Has your morning brew taken on a musty aroma and notes of mildew? Your coffee maker might be harboring mold growth that is causing your coffee to taste odd, which can be dangerous to your health.
Mold spores are a health risk, and immunocompromised individuals can get sick from ingesting or inhaling spores. Even healthy individuals can get allergies and digestive issues from ingesting coffee from a moldy coffee maker, which is why it is important to deep clean your coffee makers often.
What You'll Need
You can clean your coffee maker using a commercial coffee machine cleaning solution, which is often sold under the same brand as your coffee maker. However, you can also use home staples like vinegar and baking soda to create your own cleaning solution that is just as effective! Here's what you'll need:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Fine salt
- Paper filter
How to Clean Moldy Coffee Maker: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Fill the Water Reservoir with Vinegar Solution
Mix together a solution of 6 cups of white vinegar, 1-2 cups of baking soda, and 1/4 cup of table salt. The vinegar should kill the mold spores, and the baking soda will lift them out of your coffee maker. Use fine salt as an abrasive scrubber, and avoid using coarse salt as large chunks may get stuck in your coffee machine.
Place the vinegar solution right into the water reservoir of your coffee maker. Fill the reservoir up to the maximum line, and close the tank lid. Mix the solution separately as vinegar and baking soda may over-bubble, causing a mess around your machine if mixed directly into the water tank.
Step 2: Add a Paper Filter
Place the coffee pot in position, and add a filter to the filter basket to catch the grime that flows out of your coffee maker. Use a new filter to clean your coffee maker, and avoid using reusable filters as you will want to dispose of the filter at the end of the cleaning process.
Step 3: Run a Brewing Cycle
Let the coffee maker clean itself by running a brew cycle - similar to brewing coffee but without the beans. Let the cycle finish, and dump out the water collected in the coffee pot. Rinse out the coffee pot, and place it back into position for the rinse cycle. You may replace the paper filter, but this is not necessary.
Step 4: Run 2-3 Rinse Cycles
Fill the reservoir with plain water, and run a rinse cycle to remove any residue from your coffee machine. You may need to run 2-3 rinse cycles to completely remove the smell of vinegar from your coffee makers. Keep rinsing until you no longer smell any musty or sour odors from the water collected in your coffee pot.
Step 5: Clean the Coffee Pot
Remove the filter, and toss it. Clean the basket and coffee pot separately, washing them with soapy water. Open the lid to the water reservoir to allow the steam to escape. Give your machine a good wipe down to clean the exterior of your coffee maker as well.
Step 6: Let Everything Dry
Let everything dry before you piece the machine back together. Dry the removable parts with a kitchen towel, or let them air dry. Let the coffee maker dry before you close the lid to the water reservoir as well to ensure there is no moisture left in the machine before you store it.
Tips to Maintain Your Coffee Maker
- Clear the filter basket of your coffee makers at the end of every coffee brewing process. Mold often starts from the moist environment of spent coffee grounds, which can grow when left in the machine too long.
- Rinse your coffee maker after you brew coffee. This will clean out any residue or coffee remnants from your brewing cycle.
- Clean coffee machines weekly, even when not in use. This will prevent mineral buildup in your machine, and clean any dust or debris that ventured into its pipes.
- Cover coffee makers when not in use. This will prevent dust and debris from getting into the machine. However, make sure your machine is dry before covering it up.
- Let your clean coffee maker dry to prevent mold and mildew growth. Clean removable parts separately, and let these dry completely before placing them back into the machine. Open the hot water tank to let the remaining moisture evaporate.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Keeping your home and kitchen clean is one way to prevent mold from infiltrating your appliances. The presence of mold in your coffee makers is a sign of mold around the house, which our team at Luce Home can clear away for you! Our cleaning services will prevent mold growth, and keep your kitchen neat and tidy - perfect for enjoying a nice, hot brew!
Contact us today to schedule a part time maid service, and we'll get a team to your doorstep to clean every inch of your home!
