Nine Steps to a Clean Coffee Maker

Let's face it, we live in a dirty world. Dirt, dust, molds, bacteria...You name it, and it's out there. What's worse is that it's lurking in one of the most treasured, hallowed places on earth: Your Coffee Maker!

Test your coffee maker. Pour a clean pot of water into the reservoir and 'brew' it.

Now, taste the water. Does it taste like water? Or does it have a strange 'dirty' flavor to it?

Ok, so you know that your coffee maker is dirty. How do you clean it?

Here are nine quick, easy and inexpensive steps to clean your coffee maker with what you already have (most likely) on-hand.

What you'll need:

Vinegar (regular distilled/white vinegar is best, but I've even used cider vinegar)

Dish Soap

Water

Nine steps to a clean coffee maker:

Fill your coffee pot with 1 part vinegar and 3 parts cold water

Pour the mixture into your coffee maker's reservoir and 'brew' the mixture

When the brewing is finished, let your coffee maker cool for 10 minutes

For coffee makers that are exceptionally dirty (you know who you are), repeat steps 2 and 3

Discard the vinegar mixture

Now, 'brew' two full pots of clean water letting the coffee maker cool for 10 minutes between each brewing

Wash the coffee pot with dish soap

Wash the filter basket (the basket comes out of some coffee makers making it easier to clean)

Finally, clean the outside of the coffee maker.

There you have it: Nine Steps to a Clean Coffee Maker...and better tasting coffee.

Now, celebrate! Brew a pot of coffee.

By Jeffrey Dyer