Searches on how to clean a coffee maker will turn up results on cleaning your coffee maker with a vinegar solution. However, the smell of vinegar can be off-putting, and is not a smell everybody can tolerate.
In this article, we'll show you 4 ways to clean a coffee maker without vinegar. You can use acidic alternatives such as lemon juice, or use other common cleaners such as baking soda to clean your coffee maker. Here are our recommended coffee maker cleaning methods without vinegar:
How to Clean Coffee Maker without Vinegar
#1 Use a Lemon Juice Mixture
Lemon juice can be used in place of vinegar as both have the acidic properties that dissolve mineral deposits in your coffee maker. The natural cleaning agent also kills mold spores, gets rid of soap scum, and loosens coffee residue in your machine, but without the strong smell of vinegar.
To clean your coffee maker without vinegar, equal amounts of lemon juice and water into the water reservoir of your coffee maker. Place a paper filter into the brewer basket, and let the machine run a brew cycle. As the diluted lemon juice passes through the machine, it dissolves any grime left in the pipes. Run a couple of rinse cycles to clear the lemon juice solution.
You can also use the lemon rinds to remove stains from your coffee pot. After washing out your coffee maker with lemon juice, place rock salt in your coffee pot, and use the rind of half a lemon as a scrubbing tool to remove any coffee stains.
#2 Use Commercial Cleaning Solutions
Commercial cleaning solutions and tablets are made to clean coffee makers without harsh chemicals or harmful substances such as vinegar. They don't contain vinegar that would cause your coffee machine to smell, and often have deodorizing properties as well to remove any musty odors from your coffee maker.
Check the manufacturer of your coffee maker for official cleaning tablets or solutions as most companies would have their own brand of cleaning solutions. Alternatively, you may use a commercial cleaning solution without vinegar that is compatible with your coffee machine, which is more often than not indicated on the product description.
Follow the manufacturer's directions on how to use the cleaning solution to prevent damage to your coffee maker, and rinse your machine well to remove any residue. Clean your coffee maker inside and out without vinegar by washing the coffee pot, and wiping the exterior of your coffee maker for a full clean.
#3 Use a Baking Soda Solution
Using plain water and baking soda without the vinegar works just as well in removing mineral deposits and coffee residue from your coffee maker. Baking soda provides an abrasive action too, so it will scrub the pipes of your coffee maker from the inside as it passes through your machine. Baking soda also deodorizes and removes stains from your coffee pot.
To clean the coffee maker with baking soda, fill the water reservoir with plain water, and add half a cup to 1 cup of baking soda. Activate the coffee maker, and let the machine run a brew cycle. As the baking soda passes through your machine, you may notice dirt accumulating in your coffee pot, which is the grime that has been stuck in your machine.
Drain the water inside the coffee pot, and add plain water in the water tank of your coffee maker. Run a rinse cycle to remove any baking soda residue. Wash the coffee pot and the filter basket with soapy water, and let each component dry before storing your coffee maker.
#4 Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Using hydrogen peroxide is both food-safe, and sanitizing as it removes the dirt from inside your machine. Hydrogen peroxide is safe to use in coffee makers, as the solution easily breaks down into harmless hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
Combine hydrogen peroxide and water in the water reservoir in a 1:2 ratio. Clean your coffee maker without vinegar by running a brew cycle, then drain the water that fills your coffee carafe. Rinse the inside of your drip coffee maker by running a couple of rinse cycles using plain water, and wash the filter basket and coffee maker pot separately.
Hydrogen works by oxygenating your coffee maker, lifting grime and stains from the inside. This method works for a Keurig coffee maker as well as any coffee pod machine. Hydrogen peroxide also sanitizes the pipes as it runs through your machine, so you can sanitize and clean a coffee maker without vinegar at the same time.
A Crisp Brew
A clean kitchen creates a crisp, full-bodied brew for your coffee maker as regular cleaning removes any leftover coffee oil that has gone stale. When you're having difficulties keeping up with your busy schedule and your house chores, contact us at Luce to keep your space clean and pristine. Enjoy a nice, hot cup of coffee in a fully-cleaned home!
Looking for more kitchen cleaning tips? Check out the other articles on our blog to start cleaning!
