How to Clean a Sticky Aeropress Plunger Gasket: Simple Tips

One of the best things about using Aeropress is how you can easily make great coffee with a simple coffee maker. However, the gadget will suffer from some issues over time, even if you regularly clean it. 

The most common issue is the plunger gasket. Over time, the plunger gasket becomes sticky and loses its smooth surface. It may feel unclean and dirty. Yet, regular clearing may not help to remove the sticky feel. How do you clean a sticky Aeropress plunger gasket?

To clean a sticky Aeropress plunger gasket, soak the plunger in vinegar and warm water for a few hours. Then, scrub the plunger with a brush with some baking soda. Vinegar helps to remove the substances, while brushing will help to get a more thorough cleaning done.

This article explores how you can clean a sticky Aeropress plunger gasket and what you may need to prepare for the cleaning job. 

Why Does Aeropress Plunger Gasket Become Sticky?

Generally, your Aeropress plunger gasket may become sticky because, over time, the plunger picks up coffee oil. These coffee oils may leach out from the gasket, and some mineral oils are used to make the plunger. However, these oils do not pose health risks.

Aeropress works by having you brew your coffee in a holder before you use a plunger to push the coffee out to the cup through the microfilter. It is a small, simple, and genius invention that made great coffee possible anywhere. 

Aeropress is also easy to clean and maintain. In many cases, you only need to rinse the tool with water and occasionally give it a gentle sponging with dishwasher liquid. 

However, with some parts, Aeropress can be a little unpredictable. Some parts, such as the lid and plunger gasket, are made of silicone and may become sticky over time. Some users also notice the surface of the seal becomes bubbly and may look like it has been sweating for a bit. 

The explanation is that the sticky bits are the coffee oil that the plunger gasket picks up over time as you use it. At times, some users observed that the silicone gasket may leech out mineral oils over time. This is more pronounced when the gasket is not used much and is left in a humid, warm place. 

These sticky bits do not pose health risks, as the oils are edible. All Aeropress parts are made of food-grade plastics and silicone, meaning they are safe. You can actually ignore the sticky bits and continue to make your coffee.

However, suppose you are concerned about the stickiness and feel yucky about it. In that case, you can actually clean and remove them using the right way.

How To Clean Sticky Aeropress Plunger Gasket?

To clean a sticky Aeropress plunger gasket, start by soaking the gasket in vinegar and water for several hours. Then, brush and scrub away at the surface with some baking soda. Repeat until all stickiness is removed.

Fortunately, you do not need any special cleaner or tools to clean a sticky Aeropress plunger gasket. The job could be done using common household cleaning ingredients and tools. 

To start clearing, prepare the following:

1. Vinegar
2. Warm water
3. Dishwashing brush
4. A small container to soak your gasket
5. Baking soda

To perform the cleaning process, follow the steps below:

1. Start by disassembling your Aeropress, and remove the plunger gasket from the plunger itself. If you are keen to go the extra mile, remove all other silicone parts, such as the lid, for cleaning. 
2. Mix some vinegar and warm water solution together, at a 1:1 ratio, in the container. Soak the plunger gasket inside the container for at least several hours. Use something heavy as a weight to keep the gasket down in the solution. 
3. After several hours, remove the gasket from the container, and rinse it with warm water. The surface should feel less sticky by now.
4. Apply some baking soda onto the gasket and use a brush to agitate and brush away. When brushing, apply adequate pressure and make sure to cover all surfaces. 
5. Rinse with a generous amount of warm water to remove any remaining baking soda.  
6. Continue to rinse until the vinegar smell is removed.
7. Leave the gasket to dry in the open air.
8. Once dried, observe if the stickiness has completely gone. If you are not satisfied, consider repeating the process from steps 2 to 6. 

Can I Just Replace My Aeropress Plunger Gasket?

Suppose you prefer to replace your plunger gasket. In that case, you can purchase an original, brand new plunger gasket directly from Aeropress. You can do so from Aeropress’s website.

Even if we have cleaned the plunger gasket, some of us may still feel icky about reusing the gasket. Plus, you may not want to spend time and effort cleaning the gasket. 

You may be tempted to replace it. Fortunately, you can do so without having to get a new Aeropress set. 

You can just order the plunger gasket directly from Aeropress itself. Aeropress does allow you to purchase Aeropress parts separately, much like how you can get parts for your car or motorcycle. 

On the website, you may see the gasket plunger being listed as ‘plunger seal.’ The price is also very affordable at $9.95 only. The total price should be in the teens if you include tax and shipping, which may be worth the time and effort than actually cleaning the gasket yourself.