# How to Descale a De'Longhi Machine (Magnifica, Dedica and More)

> How to descale a De'Longhi: the official steps for Dedica, Magnifica S and Evo, which descaler to use, rinsing and what to do if the light stays on.

- Page: https://oneclickdubai.com/guides/how-to-descale-a-delonghi-coffee-machine
- Dedica, Magnifica S and Magnifica Evo
- Based on De'Longhi's own support pages
- Reviewed by Abdul Suboor, Lead Engineer
- Updated November 2026
- Book a repair: message us on WhatsApp, +971 55 209 9785

De'Longhi gives different steps for the Dedica, Magnifica S and Magnifica Evo, and says to use only its own descaler. Find your family first.

A De'Longhi bean-to-cup machine tells you when it wants descaling, and it does not want to be argued with. A red or orange descale light comes on, and the machine expects you to run a programme that takes between twenty-five and forty-five minutes depending on the model. The programme is different on the Dedica, the Magnifica S and the Magnifica Evo, so the first job is to find the sequence that belongs to your machine.

This guide sets out the official De'Longhi procedures for those three families, explains what De'Longhi says about the descaler to use, how the hardness setting and the water filter change the interval, and what to do when the cycle stalls or the light will not clear.

If the machine is faulty rather than scaled, you will find the signs in the section near the end. For a repair, see [De'Longhi coffee machine repair in Dubai](https://oneclickdubai.com/services/delonghi-coffee-machine-repair-dubai). For other makes, there is a [general guide to descaling a coffee machine](https://oneclickdubai.com/guides/how-to-descale-a-coffee-machine).

## How to descale a De'Longhi machine: the short answer

1. **Wait for the signal**: Descale when the descale light comes on. How soon that happens depends on the hardness setting in the machine and whether a water filter is fitted.
2. **Get De'Longhi descaler**: De'Longhi's support pages say to use only its own descaler. EcoDecalk is the product they name. They add that an unsuitable product or incorrect descaling may cause faults the guarantee does not cover.
3. **Take out the water filter**: If the tank has a filter or softener, remove it before descaling and refit it for the last rinse.
4. **Empty the trays**: Empty the drip tray and the grounds container, and put them back.
5. **Mix the descaler**: On the Magnifica models, pour the descaler to the level marked A on the tank (a 100 ml pack), then add water to level B. Follow your pack and manual for your model.
6. **Place a big container**: A container of at least 2 litres goes under the coffee and hot water spouts and under the milk or cappuccino outlet if your model has one.
7. **Start the programme**: Hold the descale button for the time your model needs, then follow the steps for your family below.
8. **Rinse**: Fill the tank with fresh water to MAX and run the rinse stages. Refit the filter at the end.
9. **Finish**: Empty the containers, refill the tank with fresh water and the machine is ready.

Allow up to an hour including the preparation. Do not start the programme unless you have the time to see it through. On the Magnifica Evo, De'Longhi states that once the cycle has started it cannot be interrupted and must finish with the full rinse.

## What De'Longhi says about descalers and the guarantee

De'Longhi's own support pages are clear, and they are worth reading before you buy anything from a supermarket shelf.

| Point | What De'Longhi says |
| --- | --- |
| Which descaler | Use only De'Longhi descaler. The pages name EcoDecalk |
| What goes wrong with other products | An unsuitable descaler or incorrect descaling may cause faults that are not covered by the guarantee |
| When to descale | When the descale light comes on. How often depends on your water hardness |
| Water filter | A De'Longhi water filter lengthens the interval between descales. Remove it before descaling |
| Interrupting the cycle | On the Magnifica Evo, once started it cannot be interrupted and must finish with the full rinse |
| Spills | Spilled descaler can damage surfaces, so dry any spill at once |

There are cheaper third-party descalers, and many owners use them. If your machine is under warranty, the safe route is the one De'Longhi states. If it is out of warranty, the choice is yours, but read the pack for your machine type, never mix products and never use vinegar. The reasoning is in our [general descaling guide](https://oneclickdubai.com/guides/how-to-descale-a-coffee-machine).

## Which De'Longhi do you have?

De'Longhi sells several lines, and the procedure is tied to the line. The model name is on the front or the top and the full code is on the label under the machine or in the back.

| Family | What it looks like | How it asks to be descaled | Where we cover it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dedica and Dedica Arte | Slim espresso machine with a portafilter and a steam wand or a cappuccino maker | Indicator lights, with a descale light that is red or orange in the official pages | Procedure A below |
| Magnifica S (for example ECAM 22.110) | Bean-to-cup with a control panel of buttons and a steam or hot water dial | A descale button under the panel blinking red | Procedure B below |
| Magnifica Evo (for example ECAM29X) | Bean-to-cup with a panel of LED buttons for intensity and drink choice | A red descale light on the display | Procedure C below |
| Other bean-to-cup lines | Eletta, Dinamica, Primadonna and others with a colour display or app | A message on the screen | Your manual, or send us the model |

The official pages cover Dedica, Magnifica S and Magnifica Evo. If your machine has a touch screen, the manual or the on-screen prompts guide you through the same stages: empty, fill, run, rinse.

## When to descale, and how the hardness setting works

A De'Longhi tells you when, using the water hardness you give it. De'Longhi's pages say to test your water and set the machine's descaling rate to match. That is why the setting matters.

| Item | What it does | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Descale light | Red on the Magnifica Evo display, blinking red on the Magnifica S, and red or orange in the Dedica pages | Descale as soon as you can |
| Hardness setting | Tells the machine how hard your water is so the light comes on at the right time | Test your water and set the machine as the manual describes |
| Water hardness test strip | A paper strip that you dip in the tap water | Use the strip that came with the machine if you have one, or buy one |
| Water filter | Reduces the minerals in the water | A De'Longhi filter lengthens the interval |
| Ignoring the light | Scale keeps building. Descale rather than resetting the counter | Descale. Do not reset the counter |

A common mistake is leaving the hardness setting at the factory value. If it is set lower than the true hardness, the light arrives late and scale builds up in the meantime. If your tap water is hard, set it hard. If you add a water filter, change the setting the manual specifies.

Count your own pace too. A household that makes eight drinks a day reaches the limit far sooner than one that makes two. If the light arrives much sooner than you expect, check the hardness setting before you assume a fault.

## What you need

- De'Longhi EcoDecalk descaler, or the descaler your manual names. Check how many 100 ml packs your model needs.
- A container of at least 2 litres to catch the liquid. The Magnifica pages call for this size.
- Fresh drinking water for the rinse.
- A cloth, and a tray or towel to protect the worktop.
- About half an hour for the Dedica and the Magnifica Evo, and up to 45 minutes for the Magnifica S, according to De'Longhi's pages.
- Your manual, or its web page open on your phone.
- The filter case or a place to put the water filter while you descale.

Choose a time when you do not need coffee. The machine is out of use for the whole programme.

## Before you start

1. **Check the signal**: The descale light is on, or the screen says descale.
2. **Empty the drip tray and grounds container**: Put them back in place before you begin.
3. **Empty the water tank**: Remove the water filter or softener if one is fitted.
4. **Confirm the water spout and any milk parts are fitted as the manual says**: The Magnifica Evo steps begin by confirming the spout is fitted.
5. **Pour in the descaler**: Add it to the tank as your model's steps describe.
6. **Put a large container in place**: Under the coffee and hot water spouts, and under the milk or cappuccino outlet if your model has one.
7. **Protect the surface**: Dry any spill straight away.

Spend two minutes here. Most stalls come from a missing part, a full container or a tank that is not seated.

## Procedure A: Dedica and Dedica Arte

This is De'Longhi's published sequence for the Dedica family. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

1. **Dilute the descaler and fill the tank**: Follow the pack for the dilution.
2. **Remove the water filter**: If one is fitted.
3. **Switch the machine on**: Press the ON/OFF button.
4. **Place a container under the cappuccino maker**: The container must be large enough for all the liquid.
5. **Wait for the ready lights**: The two indicator lights stay on steadily when the machine is ready.
6. **Enter descaling mode**: Press and hold the button shown with the descale icon for 10 seconds, until the three buttons flash in sequence.
7. **Turn the steam dial to the icon position**: The manual shows the icon.
8. **Start descaling**: Press the same button. The machine runs rinse and pause cycles until the tank is empty.
9. **Help the coffee circuit**: During the cycle, briefly close the steam dial now and then, so small amounts of descaler flow from the coffee spouts and clean the coffee circuit.
10. **Stop point**: When the machine stops, the orange light keeps flashing. That means descaling is not finished.
11. **First rinse**: Empty the container and place it back under the spouts. Empty the tank, rinse it under running water, fill it with fresh water to MAX and put it back. With the steam dial in the icon position, press the button to start the rinse.
12. **Second rinse**: Run a second rinse as before, with the filter refitted if you removed it.
13. **Finish**: When the tank is empty, the orange light goes out and the two indicator lights flash. Turn the steam dial to 0, refill the tank with fresh water and the machine is ready.

The icon in step 6 is printed on your machine and shown in the manual, so match it to the picture. Do not use a button combination from another model.

## Procedure B: Magnifica S

De'Longhi's page for the Magnifica S (ECAM 22.110) says the programme takes about 45 minutes. The steps are below.

1. **Wait for the signal**: The descale button under the control panel blinks red.
2. **Switch on**: Turn the machine on and wait until it is ready.
3. **Empty the trays**: Empty the drip tray and the grounds container, and put them back.
4. **Empty the tank**: Remove the water softener filter if fitted.
5. **Pour in the descaler**: Fill to level A, the mark for a 100 ml pack. Add water to level B and put the tank back.
6. **Place a large container**: At least 2 litres, under the cappuccino maker and the coffee spouts.
7. **Wait for the coffee lights**: They must stay on steadily.
8. **Start the programme**: Press and hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds. Its light stays on steadily once the programme has started.
9. **Turn the dial**: When the light of the hot water and steam dial flashes, turn the dial to the I position.

The published page stops there. The remaining stages are the rinses, and they follow the prompts of the lights. Complete them with the manual for your model beside you. If you cannot find it, message us the model code and we will tell you the next steps. Models that descale through the steam nozzle have a separate video on De'Longhi's site.

## Procedure C: Magnifica Evo

De'Longhi's page for the Magnifica Evo (the ECAM29X range) takes about 30 minutes. The programme runs in four stages and cannot be interrupted once it has started, so make sure you have enough descaler before you begin.

### Stage 1: descaling

1. **Check the spout**: Confirm the water spout is fitted.
2. **Start the mode**: Press and hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds, until its LED blinks rapidly. The mild-intensity LED lights to show that stage 1 has started.
3. **Prepare the machine**: Empty the drip tray and the grounds container and put them back. Empty the tank and take out the softener filter if one is fitted.
4. **Add descaler and water**: Pour the descaler up to level A, marked at the back of the tank for a 100 ml pack. Add one litre of water up to level B, and put the tank back.
5. **Place a container**: At least 2 litres, under the coffee and hot water spouts.
6. **Press the button**: The descale indicator blinks to confirm that stage 1 is running.
7. **Wait**: For about 15 minutes the machine alternates between pausing and releasing liquid from the hot water and coffee spouts. The low water level indicator lights when stage 1 is complete.

### Stage 2: first rinse

1. **Refill with fresh water**: Empty the container. Remove the tank, empty it, rinse it under running water, fill it to MAX with fresh drinking water and put it back.
2. **Press the blinking button**: The medium-intensity LED blinks while stage 2 runs.
3. **Wait**: The machine rinses the coffee and hot water spouts automatically. The low water level indicator lights when stage 2 is complete.

### Stage 3: second rinse

1. **Empty and refill**: Empty the container. Empty the tank, fill it to MAX with fresh drinking water, and refit the softener filter if you use one.
2. **Press the blinking button**: The strong-intensity LED blinks while stage 3 runs. Rinse water flows from the hot water spout.

### Stage 4: finish

- When the pre-ground function LED lights, the descale cycle has ended correctly.
- When the grounds container indicator lights, empty the rinse-water container, remove the drip tray and empty the grounds container, then put everything back. The grounds container may hold some rinse water, and De'Longhi says this is normal.
- When the no-water indicator lights, remove the tank, fill it with fresh drinking water and put it back. The machine is ready.
- If you did not fill the tank to MAX during the rinses, the machine asks for a third rinse. Repeat stage 3.

If your Evo has a different code, such as the EX:2 variant, De'Longhi publishes a separate step-by-step guide and a video for it. Use that one.

## Plan the time: a timeline for each family

| Step | Dedica and Dedica Arte | Magnifica S | Magnifica Evo |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Time De'Longhi gives | About 25 to 30 minutes | About 45 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| Preparation | Dilute descaler, remove filter, container under the cappuccino maker | Empty trays, descaler to level A, water to level B, container of 2 litres | Check spout, empty trays, descaler to level A, one litre of water, container of 2 litres |
| Start | Hold the descale button for 10 seconds | Hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds | Hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds |
| Main stage | Rinse and pause cycles until the tank is empty | Follow the lights and the dial | About 15 minutes alternating pause and flow |
| Rinse stages | Two rinses | As the manual states | Two rinse stages |
| Finish | Orange light off, indicator lights flash, dial to 0 | Per the manual | Pre-ground LED lights, empty parts, refill the tank |

The times come from De'Longhi's own pages. Add ten minutes to wash the parts and a few more to let the machine settle. Do not start the programme when you are about to leave the house.

## Keep a record: it protects your warranty

De'Longhi says incorrect descaling or an unsuitable product may cause faults that the guarantee does not cover. A simple record helps if you ever need to make a claim.

- Keep the receipt for the machine and for each pack of descaler.
- Write the date of each descale on a label under the machine or in your phone notes.
- Note the hardness setting you chose and the date you chose it.
- Take a photo of the descale light before you start, and of the display when you finish.
- Keep the water hardness test result with the machine paperwork.
- If you change the water filter, note the date.

This takes two minutes after each descale. It also tells you how quickly the light comes back, which is a clue to whether the hardness setting is right.

## Cleaning the milk system after a descale

Many De'Longhi models have a cappuccino maker or a milk system. Descaler runs through the water path, and the milk path needs its own care.

- Do not put descaler in a milk jug or the milk container.
- Take the milk parts apart as the manual shows and wash them in warm water with a mild washing-up liquid.
- Reassemble them before you run the rinse stages, because some models rinse through the cappuccino maker.
- Run milk-system cleaning on the schedule in your manual, not only after descaling.
- If the milk comes out in spurts or does not froth, a part is blocked or worn. Clean it first, and book a visit if it persists.

Dried milk blocks narrow channels faster than scale does. A daily rinse costs thirty seconds and saves a repair.

## A De'Longhi in an office or a rental flat

Shared machines get descaled late, because everyone assumes someone else will do it.

- Name one person responsible, and a back-up.
- Stick the descale schedule, the hardness setting and the supplier of the descaler on the side of the machine.
- Keep two packs of descaler in a drawer so the machine is never waiting for a delivery.
- In a rental, keep the paperwork with the landlord's agent and tell them when the machine was last descaled.
- If the machine makes many drinks a day, check the hardness setting and the filter more often.
- Do not let a visitor press buttons while a programme is running.

We can descale and service De'Longhi machines in offices and rentals on a regular visit, and leave a record sheet with the machine.

## Why the machine pauses, and why you should leave it alone

A descale programme is not a continuous flow. On the Magnifica Evo, De'Longhi describes about fifteen minutes of alternating pauses and releases of liquid from the hot water and coffee spouts. The Dedica runs rinse and pause cycles until the tank is empty. The pauses let the descaler stay in contact with the scale.

- Do not switch the machine off because it seems to have stopped. A pause is part of the cycle.
- Do not press other buttons while the programme runs, because that can disturb it.
- Do not lift the tank to check the level unless a prompt asks you to.
- Stay within earshot, so you can empty the container if it fills.
- Do not pour extra descaler into the tank during the cycle.

If the machine is silent for much longer than the pauses described in the manual, look at the display. A flashing light with no sound usually means it is waiting for you to do something, such as refill the tank or empty the container. A silent machine with no light at all needs a power check.

## Descaling, rinsing and cleaning programmes are three different things

| Programme | Purpose | Product | Typical trigger |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Descaling | Dissolve limescale | Descaler as the manual names | Descale light |
| Rinsing | Flush the lines with fresh water | Water only | Part of the descale, or when the machine starts |
| Cleaning the brew unit or milk system | Remove coffee oil and milk residue | Cleaning product as the manual names, or warm water for the removable parts | A schedule, or a message on the display |

Running the wrong programme does not repair the problem it was meant for. A machine with a clogged milk system does not need descaling, and a scaled machine does not need a brew unit clean.

## Rinsing, the water filter and the first cup

- Rinse the tank under running water before each rinse stage. The tank still holds traces of descaler.
- Fill the tank to MAX for each rinse, and do not stop a rinse early. De'Longhi asks for a third rinse if you did not fill it.
- Refit the water filter only when your model tells you to, usually at the last rinse.
- Water in the grounds container after descaling is normal on the Magnifica Evo.
- Make a cup of hot water first and smell it. Then make a coffee and taste it.
- If you still smell or taste descaler, run another tank of fresh water through the spouts.

A faint taste for the first cup is not unusual. A strong taste after the full rinse means something was missed, and it needs another rinse.

## Setting the hardness and using the filter

1. **Test your water**: Dip a hardness test strip in a glass of tap water for the time the strip states, then read the colour.
2. **Set the machine**: Select the matching hardness level in the machine's menu or with its buttons, as the manual describes for your model.
3. **Decide on a filter**: A De'Longhi water filter lengthens the interval between descales. Fit it in the tank as the manual shows.
4. **Tell the machine**: Some models need you to confirm the filter in the settings or reset the filter count.
5. **Replace on schedule**: The filter has a limited life. Replace it as the manual says.
6. **Keep the strip**: Test again if you move house or the water changes.

A filter does not replace descaling. It slows scale, and the machine still needs a descale when the light comes on.

## Cleaning a De'Longhi between descales

Descaling does not clean the parts that touch coffee and milk. These routines do.

| How often | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Every day | Empty the grounds container and the drip tray, rinse them, and wipe the machine. Empty the tank and refill it with fresh water |
| After every milk drink | Clean the milk system as the manual directs, because dried milk blocks it |
| Weekly | Rinse the removable parts in warm water with a mild washing-up liquid |
| Monthly | Wipe the coffee spouts and the area around the brew unit, and check for coffee residue |
| On a schedule in the manual | Clean the brew unit if your model allows it to be removed, and use a cleaning product the manual names |
| When the descale light comes on | Descale as described above |

Where the brew unit comes out, the manual says how to rinse it and whether to use soap. Follow it. Soap in a brew unit leaves a taste in the coffee.

## Mistakes that cause trouble

| Mistake | Why it matters |
| --- | --- |
| Using a different descaler on a machine under warranty | De'Longhi says unsuitable products or incorrect descaling may cause faults the guarantee does not cover |
| Starting the programme without enough descaler | On the Evo the cycle cannot be interrupted |
| Leaving the water filter in | De'Longhi says to remove it before descaling |
| Using the wrong container | The Magnifica pages call for at least 2 litres, and a smaller one may overflow |
| Pressing the wrong button sequence | Machines of different families use different sequences |
| Skipping the rinses | Descaler left in the lines makes the coffee taste sharp |
| Using vinegar | Not a De'Longhi-approved product, and it leaves a smell |
| Ignoring the light | Scale keeps building while the machine waits |
| Leaving spilled descaler on the worktop | De'Longhi warns it can damage surfaces |

The two we meet most often are the wrong container and the water filter left in place. Both are easy to avoid if you read the preparation steps first.

## Troubleshooting a De'Longhi descale

### The descale light will not clear

- The programme did not finish. Run it again from the start, with the full rinses.
- You skipped a rinse stage. The machine only clears the light after the full cycle.
- You reset the counter without descaling. The scale is still there, and the machine will ask again.
- A sensor or a flow fault stopped the cycle. If it will not complete after two attempts, book a visit.

### The cycle stops partway

- The tank ran empty. Refill with the right mixture, and restart as the manual says.
- The container is full. Empty it and continue.
- A part is missing, such as the water spout or the drip tray. Refit it.
- Heavy scale is slowing the flow. Repeat the descale after the first cycle.

### No water flows during descaling

Check that the tank is seated and full. A pump that hums but delivers nothing may free up after a second descale. A silent pump, or a machine that shows a no-water message with a full tank, needs a technician.

### Coffee tastes sharp or sour afterwards

Descaler is left in the lines. Run two or three more tanks of fresh water through the coffee and hot water spouts and the milk system.

### There is water in the grounds container

On the Magnifica Evo, De'Longhi says this is normal after descaling. Empty it and put it back.

### The machine leaks afterwards

The descaler has exposed a seal that was already weak. Switch off, unplug and book a visit.

## When descaling is not the answer: call a technician

A scaled De'Longhi improves after a descale. If it does not, the fault is a part.

| After a full descale | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flow and heat back to normal | It was scale | Keep to the schedule |
| Still slow or no water | Pump, valve or a blocked path | Book a visit |
| Coffee still lukewarm | Heater or temperature sensor | Book a visit |
| Brew unit errors or a stuck unit | Brew unit needs cleaning or repair | Book a visit |
| Milk system will not froth | Blocked tubes or a worn part | Clean as the manual says, then book a visit |
| Grinder noise or no grind | Burrs, motor or a jam | Switch off and book a visit |
| Errors that return | A sensor or a control fault | Send a photo of the display |
| Machine is under warranty | De'Longhi may repair it | Contact the dealer or De'Longhi first |

We repair De'Longhi machines at your home or office in Dubai. The visit is AED 100 plus VAT, the repair is AED 80 to AED 400 depending on the fault, and the price is agreed before work starts. Parts are genuine and a month of cover applies. See [De'Longhi coffee machine repair](https://oneclickdubai.com/services/delonghi-coffee-machine-repair-dubai).

## Frequently asked questions

### How often should I descale a De'Longhi?

When the descale light comes on. How soon that is depends on the hardness setting, and a De'Longhi water filter lengthens the interval.

### What descaler does De'Longhi recommend?

De'Longhi's support pages say to use only De'Longhi descaler, and name EcoDecalk.

### Can I use another descaler?

De'Longhi says unsuitable products may cause faults not covered by the guarantee. Out of warranty, the choice is yours. Never use vinegar or mix products.

### How long does it take?

De'Longhi's pages give about 25 to 30 minutes for the Dedica, about 30 minutes for the Magnifica Evo and about 45 minutes for the Magnifica S.

### How much descaler do I use?

The Magnifica pages say to fill to level A on the tank for a 100 ml pack, then add water to level B. Check your pack and manual for your model.

### Do I take the water filter out?

Yes. De'Longhi says to remove it before descaling and refit it at the last rinse.

### Can I stop the descale halfway?

On the Magnifica Evo, De'Longhi says it cannot be interrupted once started. Plan the time and the descaler first.

### Why is there water in the grounds container?

On the Magnifica Evo, De'Longhi says this is normal after descaling.

### How do I descale a Dedica?

Hold the descale button for 10 seconds until the three buttons flash, turn the steam dial to the icon position and press the button to start. The full steps are above.

### How do I descale a Magnifica S?

Wait for the blinking red descale button, add descaler to level A and water to level B, put a 2 litre container under the spouts and hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds. The manual covers the remaining rinses.

### The descale light stays on. What now?

Run the full programme again, with all the rinses. If it still stays on after two full cycles, the machine needs a technician.

### Is it safe to descale before the light comes on?

Descaling early is not harmful when you follow the steps, but the machine is built to ask when it needs it. Check the hardness setting before descaling more often than the light suggests.

### Does descaling replace cleaning the brew unit?

No. Descaling removes scale. The brew unit and the milk system have their own cleaning routines in the manual.

### How do I find my De'Longhi model code?

Look on the label under or behind the machine, or in the manual. The code, such as ECAM or EC followed by numbers, decides which steps apply.

### Who repairs De'Longhi machines in Dubai?

One Click Dubai sends a technician the same day. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 55 209 9785. If the machine is under warranty, contact the dealer or De'Longhi first.