<p>Ordinary white vinegar works just fine, but the smell bothers some people. If so, use citric acid. You can either pick some up at your local grocer, or <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B008AYJ3HY" rel="noreferrer">order it by the pound</a>. I use about a tablespoon to a quart for descaling. It's gentle, has little or no odor (you may smell gasses released by the dissolved scale however), and safe unless you get it in your eyes.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-30T17:37:38.737Z
2015-01-30T17:37:38.737Z
Shog9
<p>Is it possible to create a cleaning agent to use on a basic drip coffee maker using household items? If so, what ingredients are needed and in what ratios? </p>

<p>I am mostly concerned with cleaning the insides that I believe are made from plastic. The carafe I can clean separately. I know that there are products on the market, but I am interested in homemade solutions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T21:22:28.947Z
Not sure if this on topic as product recommendations usually aren't on SO.
EdChum
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T21:25:27.020Z
I don't want a product recommendation, I want the opposite, the best combinations of ingredients to make a home made cleaner instead of a product. If coffee cleaner info doesn't belong though that's fine.
Justin C
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T21:26:49.947Z
My apologies I skipped the homemade part, in that case I think this is fine
EdChum
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T21:28:37.497Z
Are the insides removable?
John Snow
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-27T21:30:47.270Z
No, it is a pretty typical model with a reservoir to hold the water and all the parts to move and heat the water encapsulated in plastic. In the past I have run a combination of water in vinegar through it, just wasn't sure if that was best
Justin C
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T17:05:44.693Z
hopefully my edit makes the question less subjective
Justin C
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T17:20:13.360Z
Isn't this more like off-topic?
qedk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T17:20:40.447Z
But no, I'll not vote to reopen it.
qedk
<cleaning>
homemade cleaner for basic drip coffee maker
Justin C
# homemade cleaner for basic drip coffee maker

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-27)

Is it possible to create a cleaning agent to use on a basic drip coffee maker using household items? If so, what ingredients are needed and in what ratios?

I am mostly concerned with cleaning the insides that I believe are made from plastic. The carafe I can clean separately. I know that there are products on the market, but I am interested in homemade solutions.

**Tags:** cleaning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Not sure if this on topic as product recommendations usually aren't on SO.  
> **username_0**: I don't want a product recommendation, I want the opposite, the best combinations of ingredients to make a home made cleaner instead of a product. If coffee cleaner info doesn't belong though that's fine.  
> **username_1**: My apologies I skipped the homemade part, in that case I think this is fine  
> **username_2**: Are the insides removable?  
> **username_0**: No, it is a pretty typical model with a reservoir to hold the water and all the parts to move and heat the water encapsulated in plastic. In the past I have run a combination of water in vinegar through it, just wasn't sure if that was best  
> **username_0**: hopefully my edit makes the question less subjective  
> **username_3**: Isn't this more like off-topic?  
> **username_3**: But no, I'll not vote to reopen it.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-01-30. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Ordinary white vinegar works just fine, but the smell bothers some people. If so, use citric acid. You can either pick some up at your local grocer, or [order it by the pound](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B008AYJ3HY). I use about a tablespoon to a quart for descaling. It's gentle, has little or no odor (you may smell gasses released by the dissolved scale however), and safe unless you get it in your eyes.


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