottle prints its own measure, usually by tank size or by how heavy the buildup is. Doses here are for our concentrates only. Other brands are mixed at different strengths, so don't swap them in at these amounts.
How to tell if your water is hard
A white ring inside your kettle within a week or two is the easy tell. So are white spots on glasses out of the dishwasher and a crust around the tap aerator. If you see any of those, descale at the short end of the ranges above.
Why citric acid
Citric acid breaks down calcium carbonate. You'll see it fizz as carbon dioxide comes off, and what's left rinses out with water. Many branded descaling solutions are citric acid too, sold in single-use packets. Vinegar works, but it's weaker on scale, needs longer contact and leaves a taste that takes several rinses to clear. Bleach does nothing for scale and should never be mixed with an acid.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I descale?
It depends on the machine and your water. Coffee makers and espresso machines run every 1 to 3 months, kettles every 2 to 4, dishwashers monthly. Hard water pushes all of these toward the shorter end. The tables above list the interval for each of our descalers.
Can I use one descaler for everything?
Our universal coffee machine descaler covers most coffee and espresso machines. For ice makers, Philips and Saeco machines, and anything with aluminum or nickel parts, use the descaler made for it. Several of those, including our Philips and Saeco descaler and the 16 oz ice maker cleaner, are buffered with sodium citrate to go easier on the metal.
Are these made in the USA?
Yes. Every Think Crucial descaler and cleaner is formulated and bottled in the USA.
Will a non-OEM descaler void my warranty?
Each appliance maker sets its own warranty terms, so check yours. Our descalers are compatible products, not made by the appliance manufacturers, and using a non-OEM product may affect your warranty.
Everything we make for descaling and cleaning is in cleaners and descalers. U.S. shipping is free, and orders placed by 2pm ET ship the same business day.
Brand and model names on this page are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe compatibility. Think Crucial is an independent manufacturer and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any appliance maker named here. Always follow your appliance manufacturer's own descaling instructions.