Want to look like you actually took a chemistry class while in college around the office? I’ve used this gem twice.
*Note: I’m copying and pasting this article. Feel free to read through it and just eyeball your coffee pot. Also, the lemon we have in our breakroom is in little packets and made from concentrate but they definitely work.
How to Clean a Coffee Pot with Salt and Lemon
Is your coffee pot less than sparkling clean? Even if you don’t leave on the burner and burn your pot, the coffee will slowly stain it if you don’t clean it on a regular basis. Soap that isn’t rinsed out properly can make you sick, so substitute soap with salt, lemon and ice instead. Clean your coffee pot with natural products without scrubbing and scouring by following these quick and easy instructions. This cleaning process is one regularly used in restaurants and behind bars where coffee pots are often left on all day and lemon, salt, and ice are always on hand.
Coffee looks and smells much better in a clear, clean pot instead of in a dingy, stained and scummy pot, so clean regularly to keep your coffee tasty and smelling delicious.
Materials
* A lemon
* 3 to 4 tablespoons of salt
* 2 cups of ice
* Water
* Dirty coffeepot
* towel for drying
Tips for Cleaning your Coffee Pot
* Allow the coffee pot to cool before cleaning. Make sure your coffee pot isn’t hot when you place in the ice. Placing ice in hot glassware can cause the glass to break.
* Rinse with water after each use.
* Clean at least monthly, preferably weekly using these instructions.
Step 1 – Add Lemon, Salt, Ice, and Water
Cut a lemon into several slices. Squeeze the lemon into the cool coffeepot, and drop in the lemon rinds as well. You can also use limes if those are all you have at the house, although lemons are generally cheaper. You can use pre-squeezed lemon juice, but the fresher, the better. Next, add about 3 tablespoons of rock or table salt, 2 cups of ice, and a cup or so of water.
Step 2 – Swirl the Ingredients
Holding the coffeepot by the handle, swirl gently in a clockwise motion for several revolutions. Next, reverse directions and swirl counterclockwise. Repeat the process several times until the stains are removed from the pot. If there is a nasty, crusty layer of burnt coffee on the bottom, you may want to let the solution sit in the coffee pot for an hour after swirling several times.
Step 3 – Rinse your Coffee Pot
Although none of the ingredients are inedible, you don’t want a salty or sour cup of coffee, so rinse thoroughly. Your coffee pot should be sparkling clean and look like it just came out of the box. If it doesn’t, leave the solution in longer next time, even overnight. Then you can wake up to a clean coffee pot. Rinse your coffee pot with cold water.
Step 4 – Dry the Coffee Pot
Spread out a towel on the countertop and set your coffee pot upside down on the towel, allowing the water to drain and and the coffee pot to air dry.
Cleaning your coffee pot without soap is less labor-intensive and will keep your pot looking brand new!
