Learn how to clean a Keurig with vinegar quickly and easily.
If you can’t live without your morning coffee, you know how important it is to have a working coffeemaker each morning.
But did you know that regularly cleaning your Keurig is one of the best ways to ensure it works properly each and every day?
Coffee machines that are used every day can quickly develop build-up and clogs that could cause the Keurig to stop working completely. Make sure your coffee maker is ready to brew your morning cup every day by learning how to clean a Keurig properly.
How to Clean a Keurig
Before you start cleaning your Keurig, it’s a good idea to follow a few simple cleaning tips. This handy advice will make cleaning your Keurig quick and easy:
- Always unplug the machine before you start cleaning. Make sure the coffeemaker is powered off and unplugged to avoid damaging your machine or causing injury as you clean.
- Understand how to properly disassemble and reassemble your Keurig. Different machine models have different parts and assembly methods. Before you start taking apart your Keurig to clean it, make sure you understand which parts can be removed and how to put everything back together properly. It’s a good idea to consult the manual for your machine before you begin disassembling your appliance. And keep the manual on hand when you’re ready to put the Keurig back together so you know where all the pieces go.
Supplies for Cleaning a Keurig
Cleaning a Keurig is a pretty simple task. You’ll need a handful of common cleaning supplies to get your Keurig clean, including:
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Warm water
- Toothbrush
- Paperclip
Steps for Regular Cleaning
While your Keurig needs to be deep cleaned and descaled occasionally, regular cleaning of your coffeemaker is essential to prevent scale and build-up. Follow these simple cleaning steps at least once a week to keep your coffeemaker running smoothly day to day:
Disassemble the machine and take off the removeable parts.
You can easily remove the water reservoir and lid, mug stand, and K-cup holder from the machine. Each of those parts can be washed by hand in warm, soapy water. Or you can place them in the top rack of the dishwasher for a thorough cleaning. Allow the pieces to air dry or dry them completely with a towel.
Wipe the exterior of the machine. While the removeable pieces are drying, use a damp cloth to wipe off the exterior of the machine to remove dust and debris. If the machine needs a deeper cleaning, use a cloth damped with warm, soapy water. Scrub away stuck-on residue or stains with the soapy cloth, then wipe again with a clean cloth.
Return all the removeable parts to their proper spot and the machine is ready to use.
How to Deep Clean a Keurig
Keeping your Keurig clean on a regular basis is essential, but sometimes your Keurig will need a deeper cleaning. To ensure your coffee tastes amazing and your machine runs at it’s best, it’s a good idea to clean the interior parts of the coffeemaker and descale the machine every three to six months.
After performing your regular cleaning, it’s time to pay attention to the cracks and crevices of the machine. Start by cleaning the K-cup holder area. Use a toothbrush to clean inside the pod holder, loosening stuck-on grime and coffee grounds. Then wipe the area with a cleaning cloth.
Next, use a paperclip to clean the piece that pokes a hole in the K-cup. The metal piece should have a small hole in the end. Simply poke the paperclip into the hole and wiggle it to remove any stuck-on residue.
Fill the water reservoir halfway full with distilled white vinegar. Vinegar will help remove lime and scale buildup inside the machine and help remove unwanted odors inside the water reservoir. Fill the water reservoir the rest of the way with cold water.
Make sure the K-cup holder is empty and place a large cup on the cup holder, then run the machine on the largest brew cycle. When the cycle is done, pour out the contents of the mug and place it back on the cup holder. Repeat this process until the reservoir is empty.
Rinse the water reservoir to remove any leftover vinegar, then refill the reservoir with plain water. Place the mug back on the cup holder and run a brew cycle again. Pour out the mug’s contents and continue running cycles until the reservoir is empty.
Before adding water back into the reservoir, take a minute to check the filter cartridge. If your Keurig has a water filter inside the reservoir, it may be a good idea to replace the cartridge at this time. Most filters need to be replaced after every 60 tanks.
Refill the reservoir with water and use the machine as usual.
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