Erika Tracy is a work-from-home mama happily living in the South. She works as a freelance designer and photographer in Montgomery, AL. Show
updated Sep 23, 2022 Page URL comments SaveComments We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. (Image credit: Joe Lingeman) Love them or hate them, pod coffee systems have carved (and kept!) a home in the morning beverage market. If you use this type of coffee maker, you know how crucial it is to keep the system brewing without issue every morning — or maybe all day, depending on your coffee habit. Could you just imagine if it worked just fine for your husband and then it stopped brewing when you tried to make your own cup? The horror! It can happen: Machines getting a lot of daily use can develop clogs that can cause the system to quit completely. Here’s a quick cleaning routine to keep your machine running well. This Is the Best Way to Keep the Coffee FlowingWhile we offer a tutorial here to clean your Keurig with vinegar, a household staple for most of us, if you want to be really certain you’re clearing out those clogs you can opt for a descaling solution. This one is the only Keurig-approved cleaning solution for its brewers! It's here: Our game-changing guide to everyone's favorite room in the house. Your Do-Anything Kitchen gathers the smartest ideas and savviest tricks—from our community, test kitchen, and cooks we love—to help transform your space into its best self. Grab your copyHaven’t cleaned your Keurig single-serve coffee maker in a while? It’s time. Much like cleaning your laundry vents and polishing hardwood floors, maintaining your small kitchen appliances is essential to their well being. So, take good care of your coffee maker. It is, after all, your lifeline to a productive morning. How to Clean Your Coffee Maker – Inside and OutDelime, descale, and clean your single serve coffee maker. Photo by: Emily Fazio Emily Fazio The convenience of single-serve coffee makers is unmatched, but unlike a traditional coffee maker, many models retain water in a reservoir for long periods of time leading to mold and mineral deposits. Whether you operate a Keurig, De'Longhi, Lavazzo, or one of the many other brands available, signs that it may be time to clean your coffee maker include:
Mineral deposits associated with hard water buildup, whether visible to the eye or not, are responsible for many of these problems associated with a single-serve coffee maker. If you have hard water, you may notice a need to descale (or delime) the inside of your machine more often.
1. Begin by emptying any water from inside the reservoir. 2. Wash and clean any removable components of the coffee maker in the sink with warm, soapy water. Some models even have dishwasher-safe components (for example, the entire reservoir on my Keurig is safe to go in the dishwasher). If your coffee maker also excels at espresso and has a milk steamer attachment, use this opportunity to disassemble and clean those pieces, too. How to Clean a Single-Serve Coffee MakerWash and clean any removable components of the coffee maker in the sink with warm, soapy water. Some models even have dishwasher-safe components. Photo by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY 3. While the coffee maker is partially disassembled, use a small cleaning brush dipped in vinegar to clean around the base of the machine where the reservoir is and in the area surrounding where the pod/cup goes (I’m not the only one with lots of grounds trapped in there, am I?). On some models, that plastic area that the pod sits in is also removable. How to Clean a Single-Serve Coffee MakerWhile the coffee maker is partially disassembled, use a small cleaning brush dipped in vinegar to clean around the base of the machine where the reservoir is and in the area surrounding where the pod/cup goes. Photo by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY 4. Reusable filters need a good scrub now and again, too, because the grounds will become congested in the mesh. I’ve found that a trip through the dishwasher isn’t quite as effective for the reusable pods, but if you soak it in a cup of vinegar, and then use a small brush to loosen any granules and clean the fine mesh, you can get it pretty clean. How to Clean a Single-Serve Coffee MakerReusable filters need a good scrub now and again because the grounds will become congested in the mesh. Soak the filter in a cup of vinegar, and then use a small brush to loosen any granules and clean the fine mesh. Photo by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY 5. Cleaning the inside of the coffee maker is as important as cleaning the exterior components. Reassemble your clean, dry reservoir, and fill it with 4 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. How to Clean a Single-Serve Coffee MakerCleaning the inside of the coffee maker is as important as cleaning the exterior components. Reassemble your clean, dry reservoir, and fill it with 4 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. Photo by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY 6. Run the machine a few times with no filter in place, essentially brewing cup after cup of hot vinegar. After a few cups have cycled, let the machine sit with the vinegar solution in it for a few hours, and then complete the rest of the cycles so that all of the solution has run its course through the machine. I think you'll be surprised about how dirty that vinegar water will be. You'll be sorry you didn't do this sooner. HGTV At Home Cleaning 100 - Clean Your Coffee MakerPhoto by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY 7. Remove and clean the reservoir one more time, and this time fill it with water. How to Clean a Single-Serve Coffee MakerRemove and clean the reservoir one more time, and this time fill it with water. Photo by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY 8. Run several more cups of plain water through the reservoir to clean out any lingering vinegar (though keep in mind that vinegar is non-toxic, and you probably wouldn’t even notice if there were still a few drops of it in your coffee). How to Clean a Single-Serve Coffee MakerRun several more cups of plain water through the reservoir to clean out any lingering vinegar. Photo by: SHAIN RIEVLEY SHAIN RIEVLEY All set! Test it out with some fresh grounds, and have a great start to your day.
More Top Tips How to Clean an Auto-Drip Coffee Maker With VinegarFollow these simple steps for cleaning an auto-drip coffee maker for a germ-free home brewer and a fresh tasting cup of joe. Replay Video We're sorry, there seems to be an issue playing this video. Please refresh the page or try again in a moment. If you continue to have issues, please contact us here. Loading Video... Coffee taste a little funky? Regular cleanings will keep your coffee maker germ-free and ready to brew.
Replay Video We're sorry, there seems to be an issue playing this video. Please refresh the page or try again in a moment. If you continue to have issues, please contact us here. Loading Video... Find out how to use fruit and herb infusions to turn vinegar into a scented natural cleaner and odor eliminator.
Clean a Coffee Maker With VinegarFollow these simple steps for cleaning an auto-drip coffee maker for a germ-free home brewer and a fresh tasting cup of joe. How to Clean a HumidifierImprove your home's air quality by disinfecting one of the most important small appliances you’re probably forgetting to clean. What is the best way to clean a Keurig machine?What is the best way to clean a Keurig?. Water and electricity don't mix. ... . Remove the water reservoir (or water tank). ... . Clean the pod holder. ... . For a more serious clean, use white vinegar or descaling solution to remove mineral deposits from the water reservoir. ... . Now, start the brew cycle using fresh water only.. How do I clean my Keurig coffee maker with vinegar?Fill the water reservoir halfway with vinegar. Add water: Fill the reservoir the rest of the way with water. Run the machine: Start the brew cycle without inserting a K-cup. Repeat until reservoir is empty, discarding the mug contents after each brewing cycle.
Can I use vinegar and water to descale my Keurig?Combine equal parts water and vinegar
From cleaning kitchen grease to descaling your Keurig, it does it all! To descale my Keurig, I pour equal parts water and white vinegar into the now empty reservoir and turn the machine on to a cycle.
How long do you leave vinegar in a Keurig to descale?You really should let it sit for an hour if you can. The longer it sits the more scale the acidic vinegar will dissolve from the machine. Don't let it sit for more than 3 hours. If you want, you can even repeat this whole process up to this point again.
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