As the experts explain, since the coffee maker heats the water, it can also fall victim to mineral buildup. A simple remedy to get rid of tartar is the always effective vinegar.
The US Geological Survey explains that since vinegar is acidic, it helps dissolve mineral particles and allows for easier washing. All you need is white vinegar, water… and follow these steps:
- Mix one part white vinegar to two parts water.
- Pour into the reservoir of the coffee maker, as if you were going to prepare coffee (use a filter), and turn it on.
- Let the normal cycle finish and turn it off.
- Throw away the vinegar water and repeat the cycle with jug water to eliminate the vinegar smell.
Other options you can use to remove tartar are:
- Lemon: Mix ½ cup of strained lemon juice for every cup of water.
- Citric Acid: Combine 1 part of this ingredient to 20 parts of water.
- Denture Whitening Tablet: Add 1 tablet to full water reservoir.
If you have noticed that the carafe of your coffee maker has a dull tone, it could also be scale. If the cleaning process didn’t work, let it soak in water and vinegar for an hour before washing.