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    Home » Home & Garden » Cleaning » Cleaning Tutorials » How to Clean a Keurig

    Last updated: Jan 10, 2022 by Melissa Riker · 46 Comments

    How to Clean a Keurig

    how to clean a keurig coffee machine
    keurig coffee machine

    Making the jump to a Keurig coffee maker was a pretty big investment for me (I can be a bit frugal!) Once we made the switch to a Keurig I wanted to make sure I maintained it so I researched how to clean a Keurig and thought I would share that with y'all today.

    It's important to regularly clean and descale a Keurig machine in order to have the best-tasting coffee. Over time mineral depoits and limescale buildup can affect your machine, especially if you have hard water. Bacteria and mold can also build up in the machine over time if it is not cleaned properly.

    You can clean your machine with Keurig's Descaling Solution or simply use standard white vinegar.

    Luckily cleaning and descaling a Keurig coffee machine with vinegar is not hard at all! Here is the step by step tutorial to keep your Keurig sparkling and your coffee tasting great.

    Descaling step by step

    Time needed: 1 hour.

    Step by step tutorial for how to clean a Keurig with vinegar.

    1. Remove reservoir

      Remove the water reservoir and reservoir lid. These should NOT be put in the dishwasher.  Instead, clean them with a wet soapy cloth and then rinse thoroughly. 

      To clean the filter screen at the bottom of the reservoir simply run it under a strong stream of water or fill your reservoir with water and agitate it.  Don't dry the reservoir or lid with a towel, let them air dry to avoid getting lint in your reservoir (and therefore your coffee!)

      A close up of a Keurig coffee maker water carafe and how to clean it

    2. Clean the K-cup holder

      Remove the K-cup pod holder.  BE CAREFUL! There are needles inside there y'all...let's not bloody up the Keurig, okay?

      To remove the K-cup holder hold it firmly on either side of the top and push up from the bottom with your other hand.  It is clearly impossible for me to get a picture of myself doing this since I need one hand for the camera but I've shown the hand positions below-just do both together!  You may need to very gently wiggle but don't force it or you will risk breaking it.

      Once you get your holder off you can pop it in the dishwasher on a LOW-TEMPERATURE cycle.  (Did you grasp the importance of the low temp there?) If you need to clear the exit needle at the bottom of the K-cup holder you can do so with a paper clip pushed up from the bottom.how to clean a keurig

    3. Clean the Keurig machine

      Use an old toothbrush or other small cleaning brush to clean around the needle at the top of the K-cup holder assembly and around the interior if necessary.  Wipe the exterior of the Keurig with a damp non-abrasive cloth dipped in soapy water.how to clean a keurig coffee maker

    4. Clean the Drip Tray

      Remove the Drip Tray and clean with a-you guessed it-soapy, damp cloth.  Rinse thoroughly and dry.how to clean a Keurig drip tray

    5. Reassemble

      Reassemble your Keurig after all the parts are clean.  Get ready to descale that bad boy if your Descale light is lit or it has been more than 3-6 months since your last descaling.

    6. Descale Keurig with Vinegar


      To descale the Keurig, you will need 24 oz of undiluted white vinegar, 24 ounces of fresh water and a ceramic mug.

      First, turn off the Auto Off Function if it is on.  Empty your water reservoir and if you have a water filter in the reservoir remove that as well.  Pour the vinegar and water into the reservoir and place a large mug as usual.  Do not use a K-cup pack, just close the brewer and push the largest cup brew cycle button.  The Keurig will brew a hot cup of vinegar water.

      When it is finished dump the vinegar into a sink and continue repeating the process until your Add Water light turns on. Let the Keurig sit (still on) for 1 hour.  After the 1 hour dump any remaining vinegar in the reservoir down the sink and rinse it thoroughly.

    7. Rinse!

      Congratulations.  You have been descaled.  But now your coffee/tea/cocoa will taste like vinegar so let's rinse it out and finish the job! Fill your reservoir to the max fill line with fresh water and run your cleansing brew (no K-cup) just like we did with the vinegar.  Repeat until the Add Water light turns on.

    8. Reset descale light

      Once the descaling is complete you can reset the descale button (if it was lit up) by pressing the 8 oz and 10 oz buttons together for 3 seconds.

    FAQs

    Will the vinegar leave a vinegar taste in my machine?

    If you thoroughly rinse the machine there should be no lingering vinegar taste. If you still feel like you taste vinegar, simply repeat the fresh water cycle again.

    Can I leave vinegar in my Keurig overnight?

    Vinegar is acidic and could possibly corrode your machine if left too long. I do not recommend leaving it overnight.

    Is descaling solution better than vinegar for cleaning a Keurig?

    Both methods are equally effective at removing calcium deposits and mineral buildup in the coffee maker.

    You're all done!

    By making sure you clean and descale your Keurig regularly you can make sure you protect your investment and continue to enjoy a good tasting cup of coffee for a long, long time!

    When was the last time you cleaned your Keurig?

    You might also find these cleaning posts useful:

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    • How to Clean Your Whole House in One Hour
    • How to Clean a Top Load Washing Machine
    • How to Clean a Front Load Washing Machine
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    Comments

    1. Sandi Mc says

      February 01, 2018 at 11:51 pm

      Double duty when you use vinegar to clean your Keurig... pour baking soda down each side of your kitchen sink drains. As you dump the vinegar into the sink, they combine and clean out & "de-stink" your drains. Just don't run any water down the drain. Let it sit as long as you can & done!!

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        February 06, 2018 at 8:33 pm

        Great tip!! I'll use that for sure! ~Melissa

        Reply
    2. DeeDee W says

      November 15, 2017 at 9:51 am

      I've been avoiding the descaling part because the first time I did it - nothing but vinegar coffee! It took soooo many cycles of just water to finally get it to go back to normal. And I don't have a filter at the bottom! But I love whoever suggested the addition of baking soda! I'm gonna give it a try AFTER I have my cup this morning 🙂

      Reply
    3. Kelsey says

      March 14, 2017 at 4:51 pm

      I thought this was a good idea until I actually did it . Now, my keurig brews coffee with vinegar water no matter how hard I try to clean it. Help?

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        March 18, 2017 at 7:04 am

        I'm sorry Kelsey have you run clean water through it a few times? I've never had mine still keep the vinegar smell/taste after running through with clean water.

        Reply
        • Merle says

          July 03, 2021 at 2:40 pm

          I highly doubt that!

          Reply
      • Tony says

        September 22, 2017 at 5:45 pm

        Did you check to see if you left the filter in? That would cause that.

        Reply
        • Merle says

          July 03, 2021 at 2:59 pm

          I highly doubt that! I DID fill in required fields. You just don’t want to post. Not to mention a full cup is not dispensed. I have followed ALL directions!

          Reply
          • Melissa Riker says

            July 03, 2021 at 5:00 pm

            I'm sorry Merle, I'm not sure what you are referring to?

            Reply
      • Deb says

        September 17, 2021 at 11:05 am

        I did that once. Realized the charcoal filter was still inside. Took it out and let water run thru it a few minutes. All fixed

        Reply
    4. D Hanson says

      December 04, 2016 at 9:27 pm

      I know that Keurig has several models out now.....however, I bought a MINI a couple of years ago. It seems that most of the instructions of how to clean is meant for a larger unit. I'm just going to try the vinegar method followed by purified water (which is what the instructions for the machine says to use anyway....I've never used anything but purified water!!)

      Reply
    5. Dan says

      September 24, 2016 at 11:11 pm

      I was devastated when I found out how dirty my Keurig was. I never realized or gave any thought to how it can get gunked up! This is a great post and one that every Keurig owner should be made aware of! Thank you for the info.

      Reply
    6. Kat Langworthy says

      March 23, 2016 at 4:56 am

      Yeah i did all that, and after 10 run throughs i can't get the vinegar taste out of my coffee, any suggestions. I was thinking alcohol the drinking kind, lol

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        March 26, 2016 at 12:39 pm

        Kat does your Keurig have a water filter in the reservoir? Mine does not but I know some do and if you don't remove it before running the vinegar through that would probably make the vinegar taste near impossible to get out. That's the only thing I can think of that that would cause that...the vinegar should rinse out very easily.

        Reply
    7. SamanthA says

      May 12, 2015 at 6:05 pm

      i followed all the instructions but it is still tasting like vinegar! I have let it sit on for the 4 hours twice and it has been two days and still yuck! How can I fix this?? 🙁

      Reply
      • Taylor says

        December 05, 2015 at 10:42 pm

        Tip I learned when I couldn't get rid of vinegar taste after several runs refilling the tank, is to stir a tablespoon or two of baking soda in some hot water (I just used one of the mug full of hot water after I did a brew without a k cup) and add it into the tank and brew a few more times to flush out that vinegar taste/smell for good.

        Reply
        • Melissa says

          December 15, 2015 at 7:51 am

          Great tip Taylor! Thank you!

          Reply
    8. Coffee K-Cups in Chicago says

      April 24, 2015 at 9:55 am

      I have to go clean my machine now… It's been several months.

      Reply
    9. Melanie says

      December 10, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      descaling? I've never heard of this. have a keurig and love it! It this a suggested process? how often? simply confused

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        December 13, 2013 at 12:58 pm

        Hi Melanie, descaling gets the layers of minerals out of the inside of the Keurig that build up from water. My keurig has a light that actually comes on when its time to descale it, does yours?

        Reply
    10. Emily says

      September 18, 2013 at 7:58 am

      I can't BELIEVE we went so long without a Keurig! I finally bought one for my husband's birthday a few months ago - and we use it EVERY SINGLE DAY. Husband brews a cup straight into his travel mug for his commute, I wait until the kids are on the bus to come home and brew my own mug. I also use it for any time I need a cup or two of very hot water, I particularly like to use it to mix jello. I just use a measuring cup instead of a coffee mug (so it's easier to pour out). We bought a reusable brewing cup to use with regular bags of ground coffee so save on coffee costs, but I really do prefer the taste of my favorite Vue cup. The keurig website is the cheapest place I've found the cups, and I just want until they email me a coupon code or a special. I just bought last week, in fact, when the special was buy 2 boxes at 10% off, get 1 box free plus free shipping. Once a week or so, I run a few cycles of mugs of hot water. I usually get a few grains of loose coffee grounds, so I just run hot water through until it's clear.

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        September 20, 2013 at 9:18 am

        Seriously-using a keurig for jello-you are a genius Emily!!!!

        Reply
      • JozieLee says

        October 22, 2014 at 9:16 am

        Like you I didn't think we needed a coffeemaker, but hubby wanted one. He seldom uses it. I use it almost daily for coffee, tea, anything needing a cup of hot water. LOVE IT. Now I'd better descale. Thanks for the instructions.

        Reply
        • Melissa says

          October 29, 2014 at 9:22 pm

          you're very welcome JozieLee!

          Reply
    11. Tammy says

      August 01, 2013 at 11:04 pm

      I never drank coffee until we got one, thought it was to strong. My hubby would take a cup with him to work, one morning I reused his pod to make iced coffee cubes and took a sip, it wasnt strong. Now I use the pods twice - 1st time for him, 2nd time for me.

      I recommend descaling it regularly. I hadn't done ours in the two years we owned it. And one day it just stopped working - of course, it was the morning that I really needed my coffee (up late the night before and had to get up early the next morning). After researching the problem with the machine and speaking with customer service, who offered to send me a "replacement" one for $130, I might as well spend another $20 and get a brand new one. I ended up getting the cuisinart, which is very similar.

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        August 07, 2013 at 9:47 am

        Such a good idea to use the pods twice!

        Reply
        • Judy says

          January 31, 2015 at 9:44 am

          The coffee is too strong for me, so I run the same pod twice into my small Corning Ware tea pot. I stir both runs together and pour it into my coffee cup. Just right! I place the tea pot on my glass top range burner at a low temp and it is nice and hot for my second cup. This works best for me! I tried using a pod the second time after giving my husband the first run and it was just too weak for me.

          Reply
          • Melissa says

            January 31, 2015 at 2:50 pm

            Great idea Judy-I never thought to do that!

            Reply
    12. Jamie Koenig says

      July 17, 2013 at 4:04 pm

      This is perfect we havent been able to use our because I had no idea how to clean it. ty for posting...new follower

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        July 17, 2013 at 10:36 pm

        Thanks Jamie, following you back!

        Reply
    13. shawna says

      July 16, 2013 at 10:21 am

      One suggestion - Please choose a NEW & UNUSED toothbrush as a cleaning tool for items used in food prep!

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        July 16, 2013 at 2:27 pm

        Great point!!!!

        Reply
    14. Runt says

      July 16, 2013 at 9:20 am

      You weren't the only one without a Keurig... we still don't have one! But we are contemplating it. I'm just trying to decide if buying the K-Cups is equal to or less than buying coffee in it's regular container. What do you think? Do you have an opinion on that?

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        July 16, 2013 at 9:47 am

        I think if you're drinking full pots of coffee everyday it would end up being more expensive. We only brew one to two cups a day during the week so it is the same or less expensive for us.

        Reply
        • Runt says

          July 16, 2013 at 3:34 pm

          Okay that makes sense. Honestly I am not a coffee drinker and my Hubs only brews coffee on the weekends. But when he does brew coffee on the weekends he tends to have two or three cups. Maybe I can convince him that at least this way he can have different flavors if he wants! Thanks for the info. =]

          Reply
          • jill says

            February 24, 2014 at 11:57 am

            If you decide on the Keurig you can get the k cups on Amazon at a much more reasonable price than your local grocery store. You can also get them at Costco in bulk. The San Francisco bay on Amazon is the best deal I've found so far though! :0)

            Reply
            • Melissa Riker says

              February 24, 2014 at 11:59 am

              Great tip! We are military so I stock up at our commissary-they are marked up so much in the regular grocery stores!

      • Crystal G. says

        November 07, 2013 at 1:09 am

        You don't have to use the K-cups. They make a re-usable Keurig cup. You fill it with your regular ground coffee.

        Reply
        • ron says

          December 07, 2015 at 11:41 am

          Can you put the reusable K-cups in the dishwasher ? thanks

          Reply
          • Melissa says

            December 15, 2015 at 7:51 am

            I'm not sure Ron, I hand wash mine and they come clean very easily.

            Reply
          • Karen says

            June 10, 2016 at 6:35 pm

            I have the Keurig brand reusable cup and I love it. I put it in the silverware compartment in my dishwasher every few days, just rinsing ( letting the grounds flow down my disposal) days in between. It is cheaper and so much better for the environment!

            Reply
        • David Haynes says

          October 31, 2017 at 10:23 pm

          Yep, we do that from time to time, but, we usually end up with a few grounds in the cup. Not a deal breaker for me.

          Reply
      • Rachel says

        December 29, 2014 at 7:37 pm

        You're not alone I just got one Wednesday for my Christmas present (we do Christmas on Christmas Eve.) They have a reusable kcup my mom bought me. You pour the regular coffee into it and it makes it like a kcup. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on it just buy the bag of coffee and the reusable cup.

        Reply
        • Melissa says

          December 30, 2014 at 7:57 am

          That's so funny you mentioned that Rachel, my husband just got us one this past weekend and I used it for the first time this morning! It will definitely lower our grocery bill a bit to not have to buy the Kcups (especially with my husband, I drink one cup a day but he drinks probably 5!)

          Reply
      • Tania says

        March 06, 2016 at 1:58 pm

        Buy the filter cup for the machine and use your own coffee

        Reply
      • Judy Williams says

        June 21, 2019 at 6:52 am

        I Ithink it depends on what coffee you use. For instance. Starbucks coffee vs Starbucks K cups. Big difference in cost per cup.

        Reply

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