# How to Descale a Nespresso Machine (Original and Vertuo)

> How to descale a Nespresso machine, Original and Vertuo: when to do it, what to buy, the steps, the lights, what goes wrong and when to call a technician.

- Page: https://oneclickdubai.com/guides/how-to-descale-a-nespresso-coffee-machine
- Nespresso Original and Vertuo
- Step by step, with the lights explained
- Reviewed by Abdul Suboor, Lead Engineer
- Updated November 2026
- Book a repair: message us on WhatsApp, +971 55 209 9785

Nespresso says to descale every three to four months or about 300 capsules. The steps differ between Original and Vertuo, so start with the line you own.

Descaling a Nespresso machine takes about half an hour and one packet of descaling liquid. You fill the tank with the solution, run it through the machine in a special mode, flush the machine with fresh water and wipe it down. The tricky part is the first step, because the button sequence that starts descaling mode is different on the Original line and the Vertuo line, and different again between Vertuo models.

This guide covers both lines. It explains when to descale, what to buy, how to run the cycle on each line, how to read the lights, what to do when the machine refuses to enter descaling mode, and what descaling will not fix. Where the steps depend on your model, we say so and send you to the manual, because a wrong button sequence is a common reason people think their machine is broken.

If your machine is already misbehaving, with weak flow, no heat or a light that will not clear, read the section near the end before you start. Descaling cures a scaled machine. It does not cure a worn pump, and we will tell you how to tell the two apart. For a repair, see [Nespresso machine repair in Dubai](https://oneclickdubai.com/services/nespresso-machine-repair-dubai).

## How to descale a Nespresso machine: the short answer

1. **Check the signal**: Nespresso says to descale every three to four months or after about 300 capsules, whichever comes first. A Vertuo machine also shows a half-red, half-green light when it wants descaling.
2. **Empty and clean the machine**: Remove the capsule container and drip tray, wash the water tank, and take out any capsule.
3. **Add the descaling liquid**: Pour the Nespresso descaling solution into the tank and top up with fresh water as your manual says.
4. **Enter descaling mode**: Use the sequence for your model. Original and Vertuo are different, and the manual is the final word.
5. **Run the cycle**: Collect the liquid in a large container. The machine runs through the solution on its own, or in stages on some models.
6. **Rinse**: Empty and wash the tank, fill it with fresh water and run the rinse cycle. Repeat if the manual says so.
7. **Wipe and dry**: Leave the machine to dry before you put the next capsule in.

The sections below fill in each step, including the sequences and what the lights mean.

## Descaling, cleaning and the kit: what each word means

People search for the same job under several names: descaling, decalcifying, decalcification, a cleaning kit, a descaling agent. They mean one of two things.

| Term | What it means | How often |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Descaling (decalcifying) | Dissolving limescale inside the machine, in the boiler or thermoblock and the water lines | Every three to four months or about 300 capsules, whichever comes first, per Nespresso |
| Descaling kit, liquid or agent | The product you put in the tank. Nespresso sells its own descaling kit, and the same kit is used for the Original and Vertuo lines | Each descale uses the amount the pack and your manual state |
| Cleaning | Washing the parts you can see and remove: capsule container, drip tray, water tank, spout area, outside | The tank and tray regularly. The capsule container whenever it fills |
| Rinsing | Running fresh water through after descaling so no solution is left | Part of every descale |

A cleaning kit in the sense most people mean is a descaling kit. Washing the removable parts needs only warm water and a mild, unscented washing-up liquid. Nothing in the descaling liquid is meant to clean the outside of the machine, and it can damage worktops, so keep it off them.

## When to descale

Nespresso's own advice is to descale every three to four months or after about 300 capsules, whichever comes first, and its page says this applies in soft-water and hard-water areas alike. If you drink many capsules a day, you reach 300 well before three months, so count capsules as well as months.

| Signal | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Three to four months have passed | The interval Nespresso recommends | Descale |
| About 300 capsules since the last descale | The other half of the same rule | Descale |
| Vertuo light shows half red and half green | The machine is asking to be descaled. Reports say you can make only a couple more coffees afterwards | Descale now |
| Coffee is slower, cooler or the flow splutters | Scale may be restricting water | Descale, then check again |
| White flakes in the tank or the cup | Scale is breaking away | Descale and change the water habit |
| New machine, second-hand machine or one left unused for months | Unknown history | Descale before regular use |

Some Original and Vertuo models give an automatic descaling alert, so check your manual for this feature. If your machine has it, follow the alert. If not, set a reminder on your phone for the date, or write the date on the machine's base with a pencil.

## What you need

- The Nespresso descaling kit. Nespresso sells it as a pack of descaling solution units, and a single unit is used per descale. Check the pack and your manual for how many units your model needs. Nespresso's own page says the Vertuo Creatista needs more than other models.
- A container to catch the liquid. A 1 litre container is used in the Vertuo steps, and it must be large enough to hold everything that runs through, because you will pour it back into the tank for some steps.
- Fresh water for the tank and for the rinse.
- A damp cloth and a mild unscented washing-up liquid for the removable parts.
- Protection for the worktop. Descaling liquid can damage surfaces, so wipe up any spill at once and wash your hands after handling it.

Set aside a clear half hour. The preparation takes a few minutes, the cycle itself is around twenty minutes on the Vertuo steps, and the rinse adds a few more. Nespresso's page suggests allowing about an hour once you include washing the parts and letting them dry.

## Before you start: the preparation

1. **Switch the machine on and remove any capsule**: Open the head, let the used capsule drop out, and close it again.
2. **Empty the capsule container and the drip tray**: Wash them in warm soapy water.
3. **Wash the water tank**: Rinse it well. Any soap film left in the tank flavours the next coffee.
4. **Wipe the machine body**: A damp, soapy cloth is enough. Dry it.
5. **Let the parts dry**: Reassemble when they are dry.
6. **Pour in the descaling solution**: Add the solution to the tank, then top up with clean water to the level your manual states.
7. **Put the large container under the spout**: It has to hold all the liquid the machine will deliver.
8. **Protect the worktop**: A tray or a folded towel under the container catches drips.

Preparing properly takes ten minutes and avoids common stalls: a capsule left in the head, a tank that is not seated, or a container that overflows halfway through.

## Which line do you own: Original or Vertuo?

Pick the right set of steps before you open the descaling kit. The quickest test is the capsule.

| Look at | Original line | Vertuo line |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The capsule | Small, narrow, bell-shaped, usually aluminium | Larger, round and domed, with a ring around the rim that the machine reads |
| The buttons | Usually separate espresso and lungo buttons | Often one button, with the lever or head used to start and lock |
| Model names you may recognise | Essenza, Citiz, Pixie, Inissia, Lattissima, U | Vertuo, VertuoPlus, Next, Pop, Creatista |
| The coffee sizes | Espresso and lungo, plus milk drinks on some models | Several cup sizes read from the capsule |
| The descaling steps | Hold the espresso and lungo buttons together, then press lungo | A model-specific sequence on the button and the lever |

If you still cannot tell, look at the sticker on the base of the machine for the model name and search it in the manual. Nespresso's descaling kit is the same for both lines, so the kit is not the question. The sequence is.

Some Nespresso Professional machines, used in offices and cafés, are a third group with their own steps, and the home sequences here do not apply to them.

## Descaling the Original line

The Original line is the one that uses the small aluminium capsules, in machines such as the Essenza, Citiz, Pixie, Inissia and Lattissima families. Nespresso's own descaling page gives this sequence for the Original line.

1. **Prepare the machine**: Follow the preparation above, with the descaling solution and water in the tank and a large container under the spout.
2. **Enter descaling mode**: Hold the espresso and lungo buttons together for a few seconds until the buttons blink.
3. **Start the cycle**: Press the lungo button. The machine runs the solution through.
4. **Collect the liquid**: Let the machine run into the large container.
5. **Pour it back and repeat**: Pour the collected liquid back into the tank and run it again, as the Nespresso page directs.
6. **Rinse**: Empty and clean the tank, refill it with fresh water and run the rinse cycle until the water has gone through.

This is the general Nespresso sequence for Original machines. Some models use a different combination, and the exact number of cycles and rinses depends on your model, so confirm against your manual. If the buttons blink and then stop, you have entered the mode. If nothing blinks, you have not.

### Original Lattissima and machines with a milk system

Lattissima-type machines have a milk system built in. The manual gives a separate cleaning step for the milk circuit, and the milk system is cleaned on a different routine from descaling. Do not run descaling solution into the milk container.

## Descaling the Vertuo line

The Vertuo line uses round capsules that the machine reads and spins. There are several generations, and the button sequence differs between them, so there are two sets of steps below. Follow the one that matches how your machine looks and behaves, and if neither matches, use your manual.

### Vertuo Next and Pop style machines

Nespresso's page describes the sequence for these machines in outline.

1. **Prepare the machine**: Follow the preparation above.
2. **Start descaling mode**: Hold the button for a few seconds until it blinks rapidly.
3. **Move the lever to the release position**: Hold the button for a few seconds there, as the manual directs.
4. **Lock the machine**: Close it, then press the button to run the solution through.
5. **Collect and repeat**: Collect the liquid, pour it back into the tank and run the rinse cycle again.
6. **Rinse with fresh water**: Clean the tank and run fresh water through, until the light signals the end.

### Vertuo machines with a lever on top

A published step-by-step for the earlier lever machines describes a different route into the mode.

1. **Empty the machine**: Turn it on, push the lever up to open the head, let any capsule drop out and close it. Push the lever down for three seconds and switch the machine off. Empty the capsule container.
2. **Fill the tank**: Add 0.5 litres of water and one unit of the Nespresso descaling liquid, and put the large container under the spout.
3. **Enter menu mode**: With the machine off, push the lever down and press the button together for three seconds. An orange light shows that you are in menu mode.
4. **Start descaling**: Push the lever down once to enter descaling mode.
5. **Wait**: The orange light blinks while the machine works, and it stops by itself when the cycle is done. Allow about twenty minutes.
6. **Rinse**: Empty the container, wash the tank and cup support, refill the tank with fresh water and press the button three times in two seconds. The rinse runs for about five minutes, and the light flashes green when it is done.
7. **Exit**: Push the lever down and press the button together to leave the mode. Let the machine dry for at least ten minutes before using it.

These two sets come from Nespresso's guidance and a published walk-through, and your model may differ. Treat the manual as the final word. If you cannot find it, the model name is on the base of the machine, and we can tell you the sequence if you message us the model.

## The lights and signals

The lights tell you where you are. The colours below come from the sources we used, and your model may use different patterns.

| What you see | Likely meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Half red, half green (Vertuo) | Descaling is due | Descale soon. You have only a couple of coffees left |
| Orange light on, with the lever or button held | You have entered menu mode (lever Vertuo) | Enter descaling mode with the next step |
| Orange light blinking | Descaling in progress | Wait. It stops by itself |
| Green blinking during the rinse, then steady | Heating, then ready | Continue the next step |
| Green flashing at the end of the rinse | Rinse complete (lever Vertuo) | Exit descaling mode |
| Buttons blinking together (Original) | Descaling mode active | Press the lungo button to start |
| Red light that does not clear | Most likely a fault, or a cycle that did not complete. Your manual lists the exact meaning | Repeat the rinse, then check the manual |

If your machine shows a pattern that is not in this table, look up the signal in your manual or message us a photo or a short video, and we will tell you what it means.

## Rinsing: the step people rush

The rinse is as important as the descaling. Liquid left in the machine tastes sharp and sour, and some of it can irritate if it is not flushed. Do it properly.

- Empty and wash the water tank before the rinse, not after. The tank still holds traces of the solution.
- Fill the tank with fresh water to the level in the manual.
- Run the rinse until the tank is empty, or as many cycles as your manual states. Nespresso's page says to collect the liquid, pour it back and repeat.
- Wipe the inside of the machine where you can reach it, including the area around the capsule head.
- Pull a couple of coffees without drinking them. The first cup after a descale often has a faint taste, and the second is normal.
- If you can still smell or taste the descaler, run another full tank of fresh water through.

A faint taste after one rinse is common. A strong taste after two means something is left, or the machine has not finished the rinse properly.

## What goes wrong, and what to do

### The machine will not enter descaling mode

- Wrong sequence for the model. Try the one for your line again, holding for the full time.
- A capsule is still in the head. Open the head and let it drop out.
- The machine is on when it should be off, or off when it should be on. The two Vertuo sequences start differently.
- The tank is empty, or the container is not under the spout.
- The head or lever is not fully closed.
- The model has an automatic descaling mode you start another way. Check the manual.

### The lights keep blinking and the cycle never ends

- Not enough water in the tank for the cycle. Refill it to the level in the manual.
- The container is full and the machine cannot complete. Empty it and restart as the manual says.
- Heavy scale slowing the flow. Repeat the descale after the first one finishes.

### No water comes out during descaling

Scale may be blocking the lines, or the pump may be failing. Check that the tank is seated and filled. If nothing flows and the pump is silent, stop and call a technician. If the pump hums but delivers little, one more descale sometimes frees it, and if not, the pump or the thermoblock needs attention.

### Coffee tastes sour or of descaler afterwards

Run a full tank of fresh water through the machine and pull two coffees to waste. Wash the tank again. If it persists, the rinse did not complete and needs repeating.

### Leaks after descaling

Descaling liquid does not cause leaks, but it can reveal a seal that was already tired. Water at the capsule head points to the head seal. Water beneath the machine points to the tank seat, an internal hose or the pump. Switch off, unplug and book a visit.

### The machine will not heat or flow after a descale

If a thorough descale and rinse do not restore heat or flow, the fault is not scale. Likely causes are a pump, a thermoblock or a control fault, and each needs a technician.

## Mistakes to avoid

| Mistake | Why it matters |
| --- | --- |
| Using vinegar | Nespresso's own guidance is never to descale a Nespresso machine with vinegar, because it can cause serious damage |
| Descaling with a capsule inside | It can jam the head or contaminate the capsule path |
| Skipping the rinse | Leaves solution in the machine, which tastes sour and is not meant to be drunk |
| Descaling the milk container | The milk system has its own cleaning routine |
| Using the wrong button sequence | The machine does not enter the mode, and people assume it is faulty |
| Leaving the container unattended | It can overflow, and descaling liquid damages worktops |
| Descaling a machine that is already failing | It will not cure a worn pump, and delays the repair |
| Ignoring the light | Nespresso's Vertuo light means you have only a few coffees left before scale gets worse |

We see the first two most often. Vinegar is cheap and familiar, and it is the product people reach for first. For the reasons above, do not.

## Other descalers: a straight answer

Nespresso sells a descaling kit for its machines, and its own guidance is written around that product. Other brands of descaling liquid exist for capsule and pod machines.

- Check the pack. A product that is made for capsule machines and states that it is safe for them is the starting point.
- Use the amount the pack and the machine's manual give. More is not better.
- Do not mix products or use household acids. Citric acid and baking soda are mentioned online as home methods, but they are not Nespresso recommendations, and we cannot vouch for them on your machine.
- If your machine is under warranty, use the Nespresso kit. Following the maker's advice keeps you on the safe side of the warranty terms.
- Rinse thoroughly with any product.

We use maker-approved descalers on the machines we service. That is the safest answer we can give, and you can ask us which product suits your model.

## Handling the descaling liquid safely

- Read the label before you open the pack, and keep it in its original packaging.
- Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive, and wash your hands after handling it.
- Keep it away from children, pets and food, and never decant it into a drinks bottle.
- Protect the worktop and wipe spills at once. Descaler can mark stone, wood and polished surfaces.
- Open a window if the smell bothers you, and do not lean over the tank.
- Do not drink the liquid that runs through the machine during the cycle.

The liquid does its work inside the machine, and the rinse removes it. Every step above exists so that none of it reaches your cup.

## Cleaning between descales

Descaling is only half of the care. These small jobs keep the machine hygienic and stop faults that look like scale.

| How often | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| After each use | Empty the capsule container when it is full, wipe up drips, rinse the cup |
| Every few days | Empty and rinse the water tank, and refill with fresh water |
| Weekly | Wash the drip tray, cup support and capsule container in warm soapy water. Wipe the outside of the machine |
| Monthly | Wash the water tank thoroughly and check the seal where it sits on the machine |
| At each descale | Wash all removable parts before starting |
| If you use the milk system | Clean it as the manual says, and do not skip it |

Use warm water and a mild, unscented washing-up liquid. Strong scents linger in plastic and flavour the coffee.

## Scale in Dubai: why the interval matters

The rule is the same everywhere: scale comes from the minerals in the water that passes through the machine. Nespresso's own page says the interval applies in soft-water and hard-water areas alike, so there is no need to stretch it because your water seems soft.

- Count capsules as well as months. A household that drinks six capsules a day reaches 300 in about seven weeks.
- Use fresh water in the tank. Water that has stood in the tank for days is worse than fresh water.
- A water filter jug may help, but it does not replace descaling.
- Machines in offices drink more capsules per month than those at home, so an office machine needs the interval cut to match.
- If you see white flakes or a white coating, descale now, whatever the date.

Descaling on time is the cheapest repair there is. A pack of liquid costs a small fraction of what a pump or a thermoblock costs.

## How often that means for your household

Because the rule is three to four months or 300 capsules, whichever comes first, heavier use brings the date forward. This table turns capsules per day into the number of days to 300.

| Capsules per day | Days to reach 300 | In practice |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | 300 | The three to four month limit comes first, so descale every three to four months |
| 2 | 150 | Three to four months still comes first |
| 3 | 100 | Roughly every three and a half months, so descale at three to four months |
| 4 | 75 | About every ten to eleven weeks |
| 6 | 50 | About every seven weeks |
| 10 | 30 | About monthly, which is a busy family or a small office |
| 20 | 15 | About every two weeks, which is a busy office machine |

The numbers are simple arithmetic on Nespresso's 300-capsule figure. They show why an office machine needs far more attention than a kitchen machine, and why a reminder on the calendar beats trusting your memory.

Write the descale date and the capsule count on a label under the machine. When you descale, note the date and reset the count. After two cycles you will know your own rhythm.

## A one-page checklist you can follow with the machine in front of you

1. **Check the signal**: Light, date or capsule count says it is due.
2. **Collect your kit**: Descaling liquid, a large container, fresh water, a damp cloth, a tray for the worktop.
3. **Empty the machine**: No capsule in the head. Capsule container and drip tray out.
4. **Wash the removable parts**: Warm water and a mild unscented washing-up liquid. Rinse and let them dry.
5. **Fill the tank**: Descaling liquid first, then water to the manual's level.
6. **Enter descaling mode**: The sequence for your line and model. Wait for the signal that you are in the mode.
7. **Let the machine run**: Stay nearby. Empty the container if it fills.
8. **Rinse with fresh water**: Wash the tank first. Run it through as your manual states.
9. **Wipe and dry**: Inside the drip area and outside. Put the parts back.
10. **Pull two coffees to waste**: Then make a normal cup and check the taste.
11. **Record it**: Date and capsule count, written on the machine or in your phone.

Printing or saving this list takes the guesswork out of a job you only do four times a year.

## Descaling an office or hotel set of machines

A fleet of Nespresso machines in an office, a clinic or a hotel needs a system, not a reminder in someone's head.

- Number each machine and keep a log sheet beside it: the date, who descaled it and the capsule count.
- Descale a small number of machines each week instead of all of them on one day, so you never lose every machine at once.
- Buy descaling kits in a batch and store them somewhere cool and dry, away from food.
- Train two people, not one, so holiday and sick leave do not stop the schedule.
- Machines made for the professional range follow different steps. Use the manual for that exact model and do not apply the home sequences above to it.
- Keep a spare machine. When one fails, the spare keeps the break room working while it is repaired.

We service Nespresso machines for offices and hospitality across Dubai and can set up a regular descale visit if you would like it done for you.

## If your Nespresso has been sitting unused

A machine in a holiday home, a spare room or an office that has been closed for weeks needs a little care before it goes back to work.

- Throw away any water left in the tank and wash it. Water that has stood for weeks is not fit to brew with.
- Descale before regular use. Dried scale and old water in the lines should be flushed out.
- Wipe the drip tray and capsule container, which may smell musty.
- Run a full tank of fresh water through before the first coffee.
- If the pump does not start or the machine does not heat after this, stop and book a visit rather than forcing it.

Before a long absence, empty the tank, empty the capsule container, wipe the machine and unplug it. It will be easier to restart.

## When descaling is not enough: call a technician

A machine that is scaled gets better after descaling. A machine that is worn does not. Descale first, then look at what is left.

| After a good descale | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flow is normal again | It was scale | Keep to the schedule |
| Still weak or no flow | Pump, thermoblock or a blockage in the head | Book a visit |
| Coffee still lukewarm | Heating fault | Book a visit |
| Pump loud or labouring | A tired pump | Book a visit |
| Leak at the head or below | Seal, tank seat, internal hose | Switch off and book a visit |
| Lights still show a fault | A fault code or sensor | Send us a video of the lights |
| Machine is under warranty | The maker may repair or replace it | Contact Nespresso first |

We repair Nespresso Original and Vertuo 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 [Nespresso machine repair](https://oneclickdubai.com/services/nespresso-machine-repair-dubai), or the wider [coffee machine repair](https://oneclickdubai.com/services/coffee-machine-repair-dubai) page.

## Frequently asked questions

### How often should I descale my Nespresso machine?

Nespresso recommends every three to four months or after about 300 capsules, whichever comes first, in soft-water and hard-water areas alike.

### How long does it take to descale a Nespresso?

The cycle takes around twenty minutes on the Vertuo steps, plus the rinse and drying time. Allow about half an hour, and up to an hour with cleaning.

### How do I know when my Nespresso needs descaling?

A Vertuo shows a half-red, half-green light. Otherwise count three to four months or about 300 capsules. Flakes in the tank or slow, lukewarm coffee are also signs.

### How do I put my Nespresso into descaling mode?

On the Original line, hold the espresso and lungo buttons together until they blink, then press lungo. Vertuo sequences vary by model, so follow the steps above or your manual.

### Can I use vinegar to descale a Nespresso?

No. Nespresso says never to use vinegar, because it can cause serious damage.

### Can I use citric acid or another descaler?

Nespresso recommends its own kit. Others made for capsule machines exist, but we cannot vouch for home methods on your machine.

### Is the same descaling kit used for Original and Vertuo?

Yes, according to Nespresso's page. The steps and the number of units can differ by model.

### How much descaling liquid do I use?

Use the amount your manual and the pack state. One unit in 0.5 litres of water is used in the lever Vertuo steps we found.

### What do I do if the machine will not go into descaling mode?

Remove any capsule, close the head fully, check the tank and try the sequence for your model again, holding for the full time.

### Why does my coffee taste strange after descaling?

Some solution is left. Run a full tank of fresh water through and discard the first two coffees.

### Do I need to descale a new Nespresso machine?

Not at once, but descale a second-hand machine, or one that has been unused for months, before regular use.

### Is descaling liquid safe to handle?

Treat it with care. It can be harmful on skin, so wash your hands after handling it, keep it away from children and pets, and wipe spills off worktops at once because it can damage surfaces.

### What do I do with the used liquid?

Follow the disposal instructions on the pack. Keep it away from drinks and do not use it for anything else.

### Can I descale a Nespresso with a milk system the same way?

The coffee side follows the steps for its line. The milk system has a separate cleaning routine in the manual, and descaling liquid does not go in the milk container.

### Who repairs Nespresso machines in Dubai?

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