Zojirushi cleaning

[peacock chinchilla]

My office was lovely enough to get me a Zojirushi for the office as a Christmas gift - but since it is well used it is building up some calcification.

Does anyone have a natural cleaning method that works?

The manual offers a cleaning product you can order, but I always prefer a non-chemical option if one is available.

Thanks!
Amy
(having my third cup of Golden Yunnan this morning, the Zojirushi is both a blessing and a curse!)

[Deleted User #16670]

I love my zojirushi too. But I wouldn't be too concerned about "chemicals" the descaler isn't like easy off oven cleaner, it's just 100% citric acid so it's biodegradable. In fact you can probably find it at your local supermarket with the canning supplies or the evil big box store of your choice for less money than the individual zoji packets. Vinegar is another choice but not as effective.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

Lemon juice. The zoji website even says that you can use that in place of the cleaner that they suggest.

Q9. How can I clean the water deposits in my Electric Boiler & Warmer?
A9. We recommend you clean the pot periodically with Zojirushi Activated Descaling Cleaner or citric acid every 1 to 3 months. You can purchase our Activated Descaling Cleaner from our online Zojirushi Store or by calling our Customer Service Department at 800-733-6270, M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, or follow these instructions to clean with citric acid:
1. Fill a glass with warm water and add 1/2 cup of lemon juice from concentrate. If using freshly squeezed lemon juice, please be sure to strain first, so the pulp does not get caught in the pump and damage the pot.
2. Fill the electric boiler & warmer with water and pour the lemon juice mixture into the pot. Boil the water.
3. After the water is boiled, let it sit for approximately 2 to 3 hours. If necessary, you can let it sit for 6 to 12 hours.
4. Empty the pot by pouring out the water and wipe the inside of the pot using a clean towel. If the pot is still dirty, repeat steps 1 through 3.
5. Fill the pot with clean water and set to boil. After the water is boiled, dispense the water to flush out any lemon juice mixture that may be trapped in the water gauge tube.

[peacock chinchilla]

As always, the tea chatters know the answers - thank you!

[Topmounter]

I cleaned mine with White Vinegar recently... it did a nice job cleaning my Zoji, while leaving a rather thick and asphyxiating aroma in the air.

[geeber1]

I use the citric acid method, it cleans really well and doesn't leave any smell / taste behind.

[Geekgirl]

Ditto the citric acid. Of course we have soft water around here, so I only "have to" descale about once every six months, just because. Still, it's surprising what it removes.