Descaling espresso machines - what does everyone use?

[Megaross]

Hey guys, I've had my gaggia cubika plus for about a year now and used it loads with soft water.
Definitely thinking it's struggling now so I'm planning to descale it, I was planning on using cream of tartar through it, letting it heat up, leave it for a bit, flush it, repeat a few times then flush with clean water.

Don't want to be spending £6-7 on a pot of fancy descaler.

I was wondering what you guys were using, see if there was something better for the job?

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

I use malt vinegar in my kettle. As well as getting rid of the limescale, it removes all kinds of other stains and you can polish the steel up to a really nice shine. I occasionally use it on my pots & pans for the same reason.

 

[iceo]

i have a one cup kettle in a hard water area and use these http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-10ml-Steam-Steriliser-Descaler-6-Pack_10091/

i run a 2 pints of water with 2 treatments in a few times then flush with clean water

 

[screamlead]

Citric Acid works a treat

 

[fbsf]

Citric acid or white vinegar should do it, with a good rinse afterwards.

Saying that, keep an eye out in Aldi/Lidl - they often have their own descaler which is only a couple of quid.

 

[Megaross]

Boshed some cream of tartar through it in the end, seems to have done the trick.