Cleaning your Keurig is important for many reasons. Not only does it keep your machine running properly but, it can also keep you from getting sick as well. Between the lime build up and possible mold it is best to keep your Keurig machine clean.
Signs it’s Time to Clean Your Keurig
One of the first signs it’s time to clean your keurig is when the brewing time slows down or, you just aren’t getting as much coffee as you used to. Another tell tale sign is the odd taste your coffee has when it didn’t used to taste like that.
General Cleaning
Reservoir
The reservoir and the parts within it are not dishwasher safe. To clean this you will need a non-abrasive cloth and warm water. Wipe the reservoir out and either let it air dry or, use a towel to dry it.
Outside of Machine
The outside of the machine can have accumulate water spots, spilled coffee or any other spots from daily use. Use a non-abrasive cloth with warm water and wipe the whole outside off. A soapy cloth is okay as well but, you need to be sure to get all of the soap off with a clean damp cloth.
Clogged Needle
There are two needles that can become clogged when using the wrong K-cup or, just from use over time. Unbend a paper clip and stick it down into the needle. With a little bit of wiggling you should be able to dislodge anything stuck in there. Then, run a couple of mugs worth of plain water through it. Please note that you will not be able to put the paper clip all the way through the needle.
Descaling
Keurig themselves say that descaling should take place every three to six months.
Vinegar
One of the most common ways to descale your keurig machine is to use a vinegar and water mixture. Fill half of the water reservoir with white vinegar and the other half with water. Place a cup or container under the dispensing area and press brew. Do this until the reservoir is empty (emptying the mug or container as needed). Fill it again with regular water and continue the same process until the whole thing is empty again. I prefer to run three to four reservoirs of plain water through it to make sure that any vinegar taste that may be left behind is gone.
Lemon Juice
Just like vinegar, lemon juice has citric acid which will help to clean and descale your Keurig. You can either use prepared lemon juice you bought at the store or, you can have get fresh lemons and squeeze them yourself (although this may take a while and a lot of lemons). Using the same half and half solution as the vinegar in the reservoir. Run the machine (emptying the cup or container as needed) until the reservoir is empty. Next, fill it with plain water and continue the process until the hint of lemon is no longer in the water.
Commercial Cleaner
Keurig Hot has a solution made specifically for cleaning keurigs and making sure that your machine is properly de-scaled and cleaned. On the Keurig website you can find the descaling directions to clean your specific machine.
Deep Clean
To deep clean your keurig brewer, you will need to disassemble it. Carefully the K-cup holder as there are two very sharp needles that could poke you, pull out the funnel and take the drip tray off (separating the two pieces). All of these pieces are dishwasher safe (top rack only) so they are easy to clean. After doing this, you are ready to descale the inside of the machine following the directions above.
Keeping your Keurig clean is very important as it can lead to some not so tasty coffee or, even make you sick. In order to keep your machine cleaner longer, remove any used pods right away and keep up with the cleaning schedule. Doing these things will help to keep your Keurig running smoothly and your coffee delicious.