With holiday guests arriving in the coming weeks, cleaning your coffee maker is one kitchen task worth tackling early. But before reaching for white vinegar, check the manufacturer’s instructions. The popular household cleaner works in some coffee makers but could damage others.

The distinction matters: Certain Mr. Coffee and Hamilton Beach drip machines allow vinegar, while Nespresso advises against it . The safest approach depends on your machine, not a universal cleaning hack.

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Why Vinegar Isn’t Always the Answer

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White vinegar helps dissolve mineral deposits left behind by water. Over time, that buildup can interfere with a coffee maker’s performance.

But different machines require different cleaning solutions. Nespresso recommends its approved descaling product, while some Breville maintenance instructions explicitly state, “Do not use vinegar.”

Cleaning and descaling also serve different purposes.…