--- title: "Gaggenau: Cleaning and descaling shows too often" description: "What Cleaning and descaling means on Gaggenau: Cleaning and descaling shows too oftens, what to check before booking, and when it is not a failure at all." url: "https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-cleaning-and-descaling/" --- # Gaggenau: Cleaning and descaling shows too often Gaggenau schedules cleaning and descaling from water hardness and use. ## What Cleaning and descaling actually means. Gaggenau schedules cleaning and descaling from water hardness and use. The Expressive series can run both automatically from cartridges, or manually with tablets; a prompt that returns very often usually means lime is still getting through, so the filter or hardness setting needs attention. Gaggenau coffee machine display · also shown as Please clean and descale What to do when Cleaning and descaling shows on the coffee machine ### Kind of code Mode, not a failure The machine is doing what it was set to do, not wearing out: a rinse that runs through the spouts at switch-on and switch-off, a descale or filter reminder counting the water that has passed through, an energy-save mode that darkens the screen after a quiet spell, or a demo mode left on from the showroom that lights the keys and pours nothing. No part is needed; finishing the cycle the display asks for, or a key sequence from the manual, ends it. ### Usually leads to No repair Test the water with the supplied strip and set the matching hardness in the basic settings. ### Shows up as What a Coffee Machine Error Code or Warning Symbol Means A coffee machine error code may show as a short string of letters and numbers, a flashing symbol for water, grounds or the brew unit, a short sentence on a text display, or a machine that stops with one light blinking. ### Make Gaggenau Gaggenau coffee systems are serviced in place after the owner describes what the last cup looked like. ### Source Gaggenau Expressive series fully automatic espresso machine Use and Care Manual, Troubleshooting The Expressive series manual lists Cleaning and descaling as a care program and prints the too-frequent case; the CMP 250 manual prints Please clean and descale as its routine prompt. ## Before you book, in this order. Each step comes from Gaggenau's own guidance for Cleaning and descaling on its coffee machines. Follow it to the end: the last card says whether this is a visit. 01 Test the water with the supplied strip and set the matching hardness in the basic settings. 02 Fit a new water filter in the tank and run the cleaning and descaling program with a container of at least 0.5 l under the dispenser. 03 On an Expressive with automatic care, check that both cartridges are in place and not empty; if the prompt still returns soon after, book a visit. ### Cleared? The message is gone, and the machine grinds, heats and pours a full cup again with no new part. If it comes back within the week, or the descale or filter reminder returns straight after a finished cycle, say so in the booking. ### What not to do It is not the lockout screen of the CMP 250, which stops all drinks until a descale is finished. A prompt that shows up on its normal schedule is simply care. ## What you may notice with it. The coffee machine problems Cleaning and descaling tends to arrive with. Answer these at the coffee machine before anyone is booked. [All problems](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/problems/) Before you call ### [What a Coffee Machine Error Code or Warning Symbol Means](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/problems/coffee-machine-error-code/) [All 7 causes, cheapest first](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/problems/coffee-machine-error-code/) It also comes with - [**Coffee Machine Descale Message Will Not Go Away**](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/problems/coffee-machine-descale-message-wont-clear/) Problem ### What a Coffee Machine Error Code or Warning Symbol Means 7 causes, cheapest first No repair indicated ## Nothing to repair. The machine is doing what it was set to do, not wearing out: a rinse that runs through the spouts at switch-on and switch-off, a descale or filter reminder counting the water that has passed through, an energy-save mode that darkens the screen after a quiet spell, or a demo mode left on from the showroom that lights the keys and pours nothing. No part is needed; finishing the cycle the display asks for, or a key sequence from the manual, ends it. [How to read what your coffee machine is telling you](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/problems/coffee-machine-error-code/) ## Gaggenau coffee machines. Gaggenau coffee systems are serviced in place after the owner describes what the last cup looked like. [Gaggenau coffee machine repair](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/brands/gaggenau/) More Gaggenau codes [E0510](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-e0510/) [Contact customer service](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-contact-customer-service/) [Let appliance cool down](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-let-appliance-cool-down/) [Switch off appliance](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-switch-off-appliance/) [Clean brewing unit](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-clean-brewing-unit/) [Insert brewing unit](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-insert-brewing-unit/) [Incorrect voltage](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-incorrect-voltage/) [Restart appliance](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-restart-appliance/) [Fill water tank](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-fill-water-tank/) [Fill coffee beans](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-fill-coffee-beans/) [Clean trays and replace](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-clean-trays-and-replace/) [Insert trays](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-insert-trays/) [All 14 Gaggenau codes](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/#codes-gaggenau) Mode, not a failure on other makes [Bertazzoni Descaling needed. Press OK to start (~45min)](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/bertazzoni-descaling-needed/) [Bosch Please run Calc'nClean program!](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/bosch-please-run-calcnclean/) [Fisher & Paykel DESCALING NEEDED](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/fisher-and-paykel-descaling-needed/) [Fulgor Milano PLEASE DESCALE!](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/fulgor-milano-please-descale/) [JennAir DESCALE!](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/jennair-descale/) [Jura Too hot](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/jura-too-hot/) [Miele Descale the appliance](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/miele-descale-the-appliance/) [Smeg DESCALING NEEDED PRESS OK TO START (~45MIN)](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/smeg-descaling-needed/) [All 25 codes of this kind](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/#family-mode) Gaggenau builds this ### Built-in coffee system The coffee machine set flush into a tall kitchen cabinet, filled from a water tank behind its front, grinding beans and brewing each cup on its own before sliding out on rails for service. Gaggenau builds this ### Plumbed coffee system The built-in coffee machine connected to the house water supply, filling itself through an inlet valve and sometimes draining its rinse water to a line of its own, so nobody ever lifts out a tank. ## In Gaggenau's own words > Display shows "Cleaning and descaling" very frequently. Decalcified water still contains small amounts of lime. [Gaggenau Expressive series fully automatic espresso machine Use and Care Manual, Troubleshooting](https://media3.bsh-group.com/Documents/8001371116_F.pdf) [Gaggenau GC451720 Expressive specification sheet](https://media3.bsh-group.com/Documents/27056236_Gaggenau-GC451720-Expressive-specification-sheet.pdf) [Gaggenau CMP 250 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine Use and Care Manual, Service programs](https://media3.gaggenau.com/Documents/8001093065_A.pdf) Every code on this site is taken from the manufacturer's documentation, never from a forum or a parts listing. The Expressive series manual lists Cleaning and descaling as a care program and prints the too-frequent case; the CMP 250 manual prints Please clean and descale as its routine prompt. ## Gaggenau Cleaning and descaling coffee machine repair, where we come out. The same visit in every metro below: the code, the model number, and a diagnosis before any part is ordered. 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Test the water with the supplied strip and set the matching hardness in the basic settings. ### What are the cartridges in a Gaggenau Expressive coffee machine? One cleaning and one descaling cartridge sit in a compartment in the machine and feed the automatic care programs. The machine tracks them and shows when they need replacing. ### Can I descale my Gaggenau with vinegar or citric acid? No. Gaggenau rules out pure citric acid, vinegar and phosphoric acid descalers and asks for its own cartridges or tablets. ### Is there a Gaggenau program if a cartridge runs out mid-week? Yes. The Expressive offers an emergency cleaning and descaling program that is available only when a cartridge is empty or missing. --- **[Read on the site: Gaggenau: Cleaning and descaling shows too often](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/error-codes/gaggenau-cleaning-and-descaling/)** **[Book a visit with CoffeeMachineRepair.center](https://coffeemachinerepair.center/schedule/)**