When Did You Last Clean Your Keurig Machine?

The great thing about a Keurig coffee maker is its convenience. Just pop in your favorite flavor of coffee and in minutes, you’ve got a steaming hot cup of your favorite brew to enjoy. But even the most convenient of devices comes with its drudgery, and if you want your Keurig to be working at its highest possible level of efficiency, eventually, you’ve got to clean it.

Fortunately, deep cleaning your Keurig coffee maker is not a difficult task. Here are some easy steps to take when it’s time to deep clean your Keurig.

When Should You Clean Your Keurig?

There are a number of signs that it’s time to clean your Keurig. First, there’s the eye test. If you see the machine getting especially grimy, then it’s time to clean. There’s also the smell test. If your Keurig reservoir smells funky, it’s definitely ready for a cleaning.

Perhaps more importantly, if the Keurig is not working properly—the water isn’t getting through or it comes through without brewing the coffee—then deep cleaning your Keurig should be your first step. Regardless of the signs, for optimal use, you should be cleaning your Keurig about four times a year on average.

How to Clean Your Keurig

The most important part of the Keurig cleaning process is called descaling, but let’s not get to that right away. (Find Keurig Descaling solution on CoffeeForLess.com). First, take off any removable parts, including the reservoir, and wash them with warm, soapy water. Clean the tank filter as well to clear any debris that may be blocking it.

Then, clean any grinds stuck to the K-Cup holder with a wet sponge. While you’re at it, you can wipe down the exterior of the machine. Finally, clean the needles that pierce the K-Cup. This is important because if those needles get clogged, it can prevent the flow and stop your machine from working. Use a paperclip to clear any debris out of the needle holes. Now you’re ready to descale.

How to Descale Your Keurig

Descaling is the process of removing minerals that build up in your machine over time - minerals that can seriously interfere with the machine functioning. While it may sound like a complicated process, it is actually incredibly easy to do and can make a real difference.

To descale your Keurig machine, all you need to do is fill the reservoir with about 10 ounces of white vinegar, and start a brew cycle without a K-Cup. Make sure you still have a mug to catch the liquid as it flows through. Do this cycle twice, then fill the reservoir with 10 ounces of fresh water and do it one more time.

That’s all it takes! This simple process that takes only a few minutes to complete can be the difference between a machine that doesn’t work, works slowly, works noisily, or produces a sub-par cup of coffee, and one that makes the quick, delicious Keurig brew you’ve come to rely on.

If you’ve never descaled your Keurig coffee machine and you’ve had it in your kitchen or office for a while, give it a try today and see what a difference it makes.