Easy pointers for cleaning your coffee maker

Scaly mineral deposits can affect the performance of the machine as well as the taste of the coffee. Here are a couple of homegrown remedies to make cleaning your coffee maker easy.

Hard water can wreak havoc on a coffee maker. Cleaning the coffee maker after each use can reduce the buildup of scaly mineral deposits in the brew basket and the pot. Commercial cleaning solutions are available, but you can clean just as effectively by using a solution of equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Here's what you do.

• Pour the cleaning solution into the water reservoir.
• Turn on the machine until about half of the solution has run into the pot.
• Turn off the coffee maker for about an hour.
• Turn it back on and let the rest of the solution run out.
• Repeat the brewing cycle once or twice with clean water, making sure you rinse out all cleaning solution.

The drip (or spreader) holes in the top plate of an automatic-drip coffee maker force the water to drip evenly over the grounds. When they become clogged, the result is weak coffee.  Here's how to avoid that.

• After cleaning the machine with a cleaning solution or vinegar and water, empty any water still in the reservoir and turn the machine upside down.
• Clean the holes with a toothpick.
• If the holes can't be cleaned, you may have to replace the plate. Check with your manufacturer.

Maintaining and cleaning your coffee maker can make a world of difference to the taste of your coffee. Try these methods for an easier way to keep that machine running smoothly.