So, here’s a question. How frequently does everyone clean their machines? I don’t mean just the outside, I mean really clean it. I’m talking water reservoir and dropping the shower screen as a minimum. The reason for asking is I thought I was doing well at cleaning, put my water tank in the dishwasher weekly and back-flushed daily. Then I decided to do the shower screen and by the power of all that is holy I had no idea it could get so gunky back there. There was a layer of brown… er… matter about 1mm thick behind the shower screen and the gasket/lower brass parts of the shower block were completely gross! I think I last cleaned it six months ago, which is a hard lesson for me to learn. I’ll be taking down the shower screen and lower brass at least monthly from now on. Anyone else brave enough to share their tales of grime? @"DavecUK"#1 you can’t have been a saint with cleaning all your life, was there ‘an event’ like my shower screen debacle above? How about you @"Cuprajake"#144, have any machines in your history been more difficult to clean than others? Any tips or tricks?

I used to do it monthly but it was pretty clean. I now do it three monthly or thereabouts and I still don't find any nasty artefacts.

Welllllll The e61 require more cleaning than the lever because they vent back through the group and take all the crud with them My e61 routine is : Make my two coffees. Flush the group into my pot, back flush with water, this is religious after every coffee session. The screen comes down once a week, my water is practically inert so bacteria can't really grow in it, the tub gets a monthly clean. The levers : Finish making coffees, flush the group into my pot. After every shot. Tub once a month [URL=https://i.imgur.com/UdjRwPA.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/UdjRwPA.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Shower screen on the Evo after 5-6 weeks I really don't like using chemicals on the machine.

I probably don't clean mine as much as I should but seeing as I usually make my coffee first thing in the morning, I'm generally not in a mood to be making extra work for myself!

Weekly I’ll empty and wipe out the water tank with a damp kitchen towel while it’s connected, remove/clean screen and dispersion screw, backflush with water and drain 500ml from steam boiler. Monthly I’ll remove water tank and wash in the sink with washing up liquid and backflush with pulycaff. I’ve mentioned this before but on previous machines I had to wash the tank weekly properly as the ambient warmth made it smell like a fishbowl after a week. The Linea Mini tank is under the machine and can remain connected via hose so doesn’t get warm or grimy.

@"Ernie1"#p47489 how do you clean it still connected - I assume its a bit different to the micras. I have to pop out the top tube so I can slide out the whole tray and then remove the lid

@"JammyDodger"#p47485 - https://www.coffeeforums.co.uk/threads/coffee-cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness.26511 https://youtu.be/WN9SbM9r1Fg

@"MattH"#p47490 I think it must be different, mine pulls all the way out with the tube connected, actually quite a long way out. The tube connects to the lower left rear.

When It gets dirty It is time to upgrade?

@"Ernie1"#p47507 Aha - yes mine goes into the top near the front - there is a small lid to pour into. You can pull the sealed tray out a bit - but to remove completely you pull out the tube. Interesting how they changed up the internal workings to shrink it down.

@"Cuprajake"#p47487 ah that’s really interesting, thanks Jake. I’ve never used a lever or an E61-based machine, so it’s good to know about their different cleaning requirements. I think I’m lucky with the DE1 as it has a separate water path for clean and dirty water. They’ve also just changed the upper and lower brass parts of the group head from brass to PPS, which aside from being less of a heat sink and thereby making temperature profiling more accurate, is also easier to keep clean.

How often do you deep clean your machine?

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam If you’ve been using RO water, then don’t bother with vinegar, as those are definitely not calcium deposits or marks.

This would be correct….at this point I am at a loss to know what those marks might be?

skylark

DavecUK

Well, I’ve cleaned the h*ll out of the panel this morning and those marks remain. Here’s a test for anyone able to do so …. breathe on the front panel, see what deficiencies are visible, polish off. Mine still shows all defects but the fact that they are visible when I breathe on them seems to contradict them being under the lacquer despite the lacquer being squeaky clean now. How would a degrease react I wonder?

Can I just add that these marks are holographic. Move to the extreme sides of the panel and it looks very flush and spotless. Move face on, as in daily use and its just ‘mottled’. Very apparent and just wrong. Hope BB can come up with a fix. Anyone ‘skinned’ a Lelit panel? Sacrilegious I know, but just thinking ahead.

DavecUK

skylark that they are visible when I breathe on them seems to contradict them being under the lacquer despite the lacquer being squeaky clean now. How would a degrease react I wonder?

There is no lacquer on the panel that I am aware of?

skylark

DavecUK

Surely if no lacquer then there would be a distinct feel to the, I’m calling it discolouration? Feels as smooth as the proverbial baby’s ….

Cuprajake

do they clear powder coat the shell?

DavecUK

Cuprajake do they clear powder coat the shell?

As far as I am aware it’s just your standard brushed stainless finish

simonc

The clay cleaner I mentioned above takes my brushed stainless bbq that is never covered back to show room and removes tiny rust and other stains that have sat in the sun and rain for weeks and months.
If it’s really that bad, I’d try that, maybe a test panel first.
However if it’s lacquered or coated , rather than brushed, then it will remove that. Although then you have a shiny surface that you can keep clean, just a different finish from before.
Sounds like you can’t make it worse though

JHCCoffee

simonc The clay cleaner I mentioned above takes my brushed stainless bbq that is never covered back to show room and removes tiny rust and other stains that have sat in the sun and rain for weeks and months.

Love to try this on my neglected BBQ. Can you post a link to this stuff.

simonc

JHCCoffee clay cleaner
There are similar on Amazon too but I’mweaning myself off there. It’s a natural clay for France.
I’ve used it on my minima.
It really does repel water as the video shows but effect doesn’t last all that long.

PortafilterProcrastinator

simonc I kind of love websites like that.

If it can clean as quickly and as easily as that they can take my money gladly.

I’ll also be sure to use the same pot for both my alloy wheels, bathroom taps and coffee machine! 🤣

Seriously though, I reckon its worth a punt. Spent more on less in my life.

dutchy101

PortafilterProcrastinator

I’ve got about 4 tubs of this stuff in a cupboard that I’ve never used. You’re welcone to one if you want.

simonc

PortafilterProcrastinator I felt the same and am now on my 8th tub and yes used around the house.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 that’s a very generous offer, thank you, but I am wondering if you having never used them is a warning I should heed!

simonc

dutchy101 does the presence of quartz as ingredient mean it’s abrasive?

Gagaryn

simonc does the presence of quartz as ingredient mean it’s abrasive?

Yup!

DavecUK

simonc Yup 2

simonc

DavecUK probably best left to ovens and not on sensitive polished stainless steel surfaces then 😀

dutchy101

Oops didn’t think about that - sorry mate. Want one for your oven, lol?

Dusk

Seeing that clay cleaner has made me wonder whether a clay bar (for car detailing) would work. A clay bar isn’t abrasive but does work incredibly well at removing all contamination from car paintwork.

Gagaryn

Dusk A clay bar isn’t abrasive

Clay bar’s are abrasive.

Dusk

Gagaryn

Are they? They must barely be if they’re used for car paintwork

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