WITH the ease that Keurig coffee makers have brought into our lives, it can be easy to pop in your pod, brew your coffee, and get on your way.
But it’s important to remember to clean your Keurig once in a while or you could face a buildup of hard water, minerals, and even mold.
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How to clean a Keurig?
A simple internet search will show you that there are many different ways to clean a Keurig, but we’ve narrowed them down to the best ones for you to try.
One factor to consider is which model of Keurig you own.
Smaller ones may need extra care, as not all of them have removable trays.
For all styles, first make sure your Keurig is unplugged.
For older kids, the first step is to remove the interior parts, the drip tray, and remove your water tank.
You’ll want to scrub them with a mixture of half vinegar and half water for the best value.
Next, you’ll need to clean the outside of your Keurig, where spills may have left their mark or dust may have accumulated.
To clean the exterior, we recommend Bar Keeper’s Friend, which won’t scratch any of your stainless steels or have the lingering smell of vinegar.
Now it’s time to reassemble your Keurig, but you’re not done yet.
Finally, you will want to fill your water tank with half vinegar and half water.
Run as many cups as needed and make sure to use all the different settings (like different cup sizes or automatic settings).
If your Keurig is dirty, it will probably come out brown or with coffee grounds at first, but don’t worry.
Eventually (this may take more than one cycle on smaller machines) your Keurig will produce a clean cup.
The final step is to run several cycles of water through the machine until it no longer smells like vinegar.
Don’t worry about your health being at risk, as might be the case with other cleaners, because vinegar is non-toxic.
How often should I clean my Keurig?
You should remove cups from your Keurig after each use.
If you have a large tank, you should empty it at least every other day.
If you have a single-cup machine, you should run a cup of hot water through it every day.
If you follow the maintenance steps above, you should only need a deep cleaning of your Keurig every three to six months.
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What is descaling and should I do it?
Descaling is simply the terminology that some household cleaners use to clean the inside of your Keurig to remove any mineral or limescale buildup inside your machine.
In other words, it’s the same process as above, using different chemicals.
Although some of them are perfectly safe, we have found that a mixture of vinegar and water is safe and 100% non-toxic.
If you choose to use descaling treatments, we recommend making sure they are Keurig compatible and non-toxic.