If your morning cup of joe has started tasting a little off, or you’ve noticed your coffee maker taking longer to brew, it’s probably not your imagination. Over time, mineral deposits from your tap water—mostly calcium and limescale—build up inside the machine. This gunk doesn’t just affect flavor; it can actually shorten the life of your appliance. The good news is that descaling your coffee maker is one of the simplest DIY tasks you can tackle, and it only takes about an hour from start to finish.

Think of your coffee maker like a water heater in miniature. Every time you run a brew cycle, water heats up, passes through the internal tubing, and eventually drips over your grounds. That repeated heating and cooling leaves behind a chalky white or yellowish crust inside the reservoir and the heating element. The more you use the machine, the thicker that layer gets. Eventually, it acts like insulation, forcing the heating element to work harder and longer. Your machine might start making strange gurgling noises, taking forever to finish a pot, or even shutting off before brewing is complete. In severe cases, the buildup can block the water flow entirely, leaving you with a half-full carafe and a very frustrating morning.

The good news is that descaling is almost foolproof. You have a few choices for cleaning solution, and most of them are already sitting in your pantry. White vinegar is the classic go-to: cheap, effective, and safe for most machines. The downside is that vinegar has a strong smell that can linger for a few brew cycles. If you’re sensitive to the odor, you can use a commercial descaling powder designed specifically for coffee makers, or simply a mixture of equal parts water and lemon juice. Citric acid powder, which you can buy in the baking aisle, also works beautifully and has almost no odor.

Before you start, check your owner’s manual if you still have it. Some high-end machines (especially espresso makers with complex valves) may recommend a specific descaling product. For the vast majority of drip coffee makers, though, the vinegar method is perfectly fine. Here’s how to do it.

First, remove any paper filters and old coffee grounds. Empty the carafe. Fill the water reservoir with a mixture of half white vinegar and half water. If you’re using a commercial descaler, follow the package instructions for dilution. Place the empty carafe back in position, and start a full brew cycle. As the machine heats and dispenses the vinegar solution, you’ll probably notice a slight foaming or fizzing—that’s the acid working on the limescale. When the cycle finishes, let the machine sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. This soak time gives the vinegar a chance to dissolve stubborn deposits deep inside the tubing.

After the soak, dump the vinegar solution out of the carafe. Now you need to rinse. Fill the reservoir with clean, fresh water only, and run two or three full brew cycles, discarding the water after each one. This step is crucial—leftover vinegar will make your coffee taste sour. If you still smell a hint of vinegar after the third rinse, run one more cycle. For lemon juice or citric acid, the rinse is even more important because those can leave a slightly sweet-sour residue.

One common mistake is forgetting to clean the carafe and the filter basket separately. After descaling, wash those parts with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. The carafe can develop a film of coffee oil that a simple rinse won’t remove. If you notice a brownish residue on the inside of your glass carafe, try scrubbing it with a paste of baking soda and water, then rinse thoroughly.

How often should you descale? That depends on your water hardness. If you have soft water (say, from a whole-house filter), you might only need to do this every three months. With hard tap water, monthly descaling isn’t overkill. A good rule of thumb is to look at your brewing time. If a full pot used to take six minutes but now takes eight, it’s time. You can also buy inexpensive water hardness test strips at the hardware store or online to get a precise reading.

Some newer coffee makers have a built-in descaling reminder light. When that light glows, don’t ignore it. The machine is basically telling you it’s struggling. Running a descale cycle as soon as the light appears will keep your machine running smoothly for years.

Beyond descaling, there’s one more thing you can do to keep your coffee maker happy. After each use, empty the carafe and let it air dry. Leave the lid of the water reservoir open so moisture doesn’t get trapped. Mold and bacteria love dark, damp spaces, and the inside of a coffee maker can become a breeding ground if you never let it dry out. A quick wipe of the warming plate with a damp cloth also prevents stains from baked-on coffee spills.

Once you get into the habit of descaling every month or two, you’ll notice two things: your coffee tastes brighter and cleaner, and your machine runs quietly and efficiently. It’s one of those small maintenance tasks that makes a huge difference in your daily routine. And the best part? The whole process costs pennies compared to buying a new coffee maker. So next time you have an hour to spare, give your machine some love. Your morning cup will thank you.