How to Clean Your Coffee Maker
Is your coffee maker clean?
If you think your coffee maker is clean, open the lid to the water trough and take a look. If you have had the coffee maker for any length of time you will probably see a nasty slime and hard water buildup. It is disgusting and most people don’t even know it’s there until the coffee maker begins to drip slower than usual due to the buildup which eventually spreads to the hose that feeds water to the filter basket.
Those that eventually realize it are so grossed out that they toss the coffee maker and purchase a new one. However, it can be cleaned and with regular care it will stay clean and free of slime and hard water buildup.
How to clean your coffee maker
If your coffee maker has been neglected, running vinegar through it will not clear away all of the buildup. The water trough must be scrubbed before a vinegar solution will be of any benefit.
You will need some kind of dish mop or bottle washer. Some dish drainers come with them. They look like a bunch of sponges cut into pieces attached to the end of a plastic wand. Some look like miniature rag mops on a wire rod. You can make your own by tying a wash cloth around a wooden spoon or something similar. The purpose is to get inside the water trough to scrub away the buildup.
Those with small hands and long fingers can reach inside with a wash cloth and get to every corner but it is a tight place for some people to get their hands into. Therefore, a dish mop, bottle cleaner, or the equivalence is needed.
Using the water sprayer
Unplug the coffee maker then remove the glass pot and filter basket. Tip the coffee maker over the sink with the electrical cord safely away from any water. Spray the water trough thoroughly with hot water to remove as much of the buildup as you can. If you don’t have a sprayer, stand the coffeemaker’s trough beneath the faucet and rinse well.
Soak the dish mop with vinegar and run it all around the water trough, making sure to reach the sides and corners. Clean the dish mop thoroughly. You will need to use it again.
Set the coffee maker upright in the sink and pour a cup of clean water into the water trough. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a cup of vinegar to it. Be prepared for a volcano effect as it will bubble up rapidly.
Once the bubbles begin to die down, tip the coffee maker over the sink and use the sprayer to flush all of the soda and vinegar out. Run the clean dish mop around the water trough to remove any residue and rinse it thoroughly.
Now that the water trough is clean, wipe the outside of the coffee maker down with a damp cloth and clean any standing water around it. Put the filter basket and the glass pot in place then plug the coffee maker into the electrical outlet. Fill the water trough with white vinegar and turn the coffee maker on.
As the vinegar runs through it should flush away any buildup that might have accumulated in the tube that carries water to the filter basket. You may see small black specs in the pot as the vinegar drips down. These little black specs were going into your coffee!
When all of the vinegar has passed through the coffee maker, empty the pot into the sink, which is good for your drains, and fill the water trough with clean water. Turn the coffee maker on and run the water through. There shouldn’t be any black specs in the water that comes through.
When all of the water has gone through, refill the water trough and run it through two or three more times to clean out all of the vinegar and to make sure that all of the black specs are gone.
How to clean the filter basket
Bleach is rather harsh and some people don’t like to use it but it does a very good job of cleaning the filter basket as well as the glass pot. Nevertheless, vinegar is a natural alternative and is very effective.
Place the filter basket over the sink drain so that the little button that controls the water is hanging freely. Fill the basket with straight bleach or white vinegar and let it stand for about ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse it out and wash with hot, soapy water or run it through the dishwasher.
How to clean the glass pot
Vinegar is good for a number of cleaning tasks but unfortunately it will not remove stains. Bleach will certainly remover any stains from the glass but salt and ice also works very well. Salt and ice is the method used by many coffee houses. Simply sprinkle salt into the glass pot and fill the bottom with ice. Swish vigorously and watch the stains disappear!
Once the stains have been removed from the glass pot, wash with hot, soapy water or run it through the dishwasher. Regardless of which method you choose, your glass pot should sparkle like new.
Regular maintenance
Your coffee maker is now ready to use and you can rest assured that your coffee is free of little black specs and slimy buildup.
The coffee maker must be maintained regularly.
Regular maintenance isn’t nearly as difficult as cleaning a neglected coffee maker. Running straight white vinegar through the coffee maker every few weeks should keep it clean and running freely. The filter basket and glass pot can be cleaned as often as needed.
Conclusion
Since coffee makers are relatively inexpensive, you may decide to replace one that has been severely neglected rather than go through the time and trouble to clean it. Either way, regular maintenance will prevent the problem from occurring.
Therefore, it is worth the time and effort to run vinegar through your coffee maker every few weeks to keep it clean and free of slimy buildup. Your coffee will taste better and you will save money on having to replace your coffee maker so often.
