How To Clean a Keurig Coffee Maker

Owning a Keurig coffee maker means that you will always have fresh coffee without much effort. But many of us do not bother to clean it regularly. If coffee is part of your morning routine, you know how crucial it is to keep the machine brewing. Well, to do that, it has to be cleaned.

Keurig coffee maker problems are mostly revolving around cleaning it, right? Well, if you leave Keurigs and drip coffee makers dirty, they can get mineral build-up in their inner workings, play home to all sorts of bacteria which will not only make your coffee taste differently but will also compromise the lifespan of the machine, but it can also affect your health.

How often should you clean your Keurig? 

You should clean the water filter cartridge thoroughly every two months. Mineral build-ups should be scrapped every 3-6 months, and the removable parts should be cleaned every week. The needle can be cleaned as needed. 

How to clean your Keurig?

You will need white vinegar or Keurig descaling solution (cleaning the machine is called descaling because ‘scale’ is another term for calcium build-ups), two large ceramic mugs, and lots of fresh water. 

• Empty your Keurig. Turn off the machine and take off the water reservoir. Empty it and then remove the water filter. Fill the machine to the maximum line with white vinegar or your descaling solution. Do not dilute the vinegar with water, and make sure to use white vinegar only. 
• Run the machine. Place the mug on the drip tray and turn on the Keurig, and lift the handle to make sure there isn’t a pod inside. When you fill the first mug, replace it with another. When the vinegar is all emptied, and the “Add Water” sign lights up, you can turn the machine off. 
• Rinse with water. Wait for 30 minutes after the “Add Water” sign was switched on. Fill the reservoir with water to the max line and turn the machine on. Repeat the same process as with your descaling solution.

And that is all when it comes to descaling your Keurig every 3-6 months. 

If you do not know how to replace the water filter cartridge, here is how to do that: 

• Soak the new cartridge in fresh water for five minutes, then rinse it for another minute. 
• Wash the mesh of the lower filter holder.
• Insert the cartridge into the upper filter holder, and snap on the lid. 
• Finally, put it back into your reservoir and lock it into place.

If you are not sure when to clean your coffee maker, there are several signs to look for. 

• If it takes a longer time than usual to brew a cup.
• If you want to brew the full cup, but the machine ends up making only half. 
• If you find grounds and granules in your coffee. 
• If your coffee tastes and smells funny (it has sort of a moldy smell).
• If you see while flecks in your coffee, that is the mineral build-up that is being washed away.

Following these cleaning instructions will give you a painless Keurig experience, but here are some extra tips for everyday maintenance. 

– If you are making hot chocolate, ta, or soup, run an extra cup of water after you are done with your brewing. This will clean all the remaining residue from the machine before the next use. 

– Think about investing in a water filter if you have hard water because the machine will need more cleaning. Or do not use tap water directly, buy packaged water instead. 

– If you are going away from home for a more extended period of time, empty the machine and unplug it.