Cleaning my Pot

I have a Capresso SS Thermal Carafe that, embarrassingly, hasn't been properly cleaned in, let's just say, awhile.

It’s basically black inside.

Is there anything I can soak in it to remove the coffee coating? I don’t use it on the weekends as we always go out for breakfast so I have until 6:00 AM Monday to let it soak.

Any suggestions?

I'm assuming you're talking about a coffee stain?

Can you get a hand inside it? If so, scrubbing with a paste of baking soda and water was what we used on really grungy stuff at Starbucks. Conversely, soaking in vinegar (sounds like you'd need full-strength) or an acid-based cleaner is another method. (I've even tried both - first baking soda, then vinegar, allowing the chemical reaction to fizz the scum off - make sure you don't put the lid on!)

Can't get my hand inside. I'll try soaking in FS vinegar overnight tonight and see what effect it has.

how about one of those bubbling denture cleaners?

CLR works very well for removing deposits from coffee makers. I'm not sure if it would be of much use for a coffee stain, but it might be worth a try.

DMChicago wrote:Can't get my hand inside. I'll try soaking in FS vinegar overnight tonight and see what effect it has.

Try a baby bottle brush to reach where your hand cannot. It also works well with vases.

Regards,

I have filled my thermal carafe with hot water and a few drops of dishwashing soap and let it soak for a day or so. That seemed to take away much of the stain that had developed.

I will go on record as swearing by denture cleansers. Fill with very hot water and throw in a tablet for every 8-10 ounces of water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes (or longer) and then even a light wiping will bring all the gunk right off. It never fails to amaze me how clean it gets my ceramic coffee cups and my glass coffee makers. Brand doesn't seem to matter.

GP: It's way past hot water and dishwashing soap...

GB: Great, now I have to endure the embarrassment of buying denture cleaner?

DMChicago wrote:GB: Great, now I have to endure the embarrassment of buying denture cleaner?

Hey, just tell 'em it's for the spouse. I just point to her when the checker gets to the box.

I used to use ice cubes and lots of salt, and just swish around and around.

DMChicago wrote: GB: Great, now I have to endure the embarrassment of buying denture cleaner?

I started buying denture cleaners a long time ago to clean my hands after a day in the garden. It worked pretty well.

But, I'll second (or third) vinegar. Used it for everything for years. It worked unbelievably well. Try it first before you have to humiliate yourself .

As a side note, there was some research done a few years ago that shows that vinegar and hydrogen peroxide - separately, not together - kill 99.9 percent of nasties on produce. I keep two containers of it (sprayers) by my sink. I spray with one, then the other, then let sit for a minute (or rub). So white vinegar cleans glass, apples, spinach, and coffee carafes in my house. Great product!