If you’re like me, you love your Keurig. But sometimes, it can get a bit gunky. Here’s a quick and easy guide to cleaning your Keurig, so you can enjoy your favorite coffee every day.
Basic Cleaning Tips for Your Keurig
It can be laborious and time-consuming to clean the Keurig. The best techniques to maintain your machine for peak performance are listed below.
The first piece of advice: Coffee left in a cup can create stains on your machine. Run three cycles with just water to clear away any residue that coffee grounds could have left behind. This will stop this from happening. Second tip: Cleaning is never enjoyable, but with Keurigs it’s considerably harder because they can’t be submerged in water as regular coffee makers can. However, there are workarounds for this.
Here are some basic cleaning tips to help keep your Keurig running smoothly.
Tip #1. Descaling Your Keurig:
To clean your Keurig coffee maker and remove these minerals, it is recommended that you descale it at least once a month, more often if you have hard water. Descaling is simple and only takes a few minutes.
Over time, calcium and other minerals build up inside your coffee maker and can lead to a deterioration of performance.
And the process of descaling removes calcium deposits, or scale, that can build up inside your coffee maker over time which can impede the water’s flow. Calcium and scale are nontoxic, but, if ignored, they can negatively impact your brewer’s performance.
Descaling is an important part of regular maintenance for your Keurig. Depending on how often you use your machine, we recommend descaling every 3-6 months. This process removes calcium deposits,
- Keurig descaling solution
- Large mug
- Damp cloth
- Rinse aid (optional)
Follow these simple steps to descale your Keurig:
1. Empty the Water Reservoir and add 16 ounces of fresh water and 8 ounces of Keurig Descaling Solution
2. Place a large mug on the Drip Tray Plate
3. Press and hold the Power Button for 3 seconds to turn ON the brewer
4. Press and hold the Brew Button until all the water has been dispensed into the mug (this may take up to 2 minutes)
5. Once the brew cycle is complete, discard the contents of the mug
6. Refill the Water Reservoir with 16 ounces of fresh water only (do not add any additional descaling solution)
7. Press and hold the Brew Button until all the water has been dispensed into the mug (this may take up to 2 minutes). Discard the contents of the mug.
8. Repeat step 7 one more time with fresh water only. After completing this step, descaling is complete!*
Tip # 2. Cleaning Your Keurig’s Exterior & Interior Surfaces Regularly
Simply wipe down with a damp cloth. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrub pads, as they can damage plastic parts.
To clean your Keurig’s interior surfaces (including needle piercer & Overnight Needle Storage Area), simply wipe down with a damp cloth after each use.
Use mild soap if needed, but avoid using harsh cleaners like bleach or vinegar as they can damage plastic parts over time.*
Tip #3. Changing Your Water Filter Regularly For Optimal Taste and Performance
it’s important to change your water filter regularly – we recommend every 2 months or 60 tank refills. For step-by-step instructions on how to change your water filter, please refer to “How do I change my Water Filter?”
What happens if you don’t descale your Keurig?
If you do not descale your Keurig, it will not operate properly, taking longer to brew and giving off a more ear-piercing sound. In addition, this can affect the taste of your coffee and the way it is heated.
Cleaning the Keurig Needle
The coffee needle is the small, sharp point that punctures the coffee pod and allows water to flow through. Over time, this needle can become clogged with coffee grounds or calcium deposits, which can affect the flavor of your coffee or cause brewing delays.
Fortunately, cleaning the coffee needle is a quick and easy process
1. Take off the Keurig’s front needle cap with a paperclip or other tiny object.
2. Rinse the coffee needle and needle cap thoroughly in warm water to get rid of all of the coffee grounds.
3. To get rid of any calcium buildup on the coffee needle, use a cotton swab that has been dipped in vinegar.
4. Run warm water over the needle and needle cap once more.
5. Put the needle cap back on the Keurig’s front and conduct a brew cycle without a coffee pod to clear the device of any leftover debris.
Clean the Keurig’s Water Reservoir
Every few months, or more frequently if you discover that your coffee doesn’t taste as excellent as it usually does, you should clean the Keurig water reservoir.
- To begin, disconnect the coffee machine and take the water reservoir out.
- The reservoir should then be thoroughly cleaned with mild soap and warm water, thoroughly rinsed, and dried before being reattached to the coffee maker.
- Run a mixture of one part water and one part vinegar through the Keurig to descale it next.
- Run the machine through several cycles of plain water after descaling to get rid of any vinegar residue.
- Finally, use a moist towel to clean the coffee maker’s exterior.
Steps to Clean the Keurig’s, Drip Tray
Under the coffee spout is a little, removable tray known as the Keurig drip tray. It is made to catch any coffee drips that occur during brewing. Coffee grinds and other debris that accumulate in the drip tray over time can alter the flavor of your coffee and block your Keurig. The drip tray needs to be cleaned frequently because of this.
Here are some simple instructions for cleaning the Keurig drip tray:
1. Take off your Keurig’s drip tray by raising it up and away from the appliance.
2. Throw away any coffee grounds or other leftovers from the tray.
3. Rinse the tray in warm water to get rid of all the coffee grounds.
4. To get rid of any tough stains, wipe the interior of the drip tray with a moist cloth.
5. Prior to reinstalling the drip tray on your Keurig machine, let it dry fully.
Cleaning the Keurig Exterior
To clean the exterior of your Keurig® coffee maker, simply wipe the outside of your machine with a damp cloth. Be sure to unplug your coffeemaker before cleaning it.
Troubleshooting Tips for Your Keurig Cleaning
It might be time for cleaning if your Keurig doesn’t seem to be producing as much coffee or the flavor isn’t as wonderful as it once was. Performance can suffer from the buildup of scale, oils, and coffee grounds. Don’t worry though; cleaning your Keurig is simple. You can quickly get your machine working like new by following these easy instructions.
Start by describing your Keurig first. This is a crucial step in stopping the accumulation of minerals that could harm your equipment. You can use a vinegar-water solution or purchase a descaling solution designed exclusively for Keurigs (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water). Using this approach, operate your device as directed by the manufacturer.
Once the exterior of your Keurig has been cleaned, descale it. Use a wet towel and mild detergent to clean the machine’s exterior. Clean the drip tray and any other removable components as well. If you see any coffee accumulation inside the tray, give it a few minutes to soak in hot, soapy water before giving it a good scrape.
It’s time to clean the interior of your Keurig. The K-cup holder should first be taken out and washed with hot, soapy water. The needle penetration hole should then be cleaned out with a cotton swab or toothpick (located under where the k-cup holder sits). Replace the k-cup holder afterward and perform a brew cycle without a k-cup to clear any remaining coffee grounds from the device.
Now your Keurig ought to be functional and clean. These easy procedures can help you extend the life of your machine and keep it operating at peak efficiency.
Preventing Future Build-Up in Your Keurig
You may avoid limescale and other mineral deposits from amassing in your Keurig and lowering the caliber of your coffee by routinely descaling it. Descaling is simple and takes only a short amount of time.
You will need:
1 cup white vinegar
6 cups water
Instructions:
1. Empty the water reservoir and pour in 1 cup of white vinegar.
2. Fill the reservoir the rest of the way with water (6 cups).
3. Place a coffee mug on the drip tray and press the Brew button. The Keurig will begin brewing the vinegar solution. Depending on the model of your Keurig, it may take up to 3 minutes to brew a full cup.
4. After the brewing cycle is complete, discard the contents of the coffee mug.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 two more times with fresh water to remove any traces of vinegar taste from your coffee maker.
Conclusion
A thorough explanation of how to clean a Keurig coffee machine is given in the article. There are instructions for basic cleaning, descaling, wiping down internal and exterior surfaces, replacing the water filter, wiping down the coffee needle, and wiping down the water reservoir. Maintaining your Keurig’s functionality and guaranteeing that the flavor of your coffee doesn’t change requires routine cleaning. The post also mentions the negative effects of not cleaning the Keurig, such as increased noise, longer brewing times, and altered coffee flavor.
FAQs
- How often should I descale my Keurig?
Descaling is recommended once a month, more frequently if you have hard water. Depending on how often you use your machine, it is recommended to descale every 3-6 months.
- How do I descale my Keurig?
To descale your Keurig, you need to empty the water reservoir and add 16 ounces of fresh water and 8 ounces of Keurig Descaling Solution. After placing a large mug on the Drip Tray Plate, press and hold the Power Button for 3 seconds to turn ON the brewer, then press and hold the Brew Button until all the water has been dispensed into the mug. Discard the contents of the mug, refill the Water Reservoir with 16 ounces of fresh water only, and repeat steps 4 and 5 with fresh water only. After completing this step, descaling is complete!
- How do I clean the Keurig needle?
To clean the coffee needle, take off the Keurig’s front needle cap with a paperclip or other tiny object. Rinse the coffee needle and needle cap thoroughly in warm water to get rid of all of the coffee grounds. To get rid of any calcium buildup on the coffee needle, use a cotton swab that has been dipped in vinegar. Run warm water over the needle and needle cap once more, then put the needle cap back on the Keurig’s front and conduct a brew cycle without a coffee pod to clear the device of any leftover debris.
- How often should I change my Keurig’s water filter?
To ensure optimal taste and performance, it is important to change your water filter regularly. It is recommended to change it every 2 months or 60 tank refills.
- Can I use bleach or vinegar to clean my Keurig?
Avoid using harsh cleaners like bleach or vinegar as they can damage plastic parts over time. Instead, simply wipe down with a damp cloth or mild soap if needed.