Engineering and fabrication

How do I remove the plastic smell and taste from a coffeemaker?

I have a new black and decker coffeemaker, all plastic, including the carafe. It has a very noticeable plastic smell and taste to the coffee, just about undrinkable. Have run vinegar through it several times, washed several times, water through several times, baking soda too. Still there after several pots of coffee too. Any ideas? Throw it away? My husband thinks it is tolerable, but I cannot drink it. And I don't think it can be at all good for you, if not harmful. (the plastic fumes, not the coffee) :) Thanks.

Public Comments

1. run viniger through it.


2. Wow - that's crazy. The only thing I knew was to run vinegar through it. Have you tried a dishwasher?


3. Man, I would have thought that the vinegar would have done the trick!

   Hopefully you have a sunny day this week. Let it sit outside in the sun...the UV rays do a terrific job of ridding odors out of things.

   Give that a try.

   Good luck!



4. let the vinegar sit in for while then run it. do that couple times.

   hope it help



5. since you have been making coffee and run vinegar thru it, the next thing I would suggest you try would be to brew some coffee into a glass container and see if it is just the carafe that is causing it. if it is, you can buy a glass carafe. If that does not solve the problem, throw it away and get a new one. I know how you feel about good coffee. my hubby can drink any old swill, but I like mine fresh and tasting good.


6. Hey hun......try using bleach instead of vinegar...followed by running a pot or two of water. White vinegar is used to clean the maker (as you probably already know) so use it after you use the bleach followed by water. Grandma always told me to use it on my new plastic dishes....and she has been right so far.


7. BE very careful using Bleach with plastic, too much bleach and you get Dioxin, very nasty stuff. You may be sensitive to the plastic and need a glass carafe instead. Try storing the carafe without it's top after you clean it overnight. I hate plasticy taste too.


8. Stop cleaning it. If you allow the residue from the coffee to build up, it will prevent the odor from getting into the coffee.

   But you are right, if you can smell and taste it, probably isn't too good for you either. I can't drink out of plastic cups or glasses for the same reason.