Have you noticed a musty smell coming from your coffee maker lately? If so, mold or mildew is likely building up in the water reservoir or tubing. Yuck. Let’s figure out how to clean a moldy coffee maker.
Not to worry. It’s easy to clean and sanitize your coffee maker and return it to brewing delicious java.
And if your coffee maker is made of plastic, these tips are for whitening yellowed appliances.
Mold and bacteria love warm, wet environments like the inside of coffee makers, so even if you can’t see anything growing in there, it’s a good idea to clean your coffee maker deep regularly.
How to Deep Clean Your Moldy Coffee Maker
Your coffee maker has been neglected for too long, and mold is growing. Don’t worry; you can get your trusty coffee companion clean and brewing again.
First, unplug your coffee maker and wash all the removable parts.
The carafe, filter basket, and permanent filter.
You can put them in the dishwasher or with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and set aside to air dry completely.
Next, fill the water reservoir with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar or a commercial limescale remover.
Run one or two complete brew cycles with the solution.
The acid in the vinegar kills mold and bacteria. Dump out the solution and rinse the water reservoir and internals with water.
Now for the scrubbing. Use a bottle brush, cotton swabs, and hot, soapy water to scrub any buildup or grime from the spray head, water tube, base, and all corners and crevices.
Be thorough. Rinse with water to remove any remaining residue.
Finally, run one or two cycles with plain water to rinse everything.
Your coffee maker should now be sparkling clean, free from harmful mold, and ready to brew your favorite coffee again.
As prevention, run a cycle with just water once a week and always empty the carafe after each use. A clean coffee maker means better-tasting coffee and a healthier you. Bottoms up!
Sanitizing Your Coffee Maker to Remove Mold and Bacteria
To properly sanitize your coffee maker and remove any mold, you’ll need to give it a deep clean.
First, descale your machine.
Do this by running a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar through a brew cycle.
The acid in the vinegar helps break down mineral buildup. Run 2-3 cycles with plain water afterward to rinse everything out.
Next, disassemble your coffee maker as much as possible.
Remove detachable parts like the carafe, filter basket, and water reservoir, and wash them in hot, soapy water.
For stuck-on stains, make a paste from baking soda and water and scrub with the paste using a non-abrasive sponge or scrubber.
Now for the inside of the machine.
Mix a sanitizing solution of 1 tablespoon bleach for every gallon of water. Run this solution through a brew cycle, then run 2-3 cycles with plain water to rinse.
Be sure to run the plain water cycles immediately after to avoid bleach residue in your machine.
Once everything is cleaned and sanitized, reassemble your coffee maker.
As a final step, run one more plain water cycle before making coffee again.
Your coffee maker should now be fresh, clean, and mold-free so you can enjoy your daily brew!
With some elbow grease and natural disinfecting solutions, you’ve given your coffee maker a new lease on life.
Stay on top of regular cleaning and descaling to keep your machine in tip-top shape.
Preventing Mold Growth in Your Coffee Maker
You must follow a regular cleaning regimen to prevent mold from growing in your coffee maker.
Mold and bacteria love warm, moist environments, so keeping your coffee maker clean and dry is critical. Below is how to effectively clean your moldy coffee maker.
Clean After Every Use
After brewing a pot of coffee, run a cycle of just plain water through the machine.
This will rinse any remaining coffee oils and grounds stuck in the system. Then, empty the water reservoir and let all parts air dry completely.
Leaving standing water in the reservoir or filter basket creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.
Deep Clean Weekly
Once a week, fill the water reservoir with equal parts water and white vinegar.
Run it through a brew cycle. The vinegar will descale and disinfect the entire system. After the cycle finishes, run plain water to rinse everything out.
Follow up by wiping down the machine’s exterior, including the water reservoir lid and filter basket. Allow all parts to air dry before storing.
Change Filters
If your coffee maker has permanent filters, remove and wash them with soapy water at least once a month or if you notice buildup.
Let them air dry completely before reinstalling. If you have paper filters, change them more frequently, at least every 1-2 weeks.
Old, used filters won’t filter well and can harbor mold and bacteria.
By following these tips, you’ll keep your coffee maker spic and span and mold-free.
Cleaning may seem like a hassle, but you’ll appreciate your fresh-tasting coffee and a machine that lasts for years.
A few minutes of regular maintenance can save you from prematurely replacing an expensive coffee maker.
Your morning coffee will taste much better without the musty aftertaste of mold.
Conclusion
Get your coffee maker sparkling clean and mold-free with just a few easy steps. You’ll enjoy fresh, hot coffee again by descaling, scrubbing, and sanitizing.
No more gunk buildup or weird smells, just delicious coffee made in a machine that’s good as new.
Run a cycle with just water to rinse everything out, then brew your favorite coffee and enjoy!
Stay on top of regular cleaning, and you’ll never have to deal with mold in your coffee maker again.