Good Housekeeping suggests using vinegar during a brew cycle as a suitable and safe disinfectant. Distilled white vinegar is ideal for disinfecting, as it is a common household cleaner that is natural and nontoxic. Sterilize your coffee pot with vinegar weekly to prevent bacteria growth.
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Pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the coffeemaker's reservoir.
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Fill the rest of the reservoir with water, set the coffeemaker to a full pot, and turn it on to start the brewing cycle.
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Pour out the vinegar and hot water from the coffee pot, and run another brewing cycle with the coffeemaker using only hot water.
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Pour out the hot water to rinse out the coffee pot.
