Can You Clean a Coffee Maker With Baking Soda? Experts Share What Works

A dirty coffee maker is more than just a kitchen eyesore. Without proper attention, a carafe will take on a brown tinge, and limescale buildup will eventually reduce the machine's efficiency, leading to bitter-tasting coffee and other malfunctions. To preserve the character of your coffee and keep your machine running smoothly, regular maintenance with a safe, effective cleaner is required.

Enter simple baking soda. You've likely used it a dozen or so ways to clean around your house—but can coffee makers be added to the list? We consulted cleaning and coffee experts to find out.

Baking Soda as a Coffee-Maker Cleaner

Yes, the baking soda in your pantry can be used as an easy, safe alternative to costly commercial cleaners. As cleaning expert Elena Navarro explains, "Baking soda is slightly alkaline, which allows it to dissolve oil, grease, and organic residue that builds up inside the water reservoir, tubing, and carafe of a coffee maker…without damaging the plastic, rubber, or metal components of the machine."

According to Navarro, baking soda not only acts as a low-cost cleaner for your coffee maker, but it also removes odor rather than masking it. “It is milder than vinegar, doesn’t leave behind a lingering scent, and won’t corrode internal components when properly diluted,” she says.

Additionally, baking soda has mild antibacterial properties that can help prevent mold growth. Professional coffee roaster James Roche calls it “a useful, low-cost option for your routine maintenance, especially if someone wants a simple household alternative.”

What Baking Soda Can't Do

While baking soda can be an effective cleanser for light cleaning on a basic drip machine, Roche points out that it isn’t a good substitute for proper descaling, and it isn’t necessarily going to do the job in areas where hard water and mineral buildup can slow down a machine and affect its performance.

For de-scaling, Roche recommends using white distilled vinegar: After unplugging your empty coffee maker and letting it cool, fill the water reservoir with a 1:1 ratio of white distilled vinegar and water and run a full brew cycle. Empty the carafe, then perform two to three additional brew cycles with only water to rinse thoroughly. Wash the carafe and filter basket with warm, soapy water before using the machine again.

How to Clean Your Coffee Maker with Baking Soda, Step-by-Step

Follow Navarro’s easy cleaning steps below to refresh your coffee maker.

1. Turn off and unplug the coffee maker, allowing it to cool down completely. Remove the carafe, filter basket, lid, and any other removable parts.
2. Handwash the carafe, filter basket, and lid with mild dish soap and warm water. For any stubborn coffee stains on the carafe, apply baking soda directly to the interior surface and gently scrub with a soft sponge or toothbrush. Rinse all of the parts thoroughly and set aside.
3. Create your cleaning solution by combining ¼ cup of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water. Mix until the baking soda has dissolved. Add the baking soda solution to the water reservoir of the coffee maker.
4. Place a coffee filter in the basket. This will catch any loose baking soda particles and keep them from getting stuck in the machine.
5. Begin the brew cycle. Stop the machine halfway through the cycle and let the solution sit inside for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, the baking soda can break down oils and residue inside the machine.
6. After 30 minutes, begin again and complete the brew cycle. Dispose of the solution from the carafe.
7. Add fresh, clean water to the reservoir, and perform a full brew cycle to rinse. Dispose of the water and perform a second rinse cycle to ensure there is no residual baking soda in the machine.
8. Clean the external surfaces of the machine, the warming plate, and the drips surrounding the drip tray with a microfiber cloth.
9. Dry everything with a clean towel. Reassemble all of the parts before use.

How Often to Clean With Baking Soda

If you use your coffee maker on a daily basis, perform a full cleaning every month and descaling every one to three months (depending on how hard the local water is in your area).

If you start noticing that your coffee tastes bad or flat, that your brew cycle is taking longer than usual, or that residue is developing in the reservoir, do not delay cleaning. Those are clear indications that your coffee maker requires prompt attention.

Other Natural Solutions for Cleaning Your Coffee Maker

For natural alternatives to baking soda, try these other expert-recommended methods.

Citric Acid

To treat heavier mineral buildup, Navarro recommends cleaning your coffee maker with citric acid. “Citric acid descales more effectively than both baking soda and vinegar, yet is more gentle on rubber seals,” she says.

1. Combine 2 tablespoons of citric acid powder into 1 cup of warm water.
2. Add the solution to the reservoir and perform a full brew cycle.
3. Dispose of the solution and perform two additional rinse cycles with clean water.

Lemon Juice

According to Navarro, lemon juice operates in the same way as citric acid and leaves a clean, pleasant scent.

1. Combine equal parts lemon juice and water.
2. Add the solution to the reservoir and perform a full brew cycle.
3. Dispose of the solution and perform two additional rinse cycles with clean water.