In this brief article, we will be discussing how to remove coffee stains from stainless steel carafe. And the best part – you can use these methods repeatedly without harming the stainless steel surface!
How to Remove Coffee Stains from Stainless Steel Carafe?
The use of alternative household cleaners are sometimes preferred because of the belief that they are environmentally favorable to commercially formulated hard cleaners. Compared to commercial cleaners, the alternative cleaners, such as vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and borax, are less effective in microbial reduction (1).
As the health and environmental impact of conventional cleaning products become more thoroughly understood, more and more brands of healthy, green, and effective cleaning products have started hitting the market. Many of these products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). However, home-mixed cleaners can do the job. Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean almost anything (2).
Here are seven methods to clean your stainless steel carafe and produce a deliciously clean cup of coffee every time.
- Dishwasher Pod
Place a tea kettle filled with water on the stove on high heat. Fill the coffee carafe with the boiling water till full and place a dishwasher pod inside it.
Let the carafe sit for at least 30 minutes and keep swishing the dish soap and water inside the pot at regular intervals.
After the designated time, discard the soapy water and thoroughly rinse the carafe with cold water.
- Baking Soda
Place one cup of baking soda into the stainless steel carafe and fill it with warm water.
Using a bottle brush, vigorously scrub the inside of the carafe. Make sure to scrub the sides and the bottom.
Discard the dirty mixture into the sink and thoroughly rinse the carafe with cold water.
- Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
Pour half cup of hydrogen peroxide and two tablespoons of baking soda into the stainless steel carafe.
Scrub the inside of the carafe with a bottle brush.
Once the stains dissolve, discard the dirty water and thoroughly rinse the carafe with cold water.
- Lemon
Slice a lemon and squeeze its entire contents into the carafe. Add some table salt to cover the base of the carafe. Swirl and shake the mixture. Leave the mixture in the pot overnight.
The citric acid inside the lemon juice loosens the stubborn particles stuck on the surface of the carafe.
In the morning, rinse the carafe thoroughly with clean cold water and scrub the pot vigorously using the rough side of a dishwashing sponge.
- White Vinegar
Fill the carafe in equal parts with water and white vinegar. Place it on the stove and bring to a boil. Let it boil for about five to six minutes.
After the designated time, remove the carafe from the stove and let it cool to room temperature. With a bottle brush, vigorously scrub the inside of the carafe.
Discard the dirty mixture and thoroughly rinse with cold water.
- White Vinegar and Table Salt
Place about six ice cubes into the carafe. Add half a cup of vinegar and one-eighth cup of table salt.
Swirl the carafe around in a circular motion till all the ice melts. This allows the salt to moderately scrape the inside of the carafe, and lets the vinegar break down the coffee stains.
- Denture Tablet
Fill half the carafe with warm water. Put a denture tablet into the carafe and allow it to sit for about five to six minutes. Using a bottle brush, vigorously scrub coffee stains and hard-water build-up from inside, outside, and bottom of the carafe.
Discard the dirty water, and thoroughly rinse the carafe with cold water.
- Commercial Cleaner
Commercial-grade cleaners for stainless steel coffee carafes remove the natural oils present in coffee that tend to stick to the inner surface. While some commercial cleaners need scrubbing when you apply them, others can simply be poured in and swiveled around before thoroughly rinsing the carafe.
Should You Use Bleach to Remove Coffee Stains from Stainless Steel Carafe?
Even though bleach is considered to be an extremely strong cleaning agent, you should not use bleach to remove coffee stains from stainless steel carafe.
This is because bleach is a tremendously harsh chemical and is highly unsafe if ingested, even in minute quantities. Moreover, bleach can also damage the stainless steel interior of the carafe, leaving it dull and opaque. Chlorine bleach has ingredients with high acute toxicity, which produce fumes that are highly irritating to eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and should not be used by people with asthma or lung or heart problems (2).
Things to Remember When Removing Coffee Stains from Stainless Steel Carafe
Here are certain specific tips to follow for preserving your coffee carafe’s quality.
- Preferably hand-wash the carafe instead of putting it in the dishwasher.
- Avoid using rough brushes or harsh chemicals.
- Don’t let coffee or any other liquid remain in the carafe for too long.
- Always rinse and dry the carafe after cleaning it.
Conclusion
In this brief article, we answered the question of how to remove coffee stains from stainless steel carafe. Remember that cleaning your stainless steel carafe should be a regular chore; the more you delay it, the harder it becomes to get rid of the stubborn stains, and the worse the coffee tastes!
If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.
References:
- Olson, Wanda, et al. Hard surface cleaning performance of six alternative household cleaners under laboratory conditions. J Environ Health, 1994, 27-31.
- Sabharwal, Jyotie. Health issues and environmental impact of cleaning agents. Int J Novel Res Life Sci, 2015, 2, 31-38.
