Many coffee lovers and enthusiasts want to know how to clean Ninja coffee maker without vinegar.

While vinegar is a fabulous and abundantly available cleaning solution, but it does have its drawbacks – the lingering scent of vinegar.

In this article I talk about 4 alternative that you can use and probably have around your home and kitchen somewhere, and yes, bicarbonate of soda is one.

I also talk about how to clean your coffee maker without bicarbonate of soda too.

Keep reading to find out 4 great cleaning solutions that you can use to get your coffee machine clean.

How To Clean Ninja Coffee Maker Without Vinegar – Use Baking Soda

When the option of cleaning my coffee gear without the use of vinegar, my first thought is to use baking soda. It is readily available, has multiple uses and can be used to clean all parts of your coffee machine including the coffee carafe, reservoir, exterior and internally to remove mineral build up, bacteria and mold.

How To Clean A Coffee Maker With Baking Soda

Cleaning your coffee maker with baking soda is exactly the same as cleaning your coffee maker with vinegar. The only notable difference is you are using a different cleaning product to get the job done.

For a good deep clean add one or two cups of baking soda to your water reservoir and add clean water until the max fill mart. If you keep your machine clean and clean it every other week, this baking soda solution will be perfect.

Run a cleaning cycle and wait until it is complete. Run 3 to 5 cycles with fresh water to flush your coffee maker and remove any scent or taste of baking soda solution.

Run one or two more cycles without coffee to taste test the water (let it cool down!) to ensure that it is free from baking soda.

Baking soda in water is perfectly safe to drink. It is known to be healthy as it alkalizes your body.

Baking soda, as a matter of fact, can be used in small amounts to reduce the acidity of coffee, so don’t stress if there is a little hint of it in your water or your first couple of cups of coffee.

Read: How to clean Ninja Coffee Maker water reservoir

Cleaning Your Carafe And Water Reservoir

Don’t forget to clean your coffee carafe and water reservoir. Clean your carafe with soap and warm water after each use. To make sure that no build up of oil or coffee residue over time, use a mixture of salt and crushed ice.

The amount that you use is not important; the saltwater mixture and ice texture and friction helps to clean any stubborn stains and coffee and leaves your carafe sparkling clean.

Clean the water reservoir with hot soapy water and a sponge to give it a good clean. Rinse with an abundance of water.

How To Clean A Coffee Maker Without Vinegar Or Baking Soda

The process of cleaning your coffee maker does not change. It is the same, no matter what cleaning product that you use. If you don’t want to use baking soda or vinegar there are many other options that you can use.

Use Lemons To Clean Your Ninja Coffee Maker

Lemons are a great natural alternative to vinegar for getting your coffee machine properly clean. They are naturally acidic due to the citric acid, which will do the job of breaking down leftover coffee oil and will destroy nasty bacteria and mold.

Kudos to citric acid and lemons for their antibacterial properties.

So, when life gives you lemons…clean your coffee gear with them!

It’s very easy to do. Simply make a straight lemon juice from 4 whole lemons.

Cut your lemons in half and make a solution of lemon juice and water by using them in a 50% lemon juice, 50% water and pour the citric acid into the water.

Warning: Never introduce water to the citric acid! You end up with a chemical reaction that you really don’t want to see. You must do it the other way by adding the citric acid to water.

Fill your coffee machine water reservoir with clean water, leaving enough room for your lemon juice mixture. Turn on your machine and run a full cleaning cycle. When the cleaning cycle is finished, run between 3 and 5 brew cycles with fresh water to flush and rinse your coffee machine.

If you still notice a lemon scent or taste from the water, keep running rinsing cycles until it is gone.

While you are waiting, you can wipe clean all exterior surfaces.

Read: Ninja coffee bar won’t run clean cycle

How To Clean Coffee Maker With Hydrogen Peroxide

The properties of hydrogen peroxide and the easy availability of it and its cost make it a good and very affordable option for cleaning a coffee maker without vinegar or bicarbonate of soda.

It is a powerful cleaning solution and will destroy, literally destroy fungus, mineral deposits, bacteria and mold that is in your machine.

First run a clean cycle with just water for a complete cycle for pre-clean. For the proper deep clean add 6 Oz (180 ml) of hydrogen peroxide solution to your water reservoir and fill to the max line with fresh water.

Run a full, complete cleaning cycle and wait until it is finished. Run several cleaning cycles with fresh water to rinse your coffee maker well. I’ll say at least 5 since it is a chemical.

With that in mind, clean your coffee pot with soap and water and rinse well to ensure the hydrogen peroxide does not linger there.

Cream Of Tartar To Clean Coffee Maker

Perhaps a surprising option is cream of tartar. It is easily found and in most stores and is a powdered form of tartaric acid which has natural antibacterial properties.

Fill your water tank with water and add 4 or 5 tablespoons of cream of tartar and mix well until it has completely dissolved. Run a cleaning cycle and wait until it has finished.

Flush well by filling your water tank to the max level and run a brew cycle. Repeat this 3 to 5 times to ensure that your machine is rinsed well and clean of the cream of tartar. Rinse and clean your coffee pot with warm soapy water to ensure that it is clean. Rinse it with plenty of water.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Clean Ninja Coffee Maker Without Vinegar

When Should I Clean My Ninja Coffee Maker?

You should clean your coffee machine every other week and get into the habit of that. Some sites will recommend every 3 to 6 months or waiting until the clean light comes on. This is far too long, my concern is the build up of mold and bacteria and ensuring that doesn’t happen.

Why Does My Ninja Coffee Maker Need To Be Cleaned So Often?

There are many reasons why you need to clean your Ninja coffee maker frequently, ranging from health reasons and preventing the formation of mold and bacteria to good preventative maintenance and preventing the build up of mineral deposits and ensuring that your machine has perfect taste of coffee in every cup.

What Can I Use Instead Of Descaling Solution?

While it’s good to use the descaling solution that they recommend, there are a number of other options that you have. Here are a few ideas:

• Acetic acid.
• White vinegar.
• Baking Soda (baking powder).
• Amidosulphonic acid.
• Aspririn (seriously!).
• Denture cleaner.

These all have the effect of cleaning your coffee maker and removing the mineral deposits, mold and bacteria that build up.

Read: How to clean ninja coffee maker

What Does The Clean Button Do On A Coffee Maker?

The clean button on a coffee maker starts a cleaning cycle that cleans the internal parts of your coffee machine by flushing them with a mixture of a cleaning solution and fresh water.

You can use any cleaning product that is not flammable; my two favorites for regular cleaning are baking soda and vinegar solution that is 50% white vinegar and clean water.

Never wait until the light comes on as when that happens, your machine is already dirty!

How Long Does Ninja Clean Cycle Take?

A cleaning cycle and flush cycle on your Ninja coffee bar should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. 

Final Thoughts – How To Clean Ninja Coffee Maker Without Vinegar

In this article you have learned how to clean Ninja coffee maker without vinegar or bicarbonate of soda and have great alternative options for cleaning your machine. 

Which one are you going to use?

Do you have your own fabulous method with a “secret ingredient” to get your machine clean? 

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