If you’re anything like the average person, you probably drink about three to five cups of coffee a day. That makes your coffee maker one of the most important appliances in your home. It can be challenging to keep your coffee maker clean, however, especially if you don’t have much time in your day or live an unconventional life with unconventional places for conventional things like a kitchen. To make things easier for yourself, check out these tips on how to clean your coffee maker in no time at all! Cleaning your coffee maker regularly will help improve its performance and extend its lifespan. Here are some general maintenance tips regarding how to clean your coffee maker.
How To Clean My Coffee Maker
Use a Cleaning Brush
Using a cleaning brush will help you clean your coffee maker more easily. A cleaning brush is easy to use and flexible enough to reach difficult areas. You can use steel wool to scrub your coffee maker as well.
Use Vinegar for Hard-to-Clean Areas
If you have hard-to-reach areas, such as the crevices on the sides of your coffee maker, try using vinegar instead of steel wool or a toothbrush. Vinegar will be much more effective than steel wool and toothbrush because it’s going to dissolve the burnt-on stains that might be stuck in those places and it’s also going to leave your coffee maker smelling clean and fresh! If there are still stubborn stains left from previous uses, you can simply add some vinegar to water and let it sit overnight before rinsing away with hot water. You can also rinse the vinegar off with hot water after you’re finished cleaning the machine.
Keep Your Coffee Maker Clean
If you’re not cleaning your coffee maker and it’s still dirty, it will start to build up grime over time and can eventually cause damage to the machine. If you want to make sure that your coffee maker is always clean, simply use a vinegar mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water on a regular basis to keep your machine clean. You can also use a solution of baking soda and water to help clean your coffee maker. This is a great method because it will help remove stains and hard-to-reach spots that you might have trouble seeing with the naked eye. You can also use vinegar instead of detergent when washing your dishes or clothes or you can use vinegar as an alternative for deodorizing your refrigerator! Vinegar has antibacterial properties that will make it an excellent natural cleaner for most appliances! regular basis. Vinegar is a great cleaner because it’s going to dissolve burnt-on stains while leaving your coffee maker smelling fresh and clean.
Keep Your Coffee Maker Dry
To keep your coffee maker dry, simply store it in a dry place when you’re not using it. If you have a cabinet that’s large enough to fit your coffee maker, it will be much easier to keep the machine dry when it’s not being used. You can also make sure that you remove the water reservoir from the machine after each use. This will help prevent the machine from overheating and damaging itself over time.
Change The Coffee Maker Filter
- Remove the coffee maker filter and clean it with lukewarm water.
- Put the filter back in and fill the reservoir with fresh water. Put the lid on to ensure that no water leaks out of the maker.
- Turn on the machine, wait for it to heat up, then run a cycle that lasts about 10 minutes or until you see that your grounds are brewing properly (if you’re using a paper filter, this means that it’s filtering properly). After this run cycle is complete, let your coffee maker cool down before pouring yourself a cup!
- Clean the carafe with warm water and a sponge.
- Rinse out the carafe thoroughly with clean water, and then fill it up with fresh water.
- Replace the filter, put the lid on, and run another cycle. You can go in between cycles if you want to! Make sure that your coffee maker is completely cool before moving on to step 7!
- Clean up any spills or drips that may have occurred during your last cycle by putting a towel over them and letting them dry out overnight in a place where they won’t be disturbed or damaged (like under a bed). Be sure to wipe down all surfaces around your coffee maker so that it prepares itself for the next cleaning cycle!
Clean The Machine With Hot Water
- The easiest way to clean your coffee maker is to fill it with hot water. This will help loosen any built-up dirt, grime, and residue from the inside. The hot water should be enough to loosen any build-up and easily remove it. You will want to wait until the water cools before cleaning the machine.
- Once your coffee maker is filled with hot water, run a cup of boiling hot water through the machine for about two minutes. This will help loosen any remaining residue that was not removed during the initial cleaning process.
- After running a cup of boiling hot water through your coffee maker, allow it to cool for about five minutes before proceeding with cleaning any remaining residue on the inside of your machine by hand or using a brush and cloth rag. Be sure to clean all areas of your coffee maker including its lid, drip tray, filter basket, and walls of the container that holds water used in brewing your coffee!
- After cleaning the inside of your coffee maker by hand or using a brush and cloth rag, wipe down the outside of your coffee maker with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue. This will help rid any remaining residue on the outside of your machine.
- Once all areas are clean, rinse and repeat steps one through four until you are satisfied that your coffee maker is clean!
Use A Baking Soda Cleansing Mix
- Fill a sink or large bowl until it is about one-third full of cool water.
- Add two tablespoons of baking soda to the water and stir it around until the mixture is no longer gritty or grainy.
- Pour the mixture into your coffee maker and run it through a cycle as usual. You can also use dish soap instead of baking soda if you prefer but then rinse thoroughly after using soap to avoid having a build-up of soap residue on your coffee maker’s interior.
Add A Coffee Maker Cleaning Drops
Remove the coffee grounds
Before cleaning your coffee maker, you’ll want to remove the coffee grounds. This will help prevent any stains or smells on your appliance. To remove the ground, simply pour some water through it and allow it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out with water. You can also use a paper towel to wipe down the sides of your machine and underneath the carafe.
Clean the Carafe and Drip Tray
When cleaning your carafe, make sure to clean off any drips or spills that have occurred in between brewing sessions. If you notice that it’s dirty, take a towel and wipe it down with some rubbing alcohol or baking soda. Afterward, rinse it off with hot water and allow it to air dry before putting back into place on your machine. For drip trays, soak them in warm soapy water for about 20 minutes before rinsing them out with hot water and letting them air dry.
Clean the Filter and Water Reservoir
In most cases, the filter is removable from the machine, so you’ll want to take it out and clean it if necessary. First, rinse it under hot water with a soft brush on the inside and outside to remove any dirt or stains before putting back into place. Make sure to clean underneath the filter as well for extra thorough cleaning. For the water reservoir, you’ll want to pour some white vinegar into a bowl and soak your reservoir in this solution for about 10 minutes before rinsing it out with warm water. Run a soft cloth over your appliance to clean off any remaining residue before putting back into place on your machine.
Conclusion
As mentioned, cleaning your coffee maker regularly will help improve its performance and extend its lifespan. However, this isn’t enough. You also need to clean your coffee maker once a month on a deeper cleaning schedule. You can use this time to descale your coffee maker. There are many benefits to cleaning your coffee maker with a descaling solution. First, you’ll reduce the risk of developing scale buildup in your machine. This buildup can reduce the effectiveness of your machine, leading to reduced coffee quality and even damage to your coffee maker. Secondly, you’ll reduce the smell of your machine. Dirty coffee machines are notorious for smelling bad. Lastly, you’ll reduce the risk of infections and diseases.
