Can be It’s tricky to figure out how to clean your Keurig, but it’s an important task. If your home is like mine, your pod coffee maker runs anywhere from three to seven times a day. All that use can cause buildup and gunk, which can affect the taste of your coffee and the life of your machine. But with proper care and a dedicated schedule, cleaning is a breeze. Here’s everything you need to know about everyday light cleaning and deep cleaning.
Be sure to check out our related buying guides, which include the Best Pod Coffee Makers, Best Coffee Machines, Best Coffee Subscriptions, and Best Milk Companies.
Daily Maintenance
To clean the housing of your Keurig coffee maker or other pod machine, simply take a damp cloth and wipe the outside. You can clean the K-Cup holder and needle by brushing or removing any loose debris like coffee grounds—be careful around the needle part as, obviously, it’s sharp.
Some machines come with a needle cleaning tool that you insert into the top and bottom of the needle, and a few people in various forums use a paper clip instead. Some machines have removable handles that can be submerged in hot water. It’s always a good idea to refer to your model’s user guide, and you’ll probably want to unplug your machine beforehand.
To clean your drip tray and reservoir, remove it and wash it by hand in hot, soapy water (although avoid using too much dish soap to prevent build-up). If your machine came with a carafe, wash it by hand or put it in the dishwasher if it’s dishwasher safe. Let them air dry or wipe with a lint-free towel after wiping. You should replace the fresh water in your pool regularly, especially if it has been sitting for a while. If your machine has a water filter in place, change it every two to three months. Most machines with these types of filters have maintenance reminders—listen!
To clean the internal bits and pieces, you can use something like the Keurig Rinse Pod, which helps remove any excess oil or flavors that may have lingered. They are especially useful after making K-Cups that taste like hot cocoa or other types of coffee. You can also run the hot water cycle every so often, which is a great idea if you haven’t used your machine for a few days.
Deep Cleansing and Descaling
Some manufacturers recommend using distilled or filtered water instead of your stored tap water, but I’ve been using tap water with the knowledge that I may have to clean my machine more often. You should deep clean or descale your pod coffee maker every three to six months, or maybe more often if you see hard water stains, calcium deposits, or mineral buildup, or your machine tells you to deep clean it.
You can do this in several ways. For the DIY method, fill your water tank with white vinegar and water (about half and half) and run high volume brew cycles until the tank is empty; In between, consider letting the vinegar solution soak for a while, about 20 to 30 minutes. Follow up with a few cycles of cleaning using clean water until the vinegar smell is gone. Alternatively, you can use a dedicated Keurig degreasing solution according to the instructions on the bottle. That solution can also be used in non-Keurig machines. Make sure your machine is thoroughly cleaned before making your next cup of coffee.
It is important to perform these deep cleaning cycles regularly to ensure that your machine lasts as long as possible. And that your coffee tastes good, of course.
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