How well do you really know your coffee maker? This handy device known for bringing comfort and cheer to office breakrooms across the country might be capable of causing more harm than good to your employees. How, you might ask? From built up bacteria. NSF conducted a study in 2011 that ranked coffee reservoirs as the fifth germiest place in sampled homes. Some coffee makers are even capable of growing yeast and mold in their reservoirs. Possibly more unsettling, coffee makers can house a higher germ count than your very own restroom. We know…yuck.

What’s even more disturbing is that these strings of bacteria could potentially carry strains like staphylococcus, streptococcus and Bacillus cereus. These harmful pathogens are never welcome in any workplace.

Protect your employees and promote cleanliness with a reliable, yet effortless, sanitation routine for your beloved coffee maker. It really does deserve the extra care. Read on for a list of useful tips. Remember: It’s best to clean your coffee maker at least once a month.

Steps for Cleaning a Coffee Maker:

  1. Safety First: Unplug coffee maker
  2. Wipe the outside of your coffee maker with a damp towel
  3. Combine about 10 ounces of lemon juice with 32 ounces of water
  4. Pour the mixture into the water reservoir
  5. Turn your coffee maker on like you would if you were brewing a pot of coffee
  6. Once your coffee maker has finished its brewing cycle, remove the machine’s spray head
  7. Check to make sure there is not any residue that may be blocking the hole on the spray head. If residue is present, remove with a toothpick or other small object.
  8. Apply de-liming spring into the opening where the spray head was. Move the de-liming spring back and forth about 5-6 times
  9. Wash the coffee filter with warm, soapy water

Steps for Cleaning a Coffee Pot:

  1. Add 2 tablespoons on vinegar into your dirty coffee pot
  2. Fill the coffee pot half the way with hot water
  3. Scrub inside coffee pot with light duty scrubber sponge and a couple of squirts of Dawn
  4. Rinse the coffee pot
  5. Dry your coffee pot

Other Tips for Cleanliness:

  1. Wash removable parts after every use: To put it simply, this ensures coffee, grinds, oils or syrups are always swept away and never left behind to create build up or morph into bacteria. Wash these parts at the sink with warm and soapy water. If these pieces are dishwasher safe, place them inside dishwasher for convenient maintenance. Also, don’t forget about a coffee maker’s warming plate! This is often where spills can burn on.
  2. Keep your reservoir’s lid open after every use: This is so it can dry out completely after each use. Germs love moisture.