5 Best Ways To Clean Coffee Maker at Home Easily

Photo: apartmenttherapy.com
A coffee maker is one of the most frequently used appliances in many homes. However, despite using it very often, many people do not clean their coffee makers as often as it is required, and this is usually because they either do not know how to do it or think it is an overly complicated process.
But, the truth is that coffee makers are super easy to clean up, and you will not even need any special cleaning agent. And here we show you the best ways to clean coffee makers with things you already have at home.
Most of these coffee cleaning methods will also work for almost any type of coffee maker, and so you will only need to choose which one works best for you.
5 Best Ways to Clean a Coffee Maker
You must clean your coffee regularly if you want to continue enjoying some good tasting brews because a dirty appliance affects the brew taste and quality greatly.
And besides the taste, a dirty coffee maker also poses a significant health risk as it provides the perfect habitat for mold, yeast, and bacteria to grow. But, you do not have any excuse for not cleaning your coffee maker regularly as it is quick and easy. Here is how to clean coffee makers at home.
1. Vinegar

Vinegar comes in handy for a variety of applications at home, and you should hence always have some around. And if you are looking for a simple but effective coffee maker cleaner, vinegar should be at the top of your mind.
What makes vinegar such an effective coffee maker cleaner is its ability to dissolve and get rid of mineral buildup and other things like mold.
How It Is Done
Step 1: Add 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water on the coffee maker’s water reservoir
Step 2: Plug in the coffee maker and push the start button to run a brew cycle
Step 3: During the brew cycle the mixture will pass through the inside of the coffee maker and remove any impurities
Step 4: After the brew cycle is complete you should then run cold water through the machine and do this several times until there is no vinegar taste or smell lingering
2. Ice and Salt

As weird as it might sound, a combination of ice and salt is a highly effective method of cleaning your coffee maker. This combination will easily get rid of any grease and mineral deposit on your carafe and water reservoir. And if you have a narrow-mouthed carafe, this mixture will be a lifesaver.
How It Is Done
Step 1: Start by crashing a few ice cubes into smaller size chunks
Step 2: Pour the ice into your carafe before adding 1 tablespoon of salt
Step 3: Give it a mix to combine the two ingredients
Step 4: Now use the mixture to scrub the inside of the carafe
Step 5: Last step is to rinse out the carafe with cold water or clean it out in the sink with soap and water
3. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another common household item that always comes in handy for different cleaning application from coffee stain removal to refrigerator clean up. If you are trying to figure out how to clean a coffee pot, baking soda will come to your rescue. And you can now add cleaning coffee makers and pots to the long list of things you can use baking soda for.
How It Is Done
Step 1: Remove the filter from the coffee maker and set it aside
Step 2: Measure 1 cup of warm water and add it to the carafe or bowl
Step 3: Next, add about 1/2 cup of baking soda to the water and stir to mix them
Step 4: Pour the mixture into the water reservoir on your coffee maker
Step 5: Turn on the coffee maker and let it run a full brew cycle
Step 6: Discard the dirty baking soda and water mix
Step 7: Fill up the water reservoir with clean water and run another full cycle to rinse out any baking soda residue and smell, and you can repeat this as many times as possible
Note: Besides cleaning up the coffee maker, baking soda is also good for removing any stains and grease and also the lingering old coffee beans smell.
4. Lemon Juice

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If you do not have vinegar or just have an issue using it to clean your coffee maker, lemon juice will be the perfect alternative for you. If you know how to clean coffee makers with vinegar, then this should be an easy method for you as the process is almost the same. And the best thing about it is that lemon is equally good at removing the nasty build up and smells.
How It Is Done
Step 1: Start by running a cycle of water only through the coffee maker to remove as much of the coffee residue as possible
Step 2: Mix 1/2 cup lemon juice with 1/2 cup water
Step 3: Pour the mixture into your water reservoir and let it sit for at least 15 minutes to break down the oils
Step 4: Switch on the machine and run a full brew cycle
Step 5: Once the cycle is complete, you should discard the lemon juice mixture
Step 6: Now add clean water into the reservoir and run a full cycle to rinse out the coffee maker and repeat as many times as it takes to remove all the lemon juice smell and residue
5. Dishwashing Liquid

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Dishwashing liquid gives coffee lovers one of the easiest and fastest ways to clean your coffee maker and will hence be very handy when you do not have a lot of time to spare.
This method will work best for cleaning manual coffee makers such as percolator and Moka pot, but you can still use it for your coffee making machine. And here is how to clean a coffee percolator and other coffee makers using dishwashing liquid.
How It Is Done
Step 1: Start by running cold water through a full brew cycle to get rid of coffee residue
Step 2: Remove all the detachable parts from your coffee maker
Step 3: Soak them in dishwashing liquid for at least 30 minutes
Step 4: Rinse them with some warm water thoroughly
Conclusion
Keeping your coffee maker clean is vital to ensure your brews maintains a fantastic taste. And the good news is that it is not only easy but they are also countless ways of doing it.
The 5 methods above are some of the best ways to clean coffee makers at home and they will work for most types from the automatic coffee makers to the stovetop ones like the Moka pot.
Regardless of which one you prefer to use, it is important to make sure that you not only clean the coffee maker thoroughly but also rinse it with water several times to ensure the cleaning agent does not leave any unwanted residue behind.