# junk in coffee pot **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2001, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921 "2001-10-07T13:22:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cheezit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@cheezit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/1 "2001-10-07T13:22:13Z")
I recently bought a new coffee pot. It is white plastic. I never noticed this before because the last pot was black plastic, as was the one before that. Anyway, in the back where you put the water, there is this “stuff” in there that is almost like grease. It won’t wipe out or wash out. It just smears. It wasn’t there when I bought the pot. The pot directions say to run white vinegar through it periodically to clean it. I tried that, but it did no good. Any ideas what it is and how to get rid of it? ---
**Author:** ![dese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@dese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dese)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/2 "2001-10-07T14:59:33Z")
In the restaurant business we use a product called URN cleaner that is absolutely amazing. I do have to warn you that you will want to run water through the machine a good two to three times after using this product to make sure it’s all washed out! The product is originally used to clean out the glass pots but will do wonders for the whole machine. J. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/3 "2001-10-07T15:37:36Z")
You might want to take it back to the store for exchange. " It won’t wipe out or wash out." In that case, it won’t get in your coffee either as it sounds as if its not water soluble. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/4 "2001-10-07T16:39:18Z")
Cheezit, what kind of “coffeepot” is it? Is it a Mr. Coffee? What do you mean, “in the back where you put the water”? Brewed coffee has essential oils that accumulate, and that the vinegar treatment usually, but not always, fixes. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/5 "2001-10-07T22:45:48Z")
Vinegar is supposed to get rid of the hard water deposits. When your coffee machine steams, then its time to clean. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/6 "2001-10-07T22:49:23Z")
So how much vinegar do you run through it? White vinegar? The whole pot full? Then do you run clear water after that? Also, where do you buy URN? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![cheezit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@cheezit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/7 "2001-10-07T23:50:04Z")
It is a Mr. Coffee. Whatever this is, it is building up over time. There wasn’t anything there at first. It is building up in the tank that you put the cold water in. I wonder if the product called “Dip-it” will work. I was originally for a percolater. ---
**Author:** ![Holly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/48db29/32.png) [@Holly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Holly)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/8 "2001-10-08T01:42:17Z")
To clean my coffeepot, I use a whole pot full of vinegar and run it through three or four times, with a coffee filter in the basket to strain out the lime deposits. At that point, the greasy stuff in the water tank wipes out easily. Then I run through a couple of pots of plain water to rinse out the vinegar. I’m not sure what the stuff is. It’s not like water deposits because it’s greasy like coffee grease, not crusted like lime. I think it comes from traces of coffee that get into the tank somehow- maybe from spilling a coffee ground or two into there, or from splashing while the coffee’s brewing. Or maybe it’s the remains of boiled bugs! ---
**Author:** ![cheezit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@cheezit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezit)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/9 "2001-10-08T01:59:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Holly \* > \*\* > Or maybe it’s the remains of boiled bugs! \*\* EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!!! I sincerely, really, honestly, hope not. On the other hand, I guess a little fresh meat never hurt anybody. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/10 "2001-10-08T03:22:54Z")
Okay, if it’s a Mr. Coffee where you pour the water in the top, then the tank where you pour the water in shouldn’t be brown and icky at all. Sometimes it gets white mineral stains in there, but it shouldn’t be brown. So the next logical question is, are you putting coffee grounds in the tank where you pour the water in, or are you putting grounds in the swing-out basket? If you’re not making coffee in the tank 😃 , and there really is something dark and greasy in the cold water tank, then that’s something wrong from the factory. Can you take it back to the store? How long have you had it? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/11 "2001-10-08T05:28:39Z")
I worked in a restaurant for about three months, and we filled our coffee pots with boiling water overnight every night, and never had any problems like this to the best of my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/12 "2001-10-08T05:39:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cheezit \* > \*\*I recently bought a new coffee pot. It is white plastic. I never noticed this before because the last pot was black plastic, as was the one before that. > > Anyway, in the back where you put the water, there is this “stuff” in there that is almost like grease. It won’t wipe out or wash out. It just smears. It wasn’t there when I bought the pot. The pot directions say to run white vinegar through it periodically to clean it. I tried that, but it did no good. > > Any ideas what it is and how to get rid of it? \*\* I’m not sure what it is, either, but I might be able to help you get rid of it. Take a small amount of powdered cleanser (Ajax, Comet, Bon-Ami, or the store brand stuff), and mix it with window cleaner (Windex, e.g.) to form a smooth paste. Apply the paste to the offending substances, and rub as vigorously as you need to to remove the crud. Make sure you rinse the reservoir out thoroughly, and cycle a pot of vinegar, then a pot of water thorugh the coffee maker. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/13 "2001-10-08T10:07:09Z")
- - - You can try dumping in some powdered dishwashing machine soap and then filling it with (tap) hot water to the very top, and let it soak for a couple hours. (-the gel soap doesn’t seem to work as well-) You do have to re-wash it out with regular dishwashing soap afterwards, before using it to make coffee. - MC ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/14 "2001-10-08T10:40:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dese \* > \*\*In the restaurant business we use a product called URN cleaner that is absolutely amazing. I do have to warn you that you will want to run water through the machine a good two to three times after using this product to make sure it’s all washed out! > > The product is originally used to clean out the glass pots but will do wonders for the whole machine. > > J. \*\* I’d be careful using an industrial product on a home appliance. Ditto for using a stainless steel cleaner on plastic. This is a glass carafe-type drip-style pot, not a giant urn. I use a Farberware electric perk coffee pot, to clean it I use a wonderful product called ‘Dip-It’. There are two types of Dip-it; the powder is for cleaning stainless, the liquid is for plastic drip machines. A few tablespoons of the powder, a full pot of water, set it up like you’re brewing a pot, let it sit for twenty minutes. Pot looks like new. ---
**Author:** ![Holly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/48db29/32.png) [@Holly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Holly)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/15 "2001-10-08T11:59:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \*If you’re not making coffee in the tank 😃 , and there really is something dark and greasy in the cold water tank, then that’s something wrong from the factory. I don’t think it’s a factory problem. I’ve had this happen with every coffee pot I’ve owned, and I’ve gone through three or four in ten years, all of different brands. We make **a lot** of coffee, usually ten pots or so each day. The stuff doesn’t entirely coat the tank- it forms spots here and there, and tends to accumulate at the water line. Have you ever used one of those waddyacallems, the kind of coffee pot where you let the coffee brew, then squish a strainer down over the grounds? (It’s early. Haven’t had enough coffee yet. Can’t think.) Since this kind of pot doesn’t use a paper filter, the coffee oils stay in the coffee. It is delicious, but I’ve read that those oils can contribute to heart disease. The point is: unfiltered coffee is oily. My hypothesis is that the tank grease stuff is coffee oil. How it gets there, I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/16 "2001-10-08T12:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Holly \* > **Have you ever used one of those waddyacallems, the kind of coffee pot where you let the coffee brew, then squish a strainer down over the grounds?** Also known as a French Press. 😃 …waddyacallems! ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/17 "2001-10-08T14:15:57Z")
Using a paper filter when brewing coffee eliminates the cholesterol. Or so I’ve heard. Can’t provide a cite, but I’ve seen it in several different places. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2001, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-in-coffee-pot/85921/18 "2001-10-08T15:56:49Z")
Coffee has cholesterol? Surely you jest. Why not just buy a new coffee machine? Thats what I do, they are cheap.