Best Way To Clean Your Coffee Maker
Who doesn’t love waking up to the smell of a fresh pot of coffee in the morning? Keeping your coffee maker clean from mineral buildup and coffee residue are important. Not only for your coffee’s quality and taste, but also for your machine. You can do this with drip machines, as well as single cup coffee makers, like a Keurig. Here are step by step instructions for the best way to clean your coffee maker using vinegar and water.
Ginny Lui, a Consumer Reports Testing Engineer, recommends cleaning your coffee maker every 3-6 months. Get in to the habit of cleaning your machine with each new season to make it easy to remember when it’s time.
Step 1
Start by filling the water reservoir halfway with white vinegar. Then then fill the rest up with warm water. Press the brew button and brew this water/vinegar mix. Do not add any coffee grounds to the filter basket, leave it empty.
Step 2
When the brewing cycle is complete, let it sit for 30 minutes. Once that time has passed, dump this water/vinegar out of the carafe and rinse out the pot.
Step 3
Fill the water reservoir with water only and press the brew button. Once the machine has finished this water only cycle your coffee pot should be clean and ready to go. You can run a second brew of water only if you prefer.
Step 4
Clean the filter basket and carafe using soap and water, or you can place them in the top of your dishwasher. Take a rag with mild soap and water to clean off the sides, top and back of the machine, as well as the warming plate. Do not use any harsh chemicals, scrubbing pads, or abrasive materials to clean any part of your machine. Additionally, do not dry the inside of the water reservoir or coffee pot with a cloth. This will leave lint behind.
For Tough Stains On Your Glass Coffee Pot
What if you have tough coffee stains, or burnt on coffee on your glass carafe? Place 1 cup of ice cubes, 4 teaspoons of salt, and a tablespoon of water in to your glass carafe. Swirl this around for a few minutes. It will help to break off the stuck-on stains and then you can wash the rest away with soap and water.
In summary, keep your coffee pot clean with each new change in the season. And with using only two simple, natural ingredients, vinegar and water. Doing so will help keep your machine free from mineral build up. This is the process of descaling, and it will keep your machine at peak performance. Grab your free printable copy of the Monthly Cleaning Checklist to help you create a good cleaning schedule.
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