Whether you use your Keurig coffee machine regularly or you only rev it up when you have guests over. Here, we’ll explain how to clean the Keurig coffee maker.
If you own a Keurig coffee maker, you likely love the convenience of choosing your favorite coffee grounds from the K-cup holder, pressing a button, and having a hot cup of joe in just a few seconds.
Cleaning your Keurig machine regularly helps to ensure that you’ll be able to continue to enjoy your coffee routine for years to come.
Cleaning a Keurig is simple, but failing to clean the machine (or cleaning it incorrectly) can cause costly repairs, or can even result in the need for a new Keurig.
Here, we’ll detail each step of the Keurig coffee maker cleaning process.
How To Clean The Keurig Coffee Maker
It’s important to commit to going through the Keurig cleaning process regularly to ensure that your coffee maker produces safe, fresh coffee and that your machine will stand the test of time.
The exact amount of time that you’ll be able to go between cleanings depends on how frequently you use your machine and the minerals in your water source.
On a weekly basis, you’ll want to:
1. Wipe down the exterior of your Keurig with a damp microfiber cloth to remove dust and debris.
2. Carefully disassemble the removable parts of your Keurig. Wash the cold water reservoir, drip tray, and K-cup pod holder with warm, soapy water. Allow each item to air dry before you place it back on the Keurig machine.
Descaling Your Keurig
Every three to six months, you’ll need to descale your Keurig machine. This cleans the inside of the machine, removing mineral buildup. You’ll likely find that this improves the quality of your coffee. You might also be interested in learning if you can best coffee for Keurig machines.
Option 1: Use Keurig Descaling Solution
1. Turn off and unplug your Keurig.
2. Fill the empty water reservoir with one part water and one part Keurig Descaling Solution.
- 14 oz. Descaling Solution
- Compatible Classic/1.0 & 2.0 K-Cup Pod Coffee Makers
3. Place an empty coffee mug under the machine’s dispenser.
4. Brew one cup of hot water, dump, repeat until the water reservoir is empty.
5. Rinse the water reservoir.
6. Brew one more cup of hot water.
Option 2: Use Vinegar And Water
1. Turn off and unplug your Keurig.
2. Fill the empty water reservoir halfway with white vinegar, then add water until full.
3. Place an empty coffee mug under the machine’s dispenser.
4. Brew one cup of hot water, dump, repeat until the water reservoir is empty.
5. Rinse the water reservoir, fill it with fresh water.
6. Run brew cycles of hot water until the reservoir is empty, completely rinsing out the interior of your Keurig.
Option 3: Use Citric Acid
1. Turn off and unplug your Keurig.
2. Fill the empty water reservoir halfway with two tablespoons of citric acid and four cups of water.
3. Place an empty coffee mug under the machine’s dispenser.
4. Brew one cup of hot water, dump, repeat until the water reservoir is empty.
5. Rinse the water reservoir, fill it with fresh water.
6. Brew cups of hot water until the reservoir is empty, completely rinsing out the interior of your Keurig.
Keurig Maintenance Between Cleanings
Of course, you’ll want to be sure you’re putting in the work in-between cleanings to ensure that you’re getting the freshest, cleanest coffee possible.
Keurig rinse pods work to help your machine stay clean. Simply use a rinse pod just like a K-cup, then brew one cup of plain hot water to rinse the machine.
The Final Word On How To Clean The Keurig Coffee Maker
Choose any of the above methods — using Keurig’s cleaning solution, fresh water, and vinegar, or citric acid — to remove mineral deposits and allow you to continue enjoying fresh coffee. Remember, cleaning your Keurig needs to happen regularly, and you’ll want to base how often you clean your Keurig on your frequency of use and the purity of the water you use in your machine.
FAQs On How To Clean The Keurig Coffee Maker
Can I use vinegar to descale Keurig?
Absolutely! Mix one part vinegar and one part water to descale your Keurig. Be sure to run a full tank of fresh water through your Keurig afterward to ensure that the vinegar is fully rinsed from the inside of the machine.
How do you clean the inside of a Keurig coffee maker?
You can use Keurig’s descaling solution, a water and vinegar solution, or citric acid and water to clean the inside of a Keurig.
Resources:
Keurig Coffee Maker- K250 Review
How Long Can You Leave Water In A Keurig?
