How do you clean a Keurig? 5 easy Steps

Keurig coffee machines are found in households all over the country. They’re popular with people, and for excellent reasons. However, a Keurig can only perform at its best if you clean it regularly. How do you clean a Keurig?

The cleaning procedure for your Keurig coffee machine starts with giving it an external wipe-down. Then, empty and wash the drip tray and plate. Once you put that back, you must then clean the water reservoir, including its cover and valve. Finally, to clean the machine’s internal parts, run a cleansing brew and descale the machine regularly.

Keeping your Keurig coffee machine clean isn’t just about helping it function at its best. But it’s also about maximizing the taste of each cup of coffee you brew. Keep reading to find out how to do that.

How Do You Clean A Keurig Coffee Machine?

Here is a thorough 5-step cleaning procedure that’ll keep your Keurig coffee machine at its best:

Step 1: Wipe The Exterior

What you’ll need: Two pieces of cloth, preferably microfibre.

What to do: When cleaning your Keurig coffee machine, it’s best to start from the outside and work your way inwards. That’s an excellent way to keep the cleaning process organized and ensure you don’t miss any step along the way.

So, you can begin your Keurig coffee machine cleaning process with an exterior wipe-down.

First, grab one microfibre cloth and dampen it with water. Then, wipe the exterior of your Keurig coffee machine, especially any coffee or water stains you might find.

Once you’ve done that, grab the dry microfibre cloth and use it to wipe the machine again. That will remove any excess moisture and help to dry the machine’s panels.

Read: 3 Reasons Why Coffee Machine Not Hot Enough – Troubleshooting Guide

Step 2: Empty And Wash The Drip Tray And Plate

What you’ll need: Water, dishwashing soap, a sponge or cloth

What to do: Next, remove the drip tray and plate from your Keurig coffee machine and take it straight to your kitchen sink.

Be careful not to spill any liquids that might be inside that drip tray and plate. Remember: these parts of the machine are there to catch and hold spilt liquids.

Once the tray and plate are in the sink, rinse them with water. You can use a little dishwashing soap to remove stubborn stains and odors from the drip tray.

Lastly, wipe the drip tray and plate dry before reattaching it to your Keurig coffee machine.

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Step 3: Clean The Water Reservoir

What you’ll need: A microfiber cloth and dishwashing soap

What to do: After cleaning the drip tray, you should focus on the water reservoir. 

First, remove the reservoir and rinse it in your sink. Rinsing the inside of that reservoir is the most important thing to do, but don’t forget its cover and the valve at the bottom.

Dirt, mold, and other impurities can build up around the cover and valve. 

If you forget to clean those parts of the water reservoir, they could cause problems like mold accumulation and a stuck water valve.

You can use dishwashing soap to clean the water reservoir, especially if there are any stains in or around it.

However, you must be careful when drying the water reservoir. Air drying is the simplest way to do that, though it’ll take a bit of time. So, if you decide to wipe it dry instead, you must only use a microfiber cloth.

That’s because other types of cloth will leave lint or other fibers inside the water reservoir. Those fibers will find their way into the coffee you drink when that happens.

Read: 5 Reasons Why Coffee Machine Is Not Dripping – Troubleshooting Guide

Step 4: Run A Cleaning Brew 

What you’ll need: Water only. You can also use a Keurig rinse pod if you have one.

What to do: Earlier, you read that the cleaning process should work its way from the Keurig machine’s exterior towards its interior. You’ve already cleaned the coffee machine’s exterior parts at this stage by completing Steps 1-3.

Now, in Step 4, you’ll begin cleaning the coffee machine’s internal components.

Firstly, you must run a cleaning brew. Essentially, you’re flushing the coffee machine’s hoses and other parts with clean and hot water. That will wash away any impurities stuck inside the machine’s hoses and components, including coffee grounds.

So, select the largest brew size available on your machine and the hottest water temperature. If you feel it’s necessary, you can run this cleaning brew more than once until you’re confident that your Keurig machine is clean.

Remember: Do not use any coffee pods as you do this, except for a Keurig rinse pod, if you have one. The goal here is to flush the coffee machine from the inside.

Read: How To Clean A Breville Coffee Machine? Step By Step Guide

Step 5: Perform Descaling

What you’ll need: You’ll need a coffee machine descaling solution for this final step. You can use a descaling solution bottle or pouch made by Keurig or a similar product from a different brand.

What to do: The purpose of descaling is to remove any buildups of limescale inside your Keurig coffee machine. That’s because a severe buildup can prevent water from flowing smoothly and prevent the machine from brewing coffee successfully.

The descaling process is typically done every 3-6 months. So, you can skip this step if you’re performing a regular weekly cleaning procedure for your Keurig coffee machine.

Here’s what the descaling process looks like:

Firstly, pour the descaling solution into an empty water reservoir. Then, run a cleansing brew as you did in Step 4 earlier.

To recap, here’s how you run a cleansing brew with the descaling solution:

• Place a mug on the drip tray
• Select the largest cup size available on your Keurig model
• Repeat the clean brew at least 12 times, refilling the water reservoir as needed

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are a few more questions and answers to help you clean your Keurig coffee machine thoroughly:

Are Keurig Rinse Pods Necessary?

No, you don’t necessarily need to use rinse pods to clean your Keurig coffee machine. However, coffee pods can help remove odors and leftover flavors from your coffee machine.

What Happens If You Don’t Descale Your Keurig?

The limescale buildup will worsen when you fail to descale your Keurig coffee machine regularly. That buildup will focus on hot parts like the machine’s heating element. After an extended period, that buildup will prevent water from flowing through your coffee machine and prevent it from brewing coffee.

Can You Use A Keurig Just To Boil Water?

Yes, you can use Keurig to dispense boiled water straight to your mug. That makes the Keurig coffee machine useful for brewing tea or other hot beverages. To do that, just run the coffee machine without loading any coffee pods.

Should I Run Vinegar Through My Keurig?

Running vinegar through your Keurig coffee machine is a useful alternative for removing limescale build-ups inside its hoses. Be sure to use white distilled vinegar in your Keurig for the best results.

Do Keurigs Get Moldy Inside?

Yes, Keurigs can get moldy inside, especially if you leave them unused for extended periods. However, you can prevent that from happening by cleaning your Keurig machine regularly. If you don’t plan on using the machine soon, drain the water reservoir and open the cover so it can stay dry. That will prevent mold from growing.