What would happen if I put my coffee maker in the dishwasher?

United States
June 28, 2012 9:17am CST
I don't want to ruin it, so I haven't done it. I know that when you buy appliances it will say not to submerge in water. I'm thinking that a dishwasher doesn't really submerge your dishes in water, but they do get wet and clean! My coffee maker is supposed to be white, but there are parts of it that are brownish looking from coffee getting down on the heating plate part of it, I guess. There is also brownish looking staining on the inside tank of the coffee maker. I have this idea to put it in the dishwasher (cord and all). My concern is, will it work after I wash it really good in the dishwasher. It will come out really clean! I know it, but will it work? My can opener is the same way. It is stained up where it cuts. You can't take the thingy out.. you can only lift it up. I can't get it sparkling clean and it bugs the heck out of me. Before you ask me to use a brush on it or a toothbrush, I don't have a brush and I'm not going to put my toothbrush into scrubbing something other than my teeth! Have you ever put your coffee maker into the dishwasher? Have you put anything electric into the dishwasher? If you have, please tell me what you did and how did it come out for you. Inquiring minds want to know![i][/i]
4 people like this
8 responses
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
29 Jun 12
I've put the pot in...but not the maker. I have had some i've over filled that quit though...
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
1 Jul 12
Theres a max fill line inside alot of coffee makers...i found some have spaces or holes just above that line that made the water drain into where the elements and electronics for the coffeemaker are and shouldnt get wet...and then it shorts them out.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
1 Jul 12
or are you jsut talking the pot part? that fills with the cofffee? if that part those being overfilled or dishwashed doesnt hurt them
• United States
29 Jun 12
Really? Overfilling will make them quit? I just put a pot full in.. I go to the line that is on the pot.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Jun 12
I don't have a dishwasher myself but I'm led to believe that anything with an electric cord attached to it is a no-no..so I wouldn't put a coffee maker in it, no way!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jun 12
I haven't done it. I've thought about this for awhile now and decided to ask here. I know it seems like a stupid question, but I just wanted to know if anyone had done anything like that and if it turned out okay.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Jun 12
Phew, that's a relief!
• United States
28 Jun 12
You can put the coffee pot inside the dishwasher, but not the actual machine itself. You can clean it out with vinegar.
• United States
29 Jun 12
Got it. It was a dumb thought. I'm glad I asked here first. I didn't think it would hurt. I even tried to put my electric griddle in the dishwasher, but it was too long. Maybe it's too long for a reason... so I won't get killed!
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
28 Jun 12
Unless it specifically says it is designed to go in the dishwasher, do not do it. In your coffee maker. . . fill the tank with white vinegar. Let it set a couple of hours then run the pot. Any parts you can take off can go in the dishwasher. Any parts you cannot get off, use a paper towel or kitchen wash cloth and rub a little baking soda on it. Same for the can opener. You do not want to have to replace either of those items. I have seen electric skillets and griddles that are supposed to be dish washer safe. I do not put them through as it ruins the cooking surfaces. If you unplug the can opener, perhaps you can stand it upside down in a container of dishwater or vinegar, let it set, and again, wipe it with a rag. When you have your run through once, cool it down and run it through again after that, you can work on your plumbing. Pour some baking soda down every drain, follow it with the vinegar you have cleaned the pot with, then run hot water down them. Meanwhile, run clear water through the coffee maker a couple of times.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jun 12
That's a good idea GG about the vinegar. I have some white vinegar... my daughter uses to clean her mask with for sleep apnea. She might let me use some of her vinegar for that purpose. I can always buy her another gallon when I get paid in a few days. Thanks again!
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
28 Jun 12
i wouldnt think you should. try using vinegar and water, run through it and that will clean the inside. maybe even the outside. have you tried a little scrubbing bubbles outside? or maybe ajax cleaner. the powder kind? but dont get any of that inside. just spot scrub then rinse really well avoiding the electrical part outside. im sure you can figure a way to save the electric parts from getting wet. when you run the vinegar water thru the inside, like you are just run the water thru, you may want to run thru some plain water after to get the taste completely out. thats what grandma used before they came out with the stuff you buy to run thru and clean it
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jun 12
I'll try vinegar and water.. maybe I should get some ajax and scrub it. I just can't stand to look at it. I have OCD .. not bad.. but where the floor has to be perfect.. and if there are any specks in the carpet, I have to remove them.. like if something came off their shoes... My SIL is glad I have OCD over the floor and stuff.. but it does take a bit of my time to keep going over the floor.. one grain of sand and I sweep it all over again.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
28 Jun 12
I don't see trying to put youe coffee maker in the dishwasher as being a good idea at all. I woul dthink that you would ruin your appliance just for the convenience of trying to clean it better. I believe you would be better to handwash this item if you want it to continue working.
• United States
29 Jun 12
I have scrubbed it a lot. My daughter makes tea in it and it stains really bad. She never worries about cleaning it. It's me and I'm losing the race against the tea.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
28 Jun 12
When they say "Don't submerge",subjecting something electrical to the water spray of a dishwasher should not be a "What if?" option! It's like the waterproofing of a watch..some watches will say that they're "Splashproof" or "Waterproof" to however many feet or metres of water pressure..but they only test those things with a dunking in still water,not the pressure of a shower or vigorous swimming..don't do it! (Though I was reading it MIGHT be possible to do it in a tank of de-ionized water..the ions in regular tap water improve the electrical conductivity...) I'd recommend Using vinegar to clean off the coffee stains,and buy a NEW toothbrush or some small scrubbing brush for those hard to reach parts so that you don't have to taste detergent in the morning!
• United States
28 Jun 12
On a logical level, I knew it was/is a no no, but I have still thought about it. Like what would happen if? I wanted to get it clean so bad, but you and some other folks say to use vinegar. Nothing goes into the tank but water, but there must be sediment in the water that stains the water tank of the coffee maker. I hate to see dirt, or even think that there is dirt.. drives me nuts. I cleaned my can open as good as I could and I don't feel it is clean. There is no way to take that thing with the magnet off.
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
29 Jun 12
I think it will destroy the electricity of the coffee maker. I am sure of this. Did you ever try to do it? Although the warning written on the how to care your device manual does not say that, I am very sure if you put it in the dish washer, the coffee maker will stop functioning.
1 person likes this