Rachel's CafeAll things coffee…

What should you use to clean your coffeemaker?

You can use a cleaner from a store that is made for coffeemakers or from your coffee maker company. Easier yet, and less expensive, is to use undiluted WHITE household vinegar. If you use a cleaner from the company you got your coffee maker from, be sure to read the “Caution statement” of the side of the box very carefully before you use it.

 When you use vinegar, place a filter into the filter basket. Fill the glass coffee decanter to the highest cup line with the vinegar and pour it into the water reservoir and close the lid. Return the coffee decanter to the warming plate and turn “ON” the coffee maker like when you are going to brew coffee. When 3/4th of the total cups have flowed through into the coffee decanter, turn the coffeemaker “OFF.” Let the decanter remain of the warning plate rest for at least one-half hour. Then, turn the coffeemaker “ON” again until all the remaining vinegar is in the decanter. Discard the vinegar and the filter in the brew basket. Wash out the decanter by letting a full decanter of tap water go through the coffee maker as you did with the vinegar, but do NOT stop until all the water is in the decanter. Turn your coffeemaker “OFF” and throw out the water in the decanter. You may wash your glass decanter with dish soap and water; or you like or put on the top-rack of your dishwasher. Glass decanters are safe to wash on the top rack of your dishwasher only.

To clean your percolator, fill the percolator to the highest cup level with half water and half vinegar. Put a filter in the basket as you normally would, then run a full percolator cycle. When done, discard the water and the filter. Then run the percolator again with clean water. Discard that water and rinse out the percolator and rinse the stem and basket; dry with a soft towel.

Water can leave a whitish mineral deposit or a brownish deposit stain in the bottom and sides of your decanter from your coffee or tea. To clean these deposits take a solution of equal parts of White household vinegar and Hot, not boiling, water and leave in the decanter for 20 to 30 minutes then discard. Wash your decanter with regular dish soap, rinse and dry with a soft dish towel. NEVER use a harsh abrasive on your coffee maker.

NOTE: These are rules for cleaning your coffeemaker. Never use vinegar to clean your espresso machine. Vinegar CAN harm parts of your espresso machine.

About the Author

Joyce Kaaland was a stay at home who went back and got a college degree with honors. While working on her degree she was a substitute education aide and after her degree a substitute teacher. She then taught E.S.L., GED and citizenship through Lutheran Asian Ministry for 6 years. She also helped design and pick out appliances for commercial kitchens in churches. Joyce loves to travel where most tourists never go. Joyce also writes daily (M-F) on her blog TodaysCoffeeBlog.com and would also love to write about her adventures.

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