How to Clean Lime Scale From Coffeepots

Regularly cleaning coffee pots prevents lime scale.

Lime scale consists of hard water mineral deposits that appear as white scum. Hard water deposits ruin the appearance of coffeepots and can affect the taste of coffee. Lime scale becomes more difficult to wash off the longer it remains. Promptly remove hard water deposits from a coffeepot using basic supplies.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• White vinegar
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Nylon scouring pad
• Clean cotton towel

Instructions

1. Moisten clean paper towel strips with white vinegar. Lay the strips in the coffeepot and press them against the sides. Cover the entire interior surface of the pot with the moistened paper towel strips.

2. Leave the paper towel strips in the coffeepot for an hour. Re-moisten the strips with more white vinegar if they become dry during that time.

3. Remove the paper towel strips from the coffeepot.

4. Inspect the coffeepot for remaining white deposits. If some lime scale remains, combine 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a bowl. Mix the baking soda and vinegar with a spoon until it forms a paste.

5. Apply the paste directly to the remaining lime scale. Leave the paste to sit for an hour.

6. Scrub the inside of the coffeepot with a nylon scouring pad to loosen any remaining hard water deposits.

7. Rinse the coffeepot twice with warm water.

8. Wipe the coffeepot with a clean cotton towel until thoroughly dry.

Tips & Warnings

• You can substitute lemon juice for the white vinegar.

• To clean the entire machine, pour 1 cup of vinegar instead of the usual water into the reservoir. Run the machine and dispose of the vinegar. Pour clean water into the machine and run a cycle. Repeat until the vinegar smell has gone.

References

• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Removing Mineral Deposits From Household Surfaces
• Old House Web: Removing Mineral Deposits
• Vinegar Book: Vinegar Tips - Clean Coffee Pot with White Vinegar