Your coffee maker probably isn’t as clean as you think. A public health study found coffee maker reservoirs are among the germiest places in homes. Here’s how to clean it with or without vinegar. Show
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Why You Need to Clean Your Coffee MakerCoffee machines accumulate mineral buildup. That’s because most water contains calcium, magnesium, and sodium minerals. On household surfaces, these cause hard water spots. Inside your machine, they leave a residue that restricts water flow and ruins your morning cup. They’re also warm, damp environments. Know what else likes growing in such conditions? Nasty stuff, which is why your coffee maker might be full of mold. Signs You Need to Clean YoursWondering if you need to clean your coffee maker? There are definite signs that it’s time to do so. Here are a few.
How to Clean Your Coffee Maker with Vinegar1. Dump the old coffee and any grounds in the basket. Return the basket and pot to place. How to Clean Your Coffee Maker Without VinegarIf you’re out of vinegar or would rather not use it, here are some vinegar-free ways to clean your coffee maker. Using lemon juice: Add 1/2 cup fresh or bottled lemon juice to the water reservoir, then fill the rest with hot water before proceeding with steps 3-8, above. Using baking soda: Add 1/4 cup of plain baking soda to your coffee maker’s reservoir, then fill it with hot water. Follow steps 3-8, above, to finish cleaning your coffee maker. Using borax: Powdered borax can decalcify and clean your coffee maker. Add 2 tablespoons of borax to your coffee machine’s reservoir, then fill it with hot water. Follow steps 3-8 above to finish cleaning. You can find borax in the laundry section of most supermarkets or online. (20 Mule Team is one brand.) Using hydrogen peroxide: Plain 3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind you get in a brown bottle in the first aid section, can also clean your coffee maker without using vinegar. To do this, add 1 cup to your machine’s reservoir, then fill the rest with hot water. Follow steps 3-8 to finish cleaning. (Here are more things you can clean with hydrogen peroxide to get the most out of your bottle.) seeProducts that Control Musty Odors in Closets, Basements, and More How Often Should You Clean It?If you want to keep your coffee maker working like new and producing the best-tasting coffee, wash the removable parts daily in hot, soapy water or use the dishwasher to clean them. Then once a month, clean your coffee maker machine using one of the methods above. How to Clean A Dirty Coffee PotHere are some easy methods to clean a coffee pot that’s developed a grimy brown film or has scorched, burnt coffee on the bottom. Lemon and SaltRinse the coffee pot and sprinkle a layer of coarse salt inside, deep enough to cover the burnt coffee mess. Epsom, Kosher, or rock salt all work. Then, cut a lemon in half and use it, cut side down, to scour the inside of the coffee pot. Finish by washing it in hot, soapy water. Homemade Scouring PowderMake a homemade soft scrub cleaner by stirring hydrogen peroxide into baking soda to form a paste, then add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap. Dab a damp cloth into this and use it to scour the greasy or burnt residue in your coffee pot. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then wash the pot in hot water. Detergent TabletsRinse the coffee pot in hot water and use the corner of a dishwashing tablet to scour the inside. The tablet will begin to crumble with use, but that’s okay — keep scrubbing until the pot is clean, then rinse. If you’d rather take a hands-off approach, pop the dishwasher tablet into the pot and fill it with boiling water. Wait an hour, dump the mess, and rinse it until you don’t see suds. Not only will cleaning your coffee maker help it work better, but it will also make for a much better-tasting brew. Enjoy! What is the best thing to use to clean a coffee pot?Vinegar is an effective natural solution for cleaning a coffee maker. This solution removes calcium deposits and coffee bean oil residue from the interior of the device as well as add acidity to the hot water to disinfect. Turn the coffee maker to the brew cycle and allow the cycle to brew halfway.
What can I use instead of vinegar to clean coffee pot?Instead of vinegar, try lemon juice or baking soda. Both have similar cleaning qualities to vinegar without the pungent smell and taste. Don't forget to clean your carafe too. A simple mixture of salt and crushed ice makes an effective scrub for removing coffee and scale buildup.
How do you clean and descale a coffee pot?With filters and grounds removed, fill the reservoir to max using half water, half white distilled vinegar. Run a brew or cleaning cycle, empty the carafe and run 2-3 more brew cycles with fresh, cool water. Wash carafe and brew basket with hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
How do you clean the bottom of a burnt coffee pot?Steps to Remove the Stain:. Put 6 cubes of ice into your stainless steel coffee maker.. Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the metal coffee pot.. Add ⅛ cup of table salt into the mix.. Swirl the coffee pot around until the ice melts or the stain disappears.. Rinse the pot out.. |