Start your day right with a fresh cup of coffee and a pristine coffee maker! The trusty coffee maker, a beloved kitchen companion, deserves a little TLC to keep it functioning at its best. Bid farewell to bitter coffee and welcome this simple house-cleaning tip that will save you time and money.
Check the State of Your Appliance
Before diving into cleaning, take a moment to assess your coffee maker. Are there hard water deposits? Is the carafe and exterior in need of a clean?
The Wonder Ingredient: White Distilled Vinegar
Embrace the simplicity and effectiveness of white distilled vinegar, a versatile and budget-friendly cleaning agent that won’t harm your appliance.
Cleaning Process: Drip Coffee Maker
Preparation:
- Rinse the carafe and filter to remove coffee grounds.
Magical Solution:
- Mix equal parts white distilled vinegar and water in the carafe (1:1 ratio).
Brewing Magic:
- Start the brewing process and pause when it’s halfway done. Allow the solution to sit for 45 minutes, letting the vinegar tackle hard water deposits.
Completion:
- Resume brewing, and marvel at the dissolved gunk. Discard the solution and refill the container with clean water.
Rinse:
- Rinse with clean water 3–5 times to restore your coffee maker to its pristine state.
Exterior Cleanup:
- Wipe the exterior with a cloth and a dab of soap. For hard water deposits, a touch of vinegar on the outside works wonders.
Cleaning Process: Single Serve Coffee Maker
Preparation:
- Unplug the machine and disassemble it. Clean all parts with warm, soapy water.
Exterior Cleanup:
- Use a cloth to wipe away grounds around the K-cup basket.
Magical Solution:
- Fill the water container with a 1:1 mixture of white distilled vinegar and cold water. Run the cycle without a K-cup. Discard and repeat until no vinegar smell remains.
Final Rinse:
- Run the cycle with clean water until there’s no hint of vinegar odor.
Reassembly:
- Once all parts are dry, reassemble the coffee maker and plug it back in.
House cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. A little maintenance can go a long way in keeping your household appliances clean and good as new. Happy house cleaning!
