So you want to make your own descaling solution? It’s not complicated at all, and we can certainly help you with the DIY aspect of this. Forget about vinegar, or some other fancy ingredient claiming to the best. Citric acid will give you fantastic results and you can make your own homemade descaling solution in about 5 minutes. I’m pretty sure most of you have all the tools, or even 6 different versions of the needed tools. The citric acid is easy to get. Here are the basic steps to making your own descaling solution.

DIY Descaling Solution Materials List:

  1. 2+ Cup Glass Measuring Cup – We used a Pyrex measuring cup, but it makes no difference, and you can use a 275 gallon IBC Tote if you want, or perhaps an 8 oz. glass cup, or even a protein shake bottle. That already has a nifty mixing device in the bottle and would work nicely for mixing the solution.
  2. At least 4 oz. of citric acid – The recipe uses 3.12 oz. of citric acid and you end up with about a 39% solution, which is pretty potent and will descale whatever you want from a hot water kettle to a Super Duper Automatic A+ Keurig Whosawatchacallit Machine.
  3. Nifty mortar bowl – I had one lying around and decided it would look sophisticated for this “class” on how to make decaling solution. Again, you can use a wheelbarrow, 10 gallon mixing bowl, or shovel straight out of the bag. It’s your call.
  4. Tablespoon! – This could be a plastic tablespoon, a stainless steel tablespoon, a wooden tablespoon, or a titanium tablespoon. The sky is the limit, and if you’d like you can even measure 0.52 oz. x 6 of citric acid and dump it in to the measuring cup.
  5. Soup spoon! – This is for the important task of stirring the concoction. I specifically said soup spoon so you don’t use a teaspoon and get the liquid on your dainty fingers.
  6. Thermometer – This isn’t really necessary, but I figured the really specific minded people, like myself, want to know ALL the details. I get it because that’s the way I am.

Step 1. DIY Descaling Solution

Assemble all your utensils and citric acid in a central staging area, because you know, gotta keep this thing technically superior and exactly as pictured. The citric acid is a fine grade, which can definitely help with dissolving it a little bit. However, that’s not highly important.

Step 2. DIY Descaling Solution

Add approximately 8 oz. of warm water to the glass measuring cup. For the record, I consider 106 degrees Fahrenheit to be warm enough that I can comfortably keep my hand in it. Maybe it’s all the years of washing dishes. Adding the thermometer slightly elevated the water level, just for those who will wonder. 🙂

DIY Descaling Solution Step 2. On top of a wooden table there is a glass measuring cup with thermometer in it showing the water temperature at 106 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3. DIY Descaling Solution

Now add 6 tablespoons of super primo citric acid to the water. As you can see the water level was elevated about 1/4 cup by the addition of the citric acid. I’m sure inquiring minds want to know, but there you have it.

DIY Descaling Solution Step 3. On top of a wooden table there is a glass measuring cup with water and citric acid in it and a mortar with measuring spoons in it to the left.

Step 4. DIY Descaling Solution

Now you take the soup, or dessert, spoon and stir until the citric acid is dissolved. It took me about 30 seconds of gentle stirring, you know so I don’t get any of the liquid on my dainty fingers or on the table. Well, that’s it; your very own 39%+/- descaling solution is now ready for use in whatever you want. You can dump this into your hot water kettle, coffee maker, espresso machine, fully automatic fancy pants machine, or whatever.

DIY Descaling Solution Step 4. On top of a wooden table there is a glass measuring cup with water, citric acid and a spoon in it. The citric acid is dissolved. There is a mortar with measuring spoons in it to the left.