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Nespresso machines, one of the great machines that make brewing our favorite coffee much easier and more convenient. With the use of pods or coffee capsules, you can make high-quality coffee and espresso in mere seconds and at a press of a button.
Depending on the model, purchasing a Nespresso machine can be a very huge hit in the wallet. We need to regularly maintain and clean our Nespresso machines to ensure it runs optimally and produces the high-quality drinks that we want.
To keep the start of our days bright and cheerful, we need to properly care for our Nespresso. Read on and learn about how to clean a Nespresso machine using vinegar and more information about the maintenance of a Nespresso machine.
How To Clean Nespresso Machine With Vinegar
Before diving into how to use vinegar in cleaning a Nespresso machine, let’s look at how you should prepare the vinegar solution in the first place.
You can opt to buy ready-made cleaning solutions for your machine, but to ensure the safety of your Nespresso, it is best to make your own vinegar solution. You can also rest easy knowing what ingredients are inside the solution you made.
The best and most prominent practice is to maintain a 50/50 ratio of both vinegar and water. Once you add the two together, wait for around five minutes. After, mix it thoroughly.
The Prep
The first thing you need to do before descaling your Nespresso is to prepare it. Preparing for descaling can be different, depending on the model of the machine you have. It is highly recommended to check your Nespresso model’s manual and read it thoroughly to be extra careful. Remove any remaining capsules or pods in the machine. You will need the capsule container to be completely empty.
Next, get the right amount of freshwater to pour into the water container. Once in, pour the vinegar solution inside and mix it well. To know how much vinegar solution you need to pour in, you can refer to your model’s manual. Additionally, you can visit the Nespresso website for more information about descaling.
Step 1
Depending on the model, you’re going to have to push one or more buttons to start the descaling process. For the Pixie, Inissia, and Citiz models, you have to press and hold two flashing buttons together for three seconds.
The Prodigio model will need all three buttons to be pressed and held together for three seconds. For the Vertuoline, you only have to press and hold one button for seven seconds to start the process.
Step 2
After pressing and holding the appropriate buttons, the descaling process will start. For the most part, this process can take less than ten minutes. Some Nespresso machines might require you to refill the water. If it does, you will also need to add the right amount of vinegar solution again.
Step 3
After the cycle is finished, thoroughly rinse the water container. Once done, pour another batch of freshwater inside the container and rerun the process described previously. Wait for ten minutes again, but this time don’t add any of the vinegar solutions.
Step 4
For this step, you just need to remove any excess remaining in the drip tray and rinse it thoroughly.
Step 5
Now that you’re finished descaling your Nespresso, it’s time to turn off the descaling mode. To do this, you only need to press and hold the same buttons for the same amount of time in the beginning. Make sure to let your Nespresso machine air dry for at least ten minutes before using it again.
A small warning when it comes to using vinegar to clean Nespresso machines; you should only limit cleaning your machine this way once every two months or so. This is to prevent serious damage from occurring as vinegar is a very acidic ingredient. Frequent use can lead to damaged parts. Read on to learn more about cleaning your Nespresso machine.
Daily Routine Cleaning of Nespresso Machine
Now you know how to clean your Nespresso machine with vinegar, we should also go over the daily cleaning routine you should follow. This ensures that your machine is ready for descaling, which is recommended to be done every three months or so. Let’s explore how you do this.
Clean The Drip Tray and Capsule Container Every Day
If you want your Nespresso to run as smoothly as possible for a long time, it is very important to thoroughly clean the drip tray every day. Remove the drip tray and thoroughly wash it. You can use common dish detergent to clean the drip tray. If you notice a buildup of gunk in the dip tray, scrub it away.
Rinse the drip tray using warm water and use a clean cloth to wipe it down. Finally, let it dry out. You can do the same procedure for the capsule container. By doing this, you’ll ensure that no bacteria can grow inside the machine.
Clean The Water Tank Every Day
It is also highly recommended to keep the Nespresso’s water tank nice and clean; especially if you use it daily. You can do this alongside washing the dip tray. Remove both the water tank and lid from the Nespresso. Use mild detergent to wash both parts. After, you can rinse using warm water. Before reassembling the machine, make sure that every component you’ve washed is dry. It is recommended to wipe everything down with a clean cloth.
You should also avoid having unused water sit inside the water tank for too long. This can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. However, if you don’t use your Nespresso machine daily, you can clean the water tank every few days instead.
Clean The Capsule Detector Lens
You can take out the capsule detector lens from inside the Nespresso machine when you remove the maintenance module. This module is the one that holds the cups and is attached to the drip tray. Once taken out successfully, you can wipe it down gently with a soft, dry cloth. You only want to wipe away smudges that are present on the lens. You don’t need to use any water or soap to do so. This is to ensure that your coffee capsules and pods are still easily recognized by the machine without any obstructions.
Clean the External Components of Your Nespresso
Use a clean and slightly damp cloth to wipe down the external parts of your machine to maintain optimal cleanliness and functionality. Wipe down the outside cover and coffee outlet regularly. The coffee outlet is the part of the machine where the coffee pours into your cup. There can be a nasty build up here if you don’t clean it regularly enough. Use a cloth to wipe any build-up away.
You can also wipe down the outside surfaces and edges of the machine to keep it looking brand new. It is advised to do this multiple times a week if you want a long-lasting Nespresso machine.
Do Not Use Potent Household Cleaners When Cleaning Your Nespresso Machine
It is highly advised against using very strong cleaners when maintaining your Nespresso machine. These cleaners can cause irreversible damage to the Nespresso. Instead, use mild and odorless detergents; or even natural solutions such as vinegar as stated above.
Only use soft cloths and never sponges when wiping down and cleaning the Nespresso to avoid scratches. Lastly, avoid submerging any parts of the Nespresso machine in water or other liquids for a long period.
Conclusion
It is very important to properly clean your Nespresso machine if you want long-lasting service from it. We hope that this article has helped you learn more about how to clean a Nespresso machine using vinegar and some daily cleaning routines you can do. Happy brewing!