Your Keurig coffee maker is one appliances that is often forgotten about. It can seem weird to incorporate it into your cleaning routine! You forget that in order to do its best work, it needs a regular deep cleaning, just like everything else. You can clean your Keurig {easily!} and keep it running it’s best if you follow the simple deep cleaning process I’ve outlined below.
Be sure to wipe down the outside of the machine weekly. Remove the drip tray and wash it by hand in hot, soapy water {it’s not for the dishwasher!}. Wash the water filter and the lid with hot, soapy water as well. Let everything air dry, because wiping it with towels could leave fibers or lint from the towel inside your machine.
Rinse the inside of the machine. This is something you should do every time you make a different beverage than usual, such as hot chocolate. For a quick and easy rinse, place a mug on the drip tray, and then open the lid and close it without adding a capsule. Now press “brew” for a hot water-only rinse.
Once every month or two is a great time to fully clean and de-scale the Keurig machine, especially if you have hard water. If you have softer water you can do this every three to six months, as recommended by Keurig. You can accomplish de-scaling with white distilled vinegar, or Keurig’s own cleaning solution.
If your Keurig is a 2.0 or plus model, pour 14 ounces or water, vinegar, or the Keurig cleaning solution into the reservoir. Turn the machine on and place a mug on the drip tray. Select the single serve size and press “brew.” When brewing completes, pour the contents of the mug down the sink. Repeat this process until the machine says, “more water please,” and then allow the machine to sit for half an hour to soak. When 30 minutes are up, empty the reservoir and wash with hot, soapy water. Refill with plain water, and brew single servings at a time until the reservoir is empty.
If your Keurig is a K10 or K15 model, the process is a little different. Pour about 4 ounces of vinegar or the Keurig solution into the reservoir, and add water to the 10 ounce fill line. Lift the handle, and wait for the water to drain. To complete the cycle, press “brew.” Now repeat the process with another 4 ounces of vinegar or cleaning solution, and water to the 10 ounce fill line. This time, when the machine starts to dispense, turn the power off. Wait 30 minutes for the machine to soak. Turn it back on, lift the handle and lower it, then press “brew” to complete the cleaning cycle. Finish up by brewing three cycles with fresh water only.
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