Unsettled by many reports, I decided to buy the DeLonghi descaler, because I was afraid my espresso machine could be damaged by improper descaler. I have the descaling carried out as prescribed and am also satisfied with the result. The deduction of points will receive the product for the outrageously expensive price. For the same money I get multiples of citric acid and the drivel, it would form insoluble crystals, I no longer believe, since I - too late - in the operating instructions of my DeLonghi (!!!) - espresso machine the recommendation for citric acid powder to descale have found. I will consume the water softener and then only use citric acid powder, such as DeLonghi recommended for the machine.