Avoid a home appliance fail and get your coffee machines working properly by giving them a deep clean and descaling. If you live in a hard water area, you'll find you need to do this more regularly compared to those in a soft water area, but it's advisable to do it often anyway. It'll prolong the life of your appliances and produce better-tasting drinks too. Some models even feature an indicator light that reminds you it’s time to descale.

A natural alternative to descale kits is to use distilled white vinegar. Fill the water chamber with one part water, one part white vinegar. Run a cycle, empty the pot, and do another vinegar cycle. Then empty again and finish off with water.

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