Has your coffee all of a sudden developed an interesting taste? Does your coffee pot have a cloudy haze? It might be time to clean your coffee pot. But what can you use to clean your coffee pot?
You can use a variety of household items to clean your coffee pot. You can use vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and even denture tablets. All of these items contain ingredients or properties that lift stains and remove mineral buildup.
We often take for granted that our coffee pots need to be cleaned, not just rinsed. Yes, coffee is acidic and one might naturally assume the acidity from coffee will kill germs, but coffee by itself will not remove mold.
Ideally, coffee makers should be cleaned thoroughly at least every 3 to 6 months. Germs and bacteria, even mold, can easily make your coffee pot their home, making you and your family very sick.
When cleaning the coffee pot, do not forget to clean the carafe or coffee basket. Bacteria and even mold will grow inside the carafe or basket.
These harmful substances will get into the coffee that drips into the pot, and, you guessed it, into you. One study found that half of the coffee makers tested had more germs than you would find on bathroom door handles and toilet seats.
The carafe or basket should be rinsed after each use, but it should also be washed in warm, soapy water. Let the carafe or basket soak in the warm water to dissolve any stuck on coffee grinds and then scrub with a clean sponge.
Thankfully there are some common household items and easy-to-find grocery store items that will safely and effectively clean your coffee pot.
Can You Use Vinegar To Clean Coffee Pot?
You want to clean your coffee pot but you prefer to not use any chemicals. Can you use vinegar to clean the coffee pot?
You can use vinegar to clean the coffee pot. The natural acidity of the vinegar will remove hard water buildup, kill germs and bacteria, and remove mold. Full strength vinegar should not be used to clean the coffee pot. Dilute the vinegar with equal parts of water.
Before using vinegar to clean the coffee pot, clean the coffee pot and carafe or basket with hot soapy water. Rinse thoroughly. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar into the water reservoir and ‘brew’.
Stop the brewing process about halfway through and let the coffee pot rest for at least 1 hour. This will allow the vinegar time to really clean the coffee pot. After an hour, run the coffee maker again and then follow with several brew cycles of clean water to flush out the vinegar.
Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Clean Coffee Pot?
Apple cider vinegar can be used to clean the coffee pot but it is not recommended. There is a risk of the ‘mother’ in apple cider vinegar clogging the coffee maker if it is not diluted. Undiluted apple cider vinegar can also stain the coffee pot.
Can You Use White Vinegar To Clean Coffee Pot?
White vinegar’s acetic acid content ranges from 5% to 20%, so it is very strong. Some homeowners find the vinegar smell too strong and have a harder time rinsing the taste away. White vinegar will definitely clean your coffee pot but it should be diluted.
Can You Use Wine Vinegar(Red/Rice) To Clean Coffee Pot?
Wine vinegar can be used to clean the coffee pot but it’s not recommended. The acidic level is high enough but there is a high chance of the wine or rice flavor lingering in the coffee pot, affecting the taste of your coffee.
Can You Use Distilled Vinegar To Clean Coffee Pot?
Distilled vinegar is more affordable and easier to find than its other vinegar counterparts. It has a lower acidic level than white vinegar, making it easier to clean your coffee pot and not worry about a lingering vinegary smell or taste.
Can You Use Baking Soda To Clean Coffee Pot?
Baking soda cleans everything from our teeth to our nails. But can you use baking soda to clean your coffee pot?
You can use baking soda to clean a coffee pot if it has already been descaled. Baking soda will not break up hard water deposits. Make sure the baking soda is completely dissolved before using. Undissolved baking soda can clog the coffee maker.
Here is how to use baking soda to clean your coffee pot.
Step 1: Mix 4 to 6 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 cup of water.
Step 2: Stir the baking soda until it is completely dissolved. Any lumps will clog the coffee maker.
Step 3: Pour the mixture into the water reservoir of your coffee maker.
Step 4: Turn your coffee maker on as you would if you were brewing a pot of coffee. This will ensure the baking soda solution cleans all the inner working components of the coffee maker.
Step 5: Once the water has run through a complete cycle, empty the coffee pot and repeat the process with fresh water. Do this until the water runs clear.
Baking soda can also be used as a scrub to remove coffee stains in the coffee pot. Create a paste with baking soda and water and then use a toothbrush or sponge to scrub the paste over the stains.
If your coffee pot is particularly stained, you can make a super scrub by mixing baking soda and vinegar together. When these two ingredients are mixed together, they create a fizzy reaction that will remove coffee stains.
Leave the mixture inside the coffee pot until the fizzy reaction stops. Use a sponge or cloth to scrub the inside of the coffee pot. Wash the coffee pot with warm soapy water to really clean the inside.
Baking soda is also a great deodorizer. If you used vinegar or lemon to clean the hard water buildup in the coffee maker, baking soda will absorb any lingering scent.
Can You Use Bleach To Clean Coffee Pot?
Bleach has a well-known reputation for killing germs and viruses and removing stains. But can you use bleach to clean your coffee pot?
You can use bleach to clean your coffee pot but it is not recommended. Bleach will sanitize your coffee pot, killing germs and viruses, but there is a high potential for the chemicals to linger in the coffee pot. Ingesting even small amounts of bleach can be potentially harmful to your health.
The majority of people love using bleach, especially in the kitchen. We love knowing we’re killing germs and viruses and keeping our loved ones healthy. But when it comes to our coffee pot, bleach is not the ideal choice.
The chemicals in bleach do not rinse away easily. When bleach is used in commercial settings, the dishes have to air dry completely before use. When bleach cannot be dried completely, there is also a very risk of the inner components and rubber seals being ruined. Another negative side-effect of using bleach to clean your coffee pot is the odor.
The odor from bleach can linger for a very long time. There are things you can do to neutralize the odor but why take a chance on potentially ingesting a harmful chemical in your morning cup of coffee when there are safer alternatives.
If you decide to use bleach to clean your coffee pot, make sure the coffee pot can air dry thoroughly before reassembling.
Can You Use Lemon To Clean Coffee Pot?
Lemons have a high acid content that is very effective in killing germs. Can you use it to clean the coffee pot?
You can use lemons to clean the coffee pot. Mix equal parts of lemon and water in the water reservoir and brew a cycle. Run another cycle of just water to flush out any lingering scent and taste of lemon.
The acid content in lemons is similar to vinegar, making it an effective coffee pot cleaner. Lemon will not only kill germs and mold, but it will also break down any mineral deposits. Another advantage to using lemons over vinegar is the smell is much more pleasant.
Use a lemon solution of 1 part lemon juice, fresh or pre squeezed, and 1 part water. Run the lemon water through your coffee maker the same way you would make coffee – minus the coffee grounds of course.
As a good rule of thumb, follow the lemon water solution with 3 to 5 cycles of plain water. This will ensure any lingering lemon will be rinsed out and not affect that precious cup of coffee in the morning.
Can You Use Dishwasher Detergent/Pods To Clean Coffee Pot?
We use dishwasher detergent to clean our silverware and cups. Items that will eventually be touching our mouth. It only stands to be asked then, can you use dishwasher detergent/pods to clean the coffee pot?
You can use dishwasher detergent/pods to clean the coffee pot. Use the same amount of detergent for a dishwasher load, or one pod, in the coffee pot and cover with boiling water. Let the water and detergent soak for 30 minutes.
You can also make a scrub with powdered detergent. Mix enough powdered detergent and water to form a paste. Use a sponge or toothbrush to scrub the coffee pot. Rinse thoroughly and then wash with hot, soapy water.
Using dishwasher detergent/pods to clean your coffee pot is especially useful if you have a thermal coffee pot. The inside of a thermal coffee pot is not smooth, making it easier for coffee oils to stick around. This is why the inside looks stained.
Can You Use CLR To Clean Coffee Pot?
CLR is a product that is designed to remove calcium, lime, and rust buildup. Can you use CLR to clean your coffee pot?
You can use CLR to clean your coffee pot but it should be used carefully and sparingly. Only use CLR which is non-toxic and non-corrosive. Mix 1 part CLR to 8 parts water into the water reservoir. Run the coffee maker through 3 cycles, or until the water is clear.
CLR has been known to leave a lingering odor in the plastic and rubber seals of the coffee maker. If you experience this issue, you need to descale the coffee maker and pot.
A safer alternative that can descale and clean your coffee pot is vinegar or lemon juice. You can read about both of these natural solutions in this article.
Can You Use Denture Tablets To Clean Coffee Pot?
Denture tablets contain ingredients that lift stains and kill bacteria. Can you use denture tablets to clean your coffee pot?
You can use denture tablets to clean your coffee pot. Denture tablets contain safe ingredients that effectively remove stains and kill bacteria and are not harmful if ingested. The same ingredients in these tablets are effective when cleaning a coffee pot.
Using denture tablets is a surprising way to effectively, and safely, clean your coffee pot. If you decide to try this trick out for yourself, use denture tablets that are not flavored.
The ingredients in denture tablets are safe for humans but you do not want to add any flavor or scents to the coffee maker if you don’t have to.
If you decide to give this cool trick a try, here is how you can use denture tablets to clean your coffee pot.
Step 1: Drop two denture tablets into the water reservoir with water. Use denture tablets that are not flavored.
Step 2: Let the tablets completely dissolve.
Step 3: Once the tablets have dissolved, turn on the coffee maker as though you were making a pot of coffee.
Step 4: Once it has run a full cycle, drop one more tablet into the coffee pot itself and pour one cup of boiling water over it, until it dissolves.
Step 5: Use a soft cloth or toothbrush to clean the inside of the coffee pot.
Step 6: Run several cycles of clean water through the coffee maker to ensure there is no lingering denture tablet residue.
How To Clean Coffee Pot Properly
Cleaning your coffee pot is a must if it is used regularly, especially if you use your coffee pot every day and you have hard water.
Keeping the coffee maker clean will not only keep you healthy but will also prolong the life of your coffee maker. Here are some general tips to keep in mind.
After every use, throw away the coffee filter and grounds immediately. This step should never be neglected! Letting the wet grounds and filter hang out all day in the coffee maker is a sure way to grow mold.
Rinse the carafe or basket with warm soapy water and allow it to air dry. If the carafe or basket is returned to the coffee maker before it is dry, this provides the nice warm and moist environment mold loves.
It is also a good idea to wipe away the moisture under the carafe or basket lid. Leave the lip open to ensure it can fully air dry. Again, we do not want mold moving into our coffee maker.
Use a clean, soft cloth to wipe down the outside of the coffee maker. Don’t forget to clean around the base of the maker on the counter where coffee splashes.
At least once a month you should do a deep cleaning of your coffee maker. The following steps will walk you through how to do this.
Step 1: Empty the coffee maker of all water and coffee grounds.
Step 2: Fill the water reservoir with your cleaning solution and water mixture.
Step 3: Turn the coffee maker on as though you are making a pot of coffee.
Step 4: Let the coffee maker cycle the cleaning solution halfway through and then pause the cycle or turn the coffee maker off. You want the cleaning solution to get into the waterline and in the water dispenser.
Step 5: Let the cleaning solution soak in the coffee maker for at least 30 minutes.
This content is owned by Wabi Sabi Group and was first published on Apr 28, 2022..
If your coffee maker does not have a pause cycle feature, or you prefer to skip this step, another option is to run the cleaning solution through the coffee maker twice, without stopping it halfway through the cycle.
Step 6: Pour the cleaning solution out of the coffee pot and fill the water reservoir with fresh water.
Step 7: Run fresh water through the coffee maker until the cleaning solution scent is gone or the water runs clear, usually at least 3 full cycles. This step is especially important if you use a chemical-based solution.
Step 8: Not to be forgotten is the coffee pot itself. Hand wash the coffee pot with warm soapy water, using a sponge or brush to clean the lid and around the opening of the coffee pot.
Step 9: Allow everything to air dry completely before reassembling.
This article was first published on Apr 28, 2022 by Wabi Sabi Group..
To clean a coffee pot properly, hand wash with warm, soapy water and allow to air dry. Use a cleaning solution that will cut through the oils left behind from the coffee grounds, lift stains, and kill germs, bacteria, and mold.
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WabiSabi Group is the owner of this article and was published on Apr 28, 2022 and last modified on .