Now be honest, do you remember the last time you cleaned the warming plate for your coffee pot?
Hmm, your answer might be you never have! Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I wasn’t cleaning mine up until I took a closer look and seen it was stained with coffee.
We clean the coffee pot and other places of the coffee machine but often overlook the heating plate.
Coffee residue, grime, and minerals can accumulate here, which will stop the machine from getting to the correct temperature.
A dirty plate will also send a burnt odor into the air and can affect the taste of your coffee. Cleaning the hot plate is actually easy, so there should be no more excuses for overlooking it.
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How To Clean Coffee Maker Hot Plate?
To clean the hot plate of your coffee machine, you don’t need any expensive cleaning chemicals. Most of what you need is in your pantry right now! Burnt coffee can be removed with baking soda and a small brush or white vinegar. Sometimes even a wet cloth can do the job if it isn’t that dirty.
Cleaning Coffee Pot Heating Plate
The heating plate of your coffee machine is what keeps the coffee warm. Now to clean it, you need to unplug the coffee maker.
The hot plate needs to be cold before you go ahead and clean it. Once the plate is cool, you can use a lint-free cloth that’s dampened to wipe over the hot plate.
This should remove a good amount of mess and can sometimes do the job. If you have stains or rust, then you are going to need to put a bit more effort into the cleaning process.
You can try white, distilled vinegar, or baking soda. To do this, you need to add three tablespoons of the baking soda into a little bit of water and stir until a paste is formed.
Dip your cloth into the mixture and wipe over the hot plate. If more rubbing is required, you can layer the baking soda on the hot plate, sit for a few minutes, and then use a toothbrush to scrub away the residues.
It is best to use circular motions when doing this. The vinegar can be added to the mixture for some extra cleaning power.
How To Clean A Rusty Hot Plate
If your hot coffee plate hasn’t been washed in a long time or never at all, the spilled coffee that has sat on the warming plate could have rusted.
This can stop the machine from heating to the right temp for your coffees. You can use a little rust dissolver and let it sit for around 30 minutes, then wipe it over with an old cloth.
You can also use a ball of aluminum foil and rub the affected area to remove the flakes of rust.
If you find after cleaning with these methods that too much surface coating on the hot plate has been removed, this will need to be recoated.
A surface coating suitable for the job will restore the hot plate to look brand new and protect it from further rusting.
If you make a spill when making coffee ensure you clean it up right away to avoid rust from forming.
Cleaning With Oxalic Acid
If you think you need something more commercial, you can try oxalic acid. This is an essential household cleaner, and it works on most rusted surfaces.
It is a great stain and rust remover, and I have had success with it on my coffee plate surface.
To use this on your warming plate, all that is required is to make a solution of part oxalic acid and water.
Leave this sit for 30 minutes on the hot plate. After that time, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth.
Conclusion
Coffee machines make hot coffees in the morning easier. We completely underestimate our coffee machines and don’t tend to look after them well until they start giving us trouble.
When you clean your other household appliances, be sure to clean the coffee machine without forgetting about the hot plate.
With some maintenance, the machine will be giving you hot coffees for plenty more mornings.
You don’t need expensive items, just stuff in your pantry, and an old toothbrush will do the trick.
Keeping the machine cleaned often will ensure you only need to complete a quick clean next time around.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hot Plates
How Often Do I Need To Clean A Warming Plate?
It is best to wipe over it daily with a damp cloth. A deep clean with one of the above methods should be completed every 3 months, more if you are not wiping over daily.
What to Clean Coffee Pot Hot Plates With?
Dish soap works great for a quick wipe-over. Coco cola works well to as the carbonic acid will help to remove stains and rust.