Now that we know how we’ve been drinking coffee wrong, there’s another important coffee fact we have to address. Did you know that, most likely, you’ve got mold growing in your coffee maker right now?

A 2011 study from NSF International found that about half of coffee makers (we’re talking the classic, basket-and-carafe kind here) had yeast and mold growing in their reservoirs. About one in ten were home to coliform bacteria. On average, home coffee reservoirs also had higher germ counts than both bathroom door handles and toilet seats.

Yuck, right?

Our bodies can deal with small amounts of bacteria that make it into our coffee from moldy machines, but after a while, they can grow to high enough levels to cause sickness. And sickness isn’t too energizing.

Luckily, adequately cleaning out your coffee maker isn’t too complicated. While you should definitely clean the carafe, lid and basket on your coffee maker after every use, you should deep clean it like this a least once a month:

• Fill the coffee maker’s chamber with equal parts white vinegar and water. Brew, using a paper filter, until half of the chamber is empty.
• Turn off the machine for 30 minutes and let sit. After 30 minutes, finish brewing.
• Use a new paper filter to brew a pot of clear water. Then repeat this step.
• Wash the carafe with warm water and dish soap. Use a scrubber sponge to remove any gunk while washing. Rinse and dry.
• Enjoy mold-free coffee!

Thanks to Huffington Post for the tip!