How do I properly clean out a coffee maker?

Question

Can I run vinegar through through it to flush out the impurities or just water ya think? Thanks!

Answer 1

Use vinegar and water once (or twice if really dirty), and then water at least twice to rinse. If you do this regularly (once a month, you will never have a problem. This really helps!

Answer 2

How to Clean a Coffee Maker
Cleaning your coffee maker the right way will keep every pot tasting the best it can possibly be. It should be done at least once a month, to ensure good tasting coffee.
Steps
Mix a full coffee pot with a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts of water. For extremely slow coffee makers, use full strengh vinegar and add a tablespoon of baking soda. In the area where you usually add coffee, put in a filter.
Pour the mixture into the water reservoir of the coffee maker and turn the coffee maker on.
Wait until the mixture has completely run through, toss out the filter and shut the coffee pot off for 3 minutes. Pour the vinegar and water mixture down the drain. Rinse the coffee pot, and fill again, but this time with with plain cold water. Use another clean filter.
Run the plain cold water through the water reservoir to remove the mixture completely. Pour this water down the drain also.
Run completely through, turn the drip coffee maker off and let it cool for 5 minutes before using it to make coffee. If you are cleaning a coffee maker that hasn't been cleaned regularly, repeat this step again with a fresh vinegar and water mixture.
Never wash the coffee pot with soap, this will bind with the oils deposited by the coffee, and will leave a taste behind. Do not wash in the diswasher, for the same reason. Instead, put about two cups of crushed ice, 1/4 cup rock or table salt, and 1/4 cup lemon juice (bottled or fresh is fine) and swirl around the pot. Measurements are not that important, just guesstimate. For tough stains scrub using a paper towel or clean (not soapy) dishtowel. Rinse thoroughly. This is how restaurants clean their pots, for that rich taste that is so elusive at home

Answer 3

As others have mentioned, the vinegar/water combination is best used to flush out the insides of the machine, provided you flush it with water 3 times afterward to make sure all the vinegar flavor is out. When I worked in a restaraunt, we used a 50/50 vinegar/water combination.

Cleaning out the coffee pots was a bit different though--we'd fill the pots with salt and ice (about 1/3 full) then swirl the ice/salt mixture around for a few minutes. It acts as a mild abrasive that scrubbed the nasty coffee goo out of the inside, and was a lot easier than cramming your hand in there with a scouring pad. Afterward, we'd dump the ice out and let the pot return to room temperature, then swirl it with the vinegar/water mixture as well to clean up any mineral deposits remaining behind.

Answer 4

My father runs vinegar through his about once a month to get rid of stains and clean it out. Then he runs two pots of water through to make sure all the vinegar is out of it.

Answer 5

Vinegar definatly works the best...I'd run the vinegar threw twice then water threw till you don't smell the vinegar anymore!

Answer 6

Yes, vinegar does a good job. Follow it with a couple of cycles of clear water.

Answer 7

vinegar, then flush a few times with water

Answer 8

Use a product called " Dip It '. It is just for cleaning coffee makers.
It does a wonderful job.
You can find it in the coffee aisle or in the cleaning aisle at your local market.
Good luck.

Answer 9

It also helps to use only filtered water to brew the coffee as well. There are special cleaners out there too but be sure to follow the directions as well ! ! !

Answer 10

yes vinegar is fine