Ice Tea Makers

  1. To maintain the quality of all the parts and minimize tea and coffee stains, we recommend washing the pitcher/lid, baskets/lid, with warm water and mild detergent after each use.
  2. Hard water can leave mineral deposits inside the pitcher and brew basket. To remove, fill the brew basket and pitcher with warm white vinegar. Let soak for 20 minutes. Rinse.
  3. Do not use harsh, abrasive cleaners. They will cause scratches which can lead to breakage.

Your machine must be delimed when you begin to notice an increase in steaming or if the pumping action stops before all the water has been pumped out of the machine. The frequency of cleaning depends on the hardness of your water.

To delime, follow these easy instructions.

  1. Pour 1 quart (32 oz.) of undiluted white household vinegar into the water reservoir.
  2. Place the pitcher lid on the pitcher. Slide the pitcher under the machine.
  3. Push the "on" button to begin brewing cycle. After 1 cup of vinegar has pumped into the pitcher, unplug appliance. Let stand 30 minutes.
  4. Re-plug the cord. Your machine will automatically continue to pump out the remaining vinegar.
  5. When your machine shuts off, unplug the cord, remove the pitcher. Discard the vinegar.
  6. Fill the pitcher with clear tap water to the water level marked on the pitcher. Repeat Steps 1-5 again using water until all traces of vinegar are gone.

Suggested cleaning intervals:

Soft Water - Every 80 brew cycles

Hard Water - Every 40 brew cycles

  1. Make sure that the steeping dial is in the closed position during the brewing cycle, which would allow tea to steep.
  2. After the unit shuts off, wait a few minutes before draining the remaining tea into the pitcher.
  3. You may need to use additional tea bags to get the desired tea strength.
You should keep the steeping basket closed during the brewing cycle.

Use the suggested amount of coffee noted below:

3 Quarts - 7-11 level Tbsp. or 4-6 coffee scoops

2 Quarts 4-7 level Tbsp. or 2-4 coffee scoops

1 Quart - 2-4 level Tbsp. or 1-2 coffee scoops

  1. You may need to use fewer tea bags to get the desired strength.
  2. Make sure that the tea is not steeping for too long. Drain the remaining tea from the steeping basket by turning the steeping dial to "open" when the unit shuts off.

The scientific reason for the cloudiness of tea is the precipitation of the tannins in the tea that occurs when the tea is cooled. Cloudiness does not affect the flavor of the tea.

  1. Stronger brews tend to cloud more readily than weaker ones.
  2. High quality teas cloud faster than others.
  3. Hard water also has a clouding affect on tea

Add a small amount (1/4 cup) of boiling water into the brewed tea to help reduce the amount of cloudiness.

Use the suggested amount of tea noted below:

3 Quarts - 5-7 bags or 2-3 Tbsp. of loose tea

2 Quarts - 3-5 bags or 1-2 Tbsp. of loose tea

1 Quart - 1-3 bags or 1/2-1 Tbsp. of loose tea

With some iced tea makers, you may experience difficulties with starting a brewing cycle when you first begin using your iced tea maker because the start button may be tight.

To correct this, do the following:

  • Press the button and hold down while bracing the unit from the back.
  • Hold the button for 5 seconds.
  • After you use your iced tea maker a few times, the button will become less tight.