A fourth a cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle filled the rest of the way with water is great for a quick clean up for coffee makers. Just spray and rinse. It is cheaper than using window cleaner and since I use my coffee maker for both making coffee and brewing tea daily. I like that it does a good job on removing their respective smells.
Also, spray it in the bottom of glasses with a milk ring and let it sit for a few minutes. You won't have to scrub it.
Source: God gets the credit for this inspiration.
By Ann from Saint Peters, MO
This page contains the following solutions.
When I clean my coffee maker with vinegar, I do it in the bathroom. When the vinegar has run through, I put baking soda in the tub drain and pour the hot vinegar in.
I rejuvenated a garage-sale coffeemaker with denture cleaner tablets. I dropped several tablets in a cup of very hot water and used an old toothbrush and many q-tips to clean the inside of the lid, the filter holder, and as much of the reservoir as I could reach.
Cleaning your drip coffee maker is important to keep bacteria from growing and it will ensure that your coffee tastes good. Vinegar is a safe, natural way to clean and disinfect your coffee maker. Try this method every 2-4 weeks:
If you have a coffee pot that has old or burned coffee residue, take about 5 or 6 pennies and 2 tablespoons vinegar. Swish it around the pot until stains are gone.
Over time, coffee can leave ugly brown stains on your coffee maker, requiring regular thorough cleaning to keep it looking new. This is a page about cleaning a Hamilton Beach coffee maker.