If you have 30 minutes and some white vinegar, you can clean your Keurig.

Most people's thoughts on coffee revolve around the desire for caffeine, not the mechanics of keeping a Keurig clean. You may have purchased the machine so that you could avoid the time-consuming task of cleaning a traditional coffee maker, but that is no excuse for ignoring the K-Cup holder. Though a Keurig can help you get going in the morning or keep you going through the afternoon, you still need to take care of your caffeine hero. Don't put off cleaning your Keurig until the coffee starts to taste bad or you start seeing residue every time you use it.

To keep it running smoothly, whether it's a Keurig K-Mini Single Serve coffee maker or a K-Elite with a five-cup water reservoir, all kitchen appliances require regular cleaning and disinfection, even if they seem to be operating normally. The K-Cup pod storage area is a dark, humid dungeon. There's a risk of bacteria and gross gunk building up in the water reservoir, and the drip tray under your coffee cup is more than just a water collector. Additionally, mineral deposits in hard water can disrupt your Keurig's operation. However, you don't have to expend a lot of effort to figure out how to clean a Keurig; after all, a coffee maker shouldn't deplete you. That's just a ridiculous irony

The good news is that your Keurig doesn't require much upkeep, especially if you establish a regular schedule to descale the single-cup coffee maker. If you want consistently delicious coffee, you need a clean machine; we've laid out the steps for you.

How should a Keurig be cleaned?

It's easiest to think of cleaning a Keurig as a three-step process: wiping down the exterior, rinsing out clogs and buildup, and descaling to get rid of calcium deposits. Purchase a Keurig descaling solution and maintenance kit from Amazon for the easiest, least complicated fix. White vinegar and distilled water are two common household items that can be used to effectively combat scale buildup.

Step 1

No two things are more incompatible than water and electricity. Whenever you start cleaning, please unplug your Keurig.

Step 2

Take out the tank or storage container containing water. Don't let the water sit there; use it to water a nearby plant. One weekly soapy water cleaning is recommended. The water filter cartridge for your Keurig should be removed and replaced every two months. Use a used toothbrush to get rid of stubborn coffee stains in the tray's crevices. It's also useful for wiping out the space beneath the K-Cup pack holder (from which the coffee is dispensed). Let everything dry naturally.

Step 3

The pod holder must be cleaned. You can access the K-Cup holder by lifting the machine's handle and sliding it out from underneath. In addition, it disassembles into its component parts, one of which is a funnel equipped with a brewer's needle. The clogs and coffee grounds inside can be removed with a paper clip by gently circling the opening. You can use anything from a toothbrush or a cotton swab to an old mascara wand. Hot water should be used to clean the funnel and K-Cup holder once you're finished. Remember to sterilize the brewing needle; a paper clip can be useful for this.

Step 4

When cleaning the water storage tank more thoroughly, use white vinegar or a descaling solution to get rid of mineral deposits. This is something that can be done every three to six months.

Step 5

Get the brewing process going with only clean water from now on. Don't bother with the coffee pod just yet because you're not ready to brew a cup of coffee. To remove the descaling agent or vinegar, repeat this process several times.

Step 6

A microfiber cloth can be used to remove water spots and restore your Keurig's pristine appearance.

How do I descale my Keurig?

Fill the water reservoir all the way with filtered water (you can also use distilled water, but tap water will do in a pinch) and then pour in the entire descaling solution. Reconnect the power cord, turn on the machine, and set the largest mug you own directly under the sprout. Put in the highest cup size (8 or 10 ounces) and the machine will brew the maximum amount. Turn on the brewing process.

Proceed in this manner, pouring the solution from mug to sink, until the reservoir is depleted. As soon as you're done, set the machine aside for about half an hour to allow the solution to soak into the inner workings. After that, brew a cycle without any coffee to flush out the reservoir. According to Keurig's user manual, the machine needs to go through about a dozen cycles to completely flush out the chemicals. As a final precaution, you should place an empty mug under the funnel. Getting ready for a cup of coffee in the morning? Make sure your Keurig is spotless.  

Vinegar: How to Clean Your Keurig

To clean your Keurig brewer if you don't have any descaling solution, white vinegar is a good backup. Water and vinegar should be mixed in a 1:1 ratio. White vinegar should be used to fill the reservoir to about halfway, and then water should be added to bring it to the top. The coffee flavoring you'll want to skip is the vinegar, so don't fill the reservoir to the top. To pour the liquid into the Keurig, you must first remove the top. You can leave the vinegar solution in the machine for up to 30 minutes, but no more than 3 hours.

Start the machine with your cup in place, and let it brew until the water tank is dry. Let the vinegar get to work on the mineral deposits, and fill up your tank with fresh water. In the same way that you did with the descaling solution, run a few brew cycles with clean water to completely flush out the vinegar. If you're worried about leaks, you should keep an empty cup near the bottom.

Will vinegar alone clean a Keurig?

When switching from one flavor of K-Cup to another, such as from coffee to hot chocolate, a quick rinse with white vinegar is all that's required. The rinse pods for a Keurig will also get the job done quickly. Run an eight-ounce cycle with one in the machine. Ta-da The spotlight is on your favorite new flavor. Using a rinse pod once a week will make your coffee taste like a professional barista made it, even if you only drink one flavor. Use a damp cloth and some dish soap to clean the Keurig's exterior every so often.