How To Clean A Coffee Maker Without Vinegar: Best Alternative Methods
If you have a coffee maker, it is important to pay attention to regular cleaning and maintenance, which will make it deliver optimal functionality even through the years. How can you keep it in its tip-top shape? One thing that you can use is vinegar. The latter is known as a universal natural cleaner, making it an effective choice.
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What if vinegar is not available? Also, there are some people who do not like cleaning with vinegar because the smell tends to be overpowering. If you are curious about how to clean a coffee maker without vinegar, I can extend a helping hand. Keep on reading the rest of this post to know more about the other materials and methods that can prove to be equally effective.
What You Will Need to Follow This Tutorial
Here are the materials that you will need as you follow the steps that will be mentioned in the next part of this post:
- Lemon juice
- Water
- Baking soda
- Ice
- Salt
- Mild dishwashing soap
- Brush/sponge
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Clean A Coffee Maker Without Vinegar
In this section, we will present not one, but several alternatives to cleaning the coffeemaker without the use of vinegar. All of these methods are promising in terms of the results they can deliver.
Use Lemon Juice
Similar to vinegar, lemon comes with natural properties that will make it an effective household cleaner. It has a high level of acidity that allows it provide antiseptic and antibacterial chemicals. To use it for your coffeemaker, here are the things that you should do:
- Remove any content that remains from the basket of the coffee maker. Run the machine with cold water.
- Now, take out the cold water that you have initially placed in the pot. Fill it with half part concentrated lemon juice and half part water.
- Turn on the coffeemaker.
- Turn it off. Allow the mixture of water and lemon juice to rest for about 15 minutes.
- Discard the mixture from the cup. Fill it with cold water and run through a regular cycle once more.
- Finish by rinsing the coffee pot.
Use Baking Soda
In many households, a box of baking soda is often present because of its numerous benefits, especially when it comes to cleaning applications. To use it in cleaning your coffeemaker, here are the simple steps that you should follow:
- Fill the pot with cold water.
- Add ¼ cup of baking soda. Stir so that it will completely dissolve in the pot.
- Once the baking soda has dissolved, run the coffeemaker at a normal cycle.
- Dispose of the solution of water with baking soda. This time, put only plain water in the pot and run it again. Do this twice.
- After this, you have completely rinsed the pot and it is now clean.
Using Mild Dishwashing Liquid
When resorting to this method of cleaning your coffeemaker, make sure to choose a dishwashing liquid that is mild. If it is too strong, it can linger on the surface, and in turn, this will negatively impact the flavor and aroma of your coffee.
- Detach the different parts of the coffee maker.
- Run them through cold water.
- Wash with soap. Use a sponge to make sure that you will reach even the tiny corners.
- This should never be done with the part that contains the motor. It should not be submerged in water.
- You can also use the dishwasher, provided that the manufacturer specified that their parts are dishwasher-safe.
- Always make sure that they are properly rinsed before using.
Using Ice And Salt
This is one thing that most of you might find unusual, but it is actually another effective solution in cleaning the coffee maker without vinegar. It will help in getting rid of stains and mineral deposits in the pot. Here are the simple steps that you should follow:
- Fill the pot with four teaspoons of iodized salt, one cup of crushed ice, and one cup of water
- Cover the pot and swirl the water inside.
- Once you are done, take off the cover and rinse the pot with the use of plain water only.
- Alternatively, you might also want to consider adding lemon juice in the solution to improve its cleaning effectiveness.
Pro Tips
Aside from following the steps that have been mentioned above, here are some important tips you have to keep in mind:
- More than regular cleaning, proper storage is also necessary to keep your coffeemaker in its tip-top condition. With this, one thing that you should do is to make sure that it is completely dry before keeping it in the cabinet. Also, keep it in a place that is cool and dry.
- More so, to avoid the presence of mold and mildew, it is also best to leave the top part open. This will let air get inside and allow it to dry out naturally. Alternatively, you can also wipe the interior with paper towels before its storage.
- Clean your coffee maker regularly. It should be washed after every use. Deep cleaning, on the other hand, should be done at least once in a month. This will prolong its functional life and will make sure of the best taste of your coffee.
- The steps that we have mentioned above are specific in cleaning a coffee maker’s pot. Do not forget to clean the other parts as well. More often than not, a quick wipe using a clean cloth will be enough. Pay attention to where there is a buildup of dirt. Clean any stain as soon as possible before it hardens.
- Always pay attention to the instructions from the manufacturer. Cleaning one model of coffee maker may be different from all others. It is important to do only as you are told, and hence, follow what is written in the manual when it comes to care and maintenance for a coffee maker.
- It will also be good if you can use filtered water in your coffee maker. This is free from impurities and hard chemicals, which will make the coffee taste better. Furthermore, it also prevents the buildup of chemicals in the pot, and hence, will make it easier to clean.
- Before using the coffeemaker, after it is cleaned, make sure that it is completely dry. This is especially the case if you cleaned the entire unit and not just the pot. This is to prevent electrical hazards.
Conclusion
By now, I hope that you already know how to clean a coffee maker without vinegar. It is important to use only the right materials, making sure that they will effectively get rid of dirt, and more importantly, give you nothing but the best-tasting coffee all the time. You can find out more about coffee maker at leascoffee.com/coffee-makers.
Did you enjoy reading this post? Have you already tried cleaning your coffee maker without vinegar? What did you use? Feel free to leave a comment below.