Your Stained Coffee Pot Will Shine After Giving This Cleaning Hack A Try

At any given time, 75% of Americans have consumed coffee within the past week, according to the National Coffee Association. That's over 193 million people drinking coffee at least once per week in the U.S. alone. It's no wonder that coffee makers in American homes tend to be so heavily used. Thanks to the presence of tannins in the nation's most beloved morning brew, it tends to leave dark, stubborn coffee stains on the surface of anything it regularly touches, from the teeth of its drinkers to the very pot it's served from.

There are many effective methods floating around the internet or being passed down by word of mouth when it comes to cleaning and restoring stained coffee pots. One such technique has now risen to the top: dishwasher detergent. High-end coffee maker manufacturer Moccamaster officially recommends removing built-up coffee residue from your coffee pot by soaking it overnight in dishwasher detergent. The most convenient way of doing so, of course, is to simply reach for a handy dishwasher pod. 

It might be difficult to believe that removing tough coffee stains from your carafe can be easy and scrub-free, but the advice from Moccamaster is legitimate. Dishwasher detergent is a powerful enzymatic cleaner that is designed to attack and remove common residues left behind by foods and beverages, including the tannins in coffee, tea, and wine. (You may even want to consider putting dishwasher detergent down your garbage disposal to tackle these residues). In addition to detergent, a dishwasher pod includes a rinsing agent that will help your coffee pot dry to a sparkling shine.

Simply pierce a dishwasher pod and drop it into the bottom of your coffee pot. Cover the pod with enough hot water to reach the heaviest stains. Leave the pot and the contained cleaning mixture overnight. In the morning, all you'll have to do is rinse away the soapy water to reveal a shiny, stain-free pot. If you're a heavy coffee drinker, you may wish to repeat this deep cleaning every week. Stock up on dishwasher pods by purchasing an 85-pack of Amazon Basics Detergent Pacs for under $15 on Amazon.