To clean a coffee maker effectively, use a combination of cleaning and descaling steps:
- Daily or regular cleaning:
- Clean the removable parts like the coffee pot, lid, filter basket, and reusable filter with warm soapy water or in the dishwasher if safe.
- Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth.
- Leave the water reservoir and filter basket open to dry between uses.
- Deep cleaning and descaling (at least monthly):
- Fill the water reservoir with a solution of half white vinegar and half water.
- Run a brewing cycle with the vinegar solution until it's about halfway done.
- Turn off the machine and let it sit for about an hour to let the vinegar dissolve mineral buildup.
- Finish the brewing cycle, then empty and rinse the pot.
- Run two more brewing cycles with just fresh water to rinse out any vinegar residue.
- Optionally, use denture cleaning tablets or commercial descaling tablets instead of vinegar. Dissolve them in the reservoir water and run full brewing cycles, then rinse thoroughly.
- Additional tips:
- For coffee pots with stains, soak with baking soda and water, denture tabs, or dishwasher detergent powder.
- Regularly wipe or rinse the showerhead that sprays water on coffee grounds.
- Consult your specific coffee maker manual for any special cleaning instructions.
Using these steps will keep the coffee maker clean, remove mineral buildup, and ensure better tasting coffee and longer machine life.
