How to remove coffee stains from a coffee pot

Have you ever noticed a brown, oily ring around the bottom of your coffee pot?

As a coffee lover, you probably enjoy your morning cup of coffee, but don’t always take the time to rinse out or wash your coffee pot right away. The coffee ends up leaving a nasty stain behind on your pot. Fortunately, there are some easy tips to help you clean your coffee pot quickly.

To remove coffee stains from your coffee pot, you can use readily available household items that are cheap and environmentally friendly, such as:

• Baking soda
• Liquid dish soap
• Distilled white vinegar
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Salt

Using baking soda

Baking soda is a good solution for removing coffee stains from coffee pots. It is non-toxic and inexpensive. It is very effective at dealing with odors and will leave your coffee pot smelling fresh.

You will need the following:

• A jug of hot water
• 2 tbsp of baking soda
• A dishwashing sponge

Procedure:

1. Fill your coffee pot with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and enough hot water to cover the stains.
2. Let it soak overnight. The dissolved baking soda will lift off coffee stains with ease.
3. Pour out the solution the next morning.
4. Use a sponge and dish soap to remove any remaining stains.
5. Rinse with hot water.

Plain dish soap gets the job done

To get rid of coffee stains on your coffee pot, make a paste of water and liquid dish soap in the coffee pot. The solution will help break the stains down and allow you easily remove coffee stains with little scrubbing required.

Gather these items:

• A jug of hot water 
• Two tbsp of a liquid dishwashing soap
• Dishwashing sponge

Procedure:

1. Pour the dish soap into the coffee pot.
2. Add the hot water to fill it up.
3. Let the solution sit in the coffee pot for 30 minutes. 
4. Then, using the dish sponge, gently scrub against the stains.
5. Rinse the pot with clean hot water and examine; at this point, all the coffee stains will have come off.

White vinegar and table salt combo

Using white vinegar and salt is the best recipe to get your coffee pot looking new again after coffee stains or hard water have ruined the finish. You also can prevent this from happening in the future by lining the inside of your coffee pot with pot liners or a coffee filter.

You’ll need:

• ½ cup white vinegar
• ½ cup warm water
• ½ tbsp table salt

Follow these steps:

1. Combine the white vinegar with warm water.
2. Put the solution into your coffee pot and cover while the pot is still warm from the coffee.
3. Add the table salt to the solution and stir well.
4. Let steep for at least 20 minutes by covering the top if open with a bowl or plate. You can leave it for up to a few hours.
5. Scrub gently, pour out the solution and rinse well.

Classic vinegar and baking soda solution

White vinegar and baking soda really do work the best to get rid of a lot of stains, including coffee stains on your coffee pot. And it only takes a few minutes, too! This method is proven to be effective by many users, including those who have tried other methods.

You will need the following:

• 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• A jug of hot water
• A kitchen sponge

Procedure:

1. Put the baking soda into the coffee pot, add the vinegar and swirl a bit to mix and form a thick paste.
2. Add in hot water until it is full, then turn the pot on for the water to boil.
3. Once boiled, leave the solution to cool to room temperature as it acts on the stains. 
4. Once the solution has cooled down, pour it out.
5. Then use the kitchen sponge to finish off the job. Doing this will remove any remaining stains.
6. Rinse the coffee pot thoroughly.

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

Using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is another easy way to remove coffee stains from your favorite coffee pot. This method is better than expensive cleaning products and will not destroy the finish or leave a white residue.

Here’s what you need:

• 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• A jug of hot water
• A kitchen sponge

How to do it:

1. Pour the baking soda into the coffee pot and add in the hydrogen peroxide. Swirl a bit for the contents to mix.
2. Fill the coffee pot with hot water and allow it to cool to room temperature.
3. Scrub the inside of the coffee pot with the kitchen sponge. 
4. Pour out the hydrogen peroxide, baking powder, and water solution and rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water. 

Questions about cleaning a coffee pot

Can I use these methods to clean stains on the outside of the pot?

You can use many of the same ingredients to remove coffee stains on the outside of the coffee pot. However, you will need to modify the approach slightly. Start by simply trying to rub the stain off with dish soap.

If this is ineffective, in small dish, make a thick paste using baking soda, baking soda and vinegar, or vinegar and salt. Apply the paste on the stains and let it sit for almost 30 minutes, then wash and rinse.

Can any of these methods work with a plastic coffee pot?

Plastic tends to absorb stains, making it easily get discolored. You can try using a vinegar-hydrogen peroxide solution. However, if the coffee stains are stubborn, you can consider using bleach. Be careful when using bleach, as it can cause decolorization.   

Which method is recommended for stubborn set coffee stains?

Generally, methods that contain oxidizing-based cleansing agents work best on set stains. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar solutions come in highly recommended. However, if stains persist, you might want to consider getting a commercial coffee stain remover.

Enjoy a fresh pot of coffee in a fresh pot!

Coffee staining happens all too often. The stains on the inside of a coffee pot often look permanent, but the methods above will revive your coffee pot and leave it looking brand new once you’re done cleaning. Plus your coffee will also taste better since the filter won’t be full of old coffee stain buildup anymore.

Let us know which method works for you.

Happy cleaning!