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White vinegar is a useful natural cleaning agent. It removes grease and calcium buildup, which is why it is extremely effective with coffee makers that come into contact with minerals in water. You should clean your coffee maker with vinegar at least once every six months to keep your machine hygienic and your coffee tasting great.
Things You Should Know
- Create a 1-part vinegar, 2-parts water solution and use the liquid to run a half brew cycle.
- Let the coffee sit in the pot for 1 hour and then let the cycle finish running.
- Dump out the vinegar solution and using clean water, run a brew cycle 3 times.
- Wash the outside of the machine and the inside of the pot with water and dish soap.
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Remove the filter and any coffee grounds. Empty the carafe of any remaining coffee grounds. Throw away the used filter if you haven’t done so already. Pour out any remaining water from a previous brew.[1]
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Rinse out the basket. Quickly rinse out the basket with warm water. Do this to make sure there aren’t any coffee grounds stuck inside of it. If there are grounds that are stuck, wash with soap and then rinse with water. Place the basket back in the coffee maker when all of the grounds have been removed.[2]
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Use 1-part vinegar to 2 parts water unless otherwise directed. Some machines, however, recommend a lower dose of vinegar in the cleaning solution. You can find out the recommended amount of vinegar for your coffee maker by reading the user’s manual or doing a quick search online.[3]
- Typically, you can use 1/3 of the vinegar you normally would if your machine calls for less.
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Create a vinegar solution. Mix a solution of 1-part distilled white vinegar and 1-part warm water. If your machine call for less vinegar, use whatever amount is recommended. Pour this mixture directly into your coffee carafe. Make enough solution to fill the water reservoir.
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Run a half brew cycle. Press the brew button one the vinegar solution is in the carafe. Watch the coffee maker as it brews to avoid it completing the cycle. Turn off the coffee maker halfway through the brew cycle.[4]
- You can use the clean cycle instead of brewing if you have this option on your coffee maker. An automated clean cycle usually starts and stops, allowing different parts of the machine to soak in the solution.
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Let the coffee maker sit for one hour. This allows time for the vinegar solution to tackle any mineral and mold buildup. If you don’t have an hour, it’s okay to let it sit for 30 minutes.[5]
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Finish the brewing cycle. Turn on the brew function again after one hour. Let the rest of the solution brew through the coffee maker. You may see brown or white bits in the water. This is normal and means the vinegar solution is doing its job.[6]
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Pour out the vinegar solution. After the coffee maker has finished the complete brewing process, pour the solution down the sink drain. It’s okay if there are still remnants of the solution left in the coffee maker.[7]
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Rinse the carafe thoroughly. Use warm water and soap to clean out the carafe. You can use a sponge to scrub or you can swish the water and soap around. Pour out the soapy water and rinse with only water to remove soap bubbles when you are finished cleaning.[8]
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Pour fresh water into the carafe. After you’ve rinsed it, pour fresh water into the carafe. Do not mix vinegar with the fresh water. Use the maximum amount of water the coffee maker can brew.[9]
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Run the brew cycle three times. Press the brew button to run a cycle with just water. Allow the entire brew cycle to run. Then, repeat the brew cycle two more times. The water needs to be poured out after each cycle and then refilled. Let your coffee maker cool down for three to five minutes between the cycles.[10]
- Consider doing 1 to 2 more brew cycles with warm water if you can still smell vinegar.
EXPERT TIP
Jonathan Tavarez is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service headquartered in Tampa, Florida catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Since 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high quality cleaning standards. Jonathan has over five years of professional cleaning experience and has over two years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.
Our Expert Agrees: After you clean your coffee pot with vinegar, run 3 cycles with water only, which will flush it out.
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Wash the outside of the coffee maker with soap and water. Pour out the water after the last brew cycle. Then, remove the carafe and basket from your coffee maker. Clean the entire surface of your coffee maker with a small amount of liquid soap and a microfiber cloth. Rinse everything with clean water when you are done cleaning.
- Make sure that you clean off all of the coffee stains that may have accumulated over time.
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Clean the outside of the coffee maker with a vinegar spray. If you don’t want to wash the outside of your coffee maker with soap and water, it’s also an option to use a vinegar spray. First, fill any spray bottle with white vinegar. Do not dilute the vinegar. Then, spray some of the vinegar onto a cotton cloth. Wipe down the surface of the coffee maker. Use more vinegar if necessary. Finish by rinsing with water.[11]
- You can use a Q-tip to clean heard-to-reach places.
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Wash the coffee pot and basket. You can hand wash the coffee pot and basket or put them into the dishwasher. To wash by hand, pour some dishwashing soap onto a sponge or rag. Scrub the entirety of the pot and basket. Then, rinse with water. If you’re using the dishwasher, select the gentle cycle for the pot and basket.
- A product called Quick n Brite can take off stubborn lime deposits that may have formed inside of your carafe. To use, pour some of the product into the carafe, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it out.
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Reassemble your coffee maker. Check to make sure there aren’t any remnants of mold or mineral buildup left. Replace the carafe and basket when you are done cleaning. You are now ready to brew a fresh cup of coffee.[12]
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Add New Question
Question
Does the vinegar have to be white to clean a coffee maker?
Yes, white works best. The other types of vinegar like balsamic, apple cider, red wine, etc., have more particles in them that can make the coffee maker dirtier.
Question
Where do I get a replacement filter?
You can get one from your local hardware store and even some grocery stores.
Question
How can I clean my Keurig coffeemaker with vinegar?
A Keurig won't need an internal rinse with vinegar, but will need descaling every now and then. If you would like to do it anyway, check out How to Clean a Keurig with Vinegar .
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Coffee maker manufacturers recommend that you clean coffee makers at least once per month and decalcify it at least once every six months.
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You can avoid much of the build-up if you make it a practice *not* to use the carafe to fill the brewer. If you use a pitcher or some other container to measure and pour the water into the coffee maker, you aren't pouring coffee oils and solids into the reservoir.
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If you are using hard water in your coffee maker, you may want to decalcify more often than every six months.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
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Not cleaning your coffee maker at least once every six months could cause it to be filled with mold and bacteria.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Distilled white vinegar
- Dish washing soap
- Sponge
- Rag
- Timer
References
About This Article
Article SummaryX
To clean a coffee maker with vinegar, first empty the carafe and any coffee grounds in the filter. Then, fill the water chamber with equal parts white vinegar and water, and run a brew cycle. Halfway through the cycle, turn your coffee maker off. Let it sit for 1 hour so the vinegar has time to clean it. Then, turn your coffee maker back on and let it finish the rest of the brew cycle. Dump out the vinegar and water solution and refill the water chamber with fresh water. Finally, run another brew cycle, then repeat 2 more times to ensure all of the vinegar is gone. If you want to learn how to use vinegar to clean the outside of your coffee maker, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
Malcolm Hamilton
Sep 4, 2019
"The instructions for cleaning the coffee maker are explicit and nicely broken down into manageable steps. I did it..." more