Clean after each use to remove coffee oils and residue which will cause poor flavor in the next pot of coffee. Wash with warm sudsy water, rinse and dry. On aluminum percolators, remove hard water deposits with either a soap-filled steel wool pad, or by perking with 1-2 tablespoons cream of tartar dissolved in water;
rinse thoroughly. Do not use alkalis such as baking soda, or chlorine bleach on aluminum. On chrome-plated and stainless steel pots, use commercial coffeepot cleaner to remove stubborn stains; do not use them on aluminum unless label recommends it.

For electric drip coffeemakers, if minerals and scale build up from hard water, periodically run a solution of half white vinegar and half water through it to dissolve
scale. The heated solution may have to be run through the unit one or more times if buildup is heavy. Thoroughly rinse all parts of the unit. Run plain cold water through
a cycle to remove all traces.