Dolce Gusto Descaling

anotheruser

Our machine is a little older so the small "recommended" packets of descaling solution aren't available anymore.

Is there something else we should do?

Water / vinegar mix maybe? 

Ebe_Scrooge

Would any of the many generic "coffee machine" descaler solutions be suitable?  But if it's just ordinary limescale, then anything acidic should do the trick - vinegar or lemon juice are probably the most easily-available.  You'd probably need to rinse it out thoroughly afterwards, just to get rid of the taste - not that it'd do you any harm, obviously.

Grenage

Citric acid is my normal choice for descaling, if you have some knocking around.  I'd not be surprised if that's what's in the branded descaling solutions.

Belenus

I mainly use citric acid too.

I buy 500gms on eBay cheaply and that last me many years.

It is far cheaper than branded descalers.

Ebe_Scrooge

Citric acid is good - isn't that basically what lemon juice is???  Used to use it as a kid to make home-made sherbet - citric acid, icing sugar, bicarbonate of soda :-)  But yeah, easily available anywhere - I understand home-brewers use it for sterilising wine bottles and such-like.  Like previous posters said, Ebay, Amazon, hobby shops, wherever - and obviously totally non-toxic, edible, natural, pretty cheap :-)

Belenus

Lemon juice contains citric acid but also has other constituents such as water, lemon oil, preservatives etc.

Citric acid is more effective and far cheaper than lemon juice.

It comes as a white powder, not as a liquid.

Don't snort it.  

YellowCarBlueCar

There are two common descalers for coffee machines, citric acid, or lactic acid.
Most manufacturers of pod machines seem to sell (and therefore recommend) lactic acid.

Like previous posters, I've used generic citric acid with Nespresso with no issues.  Your choice is to either use cheaper citric acid, or follow the manufacturer recommendation and use the more expensive lactic acid.  3rd option is a branded Oust type product, but you'll still be getting one of the above at an inflated price...

anotheruser

Thanks all.
Will try the white vinegar as we have a fair bit if that around.

Belenus

anotheruser said:

Thanks all.
Will try the white vinegar as we have a fair bit if that around.

I would be concerned about the residual smell of vinegar.