While some people may argue that coffee tastes best in a stained coffee pot, we beg to disagree. That stained coffee pot won't deliver more flavor to your morning cup of coffee, but it can make you sick as bacteria and mold fester in those stains!
In this article, we'll show you the step by step process in cleaning coffee carafes, and how to keep your glass coffee pot clean so you can enjoy a crisp, clean brew to jumpstart your day every morning. Here's how.
How to Clean Glass Coffee Pot: A Step-by-Step Guide
Vinegar Water Method
This vinegar method works best on wide coffee pots that you can handwash with a sponge. Vinegar soaks into those coffee stains and softens them, while baking soda will stain lift carafes. This method is easy and low effort, albeit time consuming.
Step 1: Run a Cleaning Cycle
Check if your coffee maker has a self-cleaning function. Many well-known home appliance brands have released coffee maker models that have self-cleaning functions, or cleaning solutions that will clean both the glass coffee pot, and the interior of the coffee maker at the same time. Utilize this feature to clean your glass coffee pot.
If your coffee maker does not have a self-cleaning function, run the coffee machine with plain water. The hot water should soften the coffee stains on the glass carafe, making them easier to remove later on.
Step 2: Add White Vinegar and Baking Soda
Empty out the coffee pot, and add in some warm, white vinegar and baking soda up to the halfway mark. Let the solution bubble, and fill the rest with water. White vinegar will remove coffee stains and mineral deposits, while baking soda acts as an abrasive scrubber to remove the stains. Lemon juice can be used as an alternative to vinegar.
Step 3: Let it Sit
Let the solution sit for 15 to 30 minutes. The more stubborn stains there are on the coffee pot, the longer you will need to let the solution sit. Let the solution lift the stains out of your coffee pot. In the meantime, consider giving your entire machine a deep clean.
Step 4: Hand Wash with Dish Soap
Dump out the vinegar solution, and wash your glass coffee pots with regular dish soap. Make sure to wash every space in your glass pot as vinegar residue can make your brew taste odd. Rinse the coffee pot, and let it dry completely before placing it back on the machine.
Ice and Salt Method
Ice and salt can be used to clean old coffee stains from narrow glass carafes that can be difficult to clean with a sponge or bottle brush. Swirl crushed ice and salt or uncooked rice grains around the carafe with a clean glass coffee pot, and remove coffee stains from the interior of the carafe.
Step 1: Rinse the Carafe with Hot Water
Rinse the carafe with hot or warm water to soften the stains. Allow the carafe to cool down before adding ice, as sudden temperature changes can shatter glass. The glass coffee pot must be completely cool before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Add Ice and Salt or Uncooked Rice
Add crushed ice and coarse salt into the carafe. These will act as your scrubber to remove stains, and keep your coffee pot clean without having to use a bottle brush. Uncooked grains of rice will work in place of crushed ice.
Step 3: Add Soapy Water
Mix together dish soap and cold water until it forms a thin but frothy cleaning solution. Pour this coffee cleaner into the glass carafe, and allow it to coat the interior walls of the glass coffee pot.
Step 4: Swirl to Remove Stubborn Stains
Swirl the carafe to shake the ice and salt cleaning solution. As the ice and salt move against the interior walls of your coffee pot, they act as abrasive scrubbers that remove even stubborn stains from your glass pot. Keep swirling until you no longer see any stain left behind.
Step 5: Rinse the Coffee Pot
Dump out the contents of the coffee pot, and rinse the glass carafe well to remove any remaining residue. Let the carafe dry, or manually dry the glass coffee pot with a paper towel before placing it back into the machine.
Overnight Method
This overnight method is extremely low effort - just let your cleaning solution do all the work! This method works best on narrow carafes and coffee pots with hard-to-clean areas. You will need some dishwasher detergent to get the job done.
Step 1: Mix Your Solution
Mix dishwasher soap and water to create your cleaning solution. Dishwashing detergent was made to easily remove stains, and is a convenient solution to get rid of coffee stains from your glass coffee pot.
Step 2: Let it Sit Overnight
Let the solution sit overnight. You won't need to scrub or use elbow grease to remove the stains! Simply let the solution in your glass coffee pot sit overnight as it works to remove the stains. Denture tablets may work as well.
Step 3: Rinse Out the Coffee Carafe
The next day, rinse out your carafe as you would during regular cleaning. The cleaning solution should have removed both coffee stains and mineral build up from your coffee carafes, leaving you with a fresher and crisper brewing cycle!
Tips to Keep Glass Coffee Carafe Clean
- Regularly wash your coffee pot. Don't wait for your pot to stain before you wash them. Always wash the carafe after use, and wash the pot as soon as possible to prevent coffee stains from forming.
- Avoid scrubbing the pot as the glass may etch. Instead, let your cleaning solution do all the scrubbing.
- Clean the machine. Coffee stains and mineral deposits within your machine may be causing your coffee pot to get dirty more frequently. Deep clean your coffee machine with our handy guide!
- Clean your surroundings. If the kitchen is clean, so is your coffee pot! Don't fret the hassles of home maintenance, and contact us for a full deep cleaning service perfect for any household!
Cleaning your kitchen is made easy with our series of cleaning guides. Check out our blog for more articles on home maintenance!
