How to Clean a Keurig

Just like cleaning other appliances in your office or home, cleaning the Keurig should be a routine task to ensure that germs, bacteria, and dust aren’t laying around. Bacteria, mold, and dust can be found on the exterior as well as inside the machine which can cause health issues. The coffee maker’s interior can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and even mold if not cleaned properly or often enough. Skipping out on the cleaning routine can make your coffee, tea, or cocoa taste unusual and not as fresh tasting. There are a few different ways to clean and disinfect every part of a Keurig with these simple steps.

The Steps to Cleaning a Keurig

A Keurig is made of multiple parts that are removable, making it easy to clean. By taking your Keurig apart you can get to the areas that need to be cleaned a lot faster in order to clean more efficiently. Here is a list of the parts of your Keurig, where they are located on the machine, and how often you should clean them to keep your machine looking fresh:

• The needle: The needle is the device that pokes a hole in the K-cup each time you brew a cup of coffee or tea and is located in the front of the machine above where your mug goes. This part should be cleaned as often as you need to, so make it a habit to check it every once in a while and see if it needs to be cleaned.
• The water filter: The water filter is located in the back of the machine and is removable. This should be cleaned about every two months, of course you can clean it more often but since water is the only liquid you should put into a Keurig, it doesn’t get too dirty.
• The tray: The tray is the item your mug sits on when the hot beverage is coming out of the machine. Since this area is prone to dripping, it should be cleaned about once a week.
• The water reservoir: The water reservoir is where you pour the water when you are going to brew a cup of coffee or tea. This area isn’t always removable, but it can be cleaned every once in a while. Simply use a microfiber cloth and wipe it down as much as possible if it is removable. If it is not removable, you can try to wipe it down by reaching your hand into the reservoir and drying the walls. Since the Keurig cannot get every drop of water from the reservoir when making coffee, it’s good to be sure that the drops left behind aren’t creating mold or other bacteria in the machine. Using paper towel may cause a lint build-up and can leave particles behind, so get a microfiber cloth for this job.

Creating a weekly cleaning routine for your Keurig is important to eliminate any possible germs and dust, as well as decreasing the spread of bacteria. For the most efficient way to clean the Keurig and get rid of the germs and dust, follow these steps:

1. Unplug the machine.
2. Remove the removable parts from the Keurig.
3. Using dish soap, a damp cloth, scrub the exterior of the machine as well as the inside of the water reservoir and let it soak.
4. Clean the tray by scrubbing it with warm soapy water and let it soak in warm water to get rid of grime and sticky coffee material.
5. Rinse out the water reservoir and allow it to air dry to limit lint from the paper towel or cloth you are using.
6. Wipe the needle with a damp cloth.
7. After wiping the exterior with a dry towel and putting the machine back together, plug the machine in and enjoy your freshly cleaned Keurig, perhaps with your favorite hot beverage.

 How do you clean a Keurig filter?

Cleaning the filter of a Keurig is very important because it can build up bacteria and other harsh materials that can make your beverages taste different. It also isn’t good for your health if your filter isn’t clean, and you continue to use the machine. It’s a good idea to replace and clean the water filter in your Keurig every 1-2 months to ensure that there is no mold or bacteria. Cleaning the filter also helps your coffee remain fresh tasting every time you use the machine. Follow these instructions for cleaning your filter:

1. Get some Keurig water filter cartridges and soak your new one in water for about five minutes and then rinse it with fresh water.
2. Take out the old filter and wash the filter holder that comes out of your Keurig.
3. Insert the freshly washed filter holder back into the machine and put the new cartridge into the filter holder.
4. Put everything back into the Keurig and enjoy your clean water filter.

How do you clean a Keurig needle?

If you are an avid coffee or tea drinker and begin to see the grounds sticking to the K-cup holder or they even make their way into your mug, it’s probably a good idea to clean your Keurig needle. To do this, simply unplug your machine and remove the K-cup holder from the funnel. Next, using a small item like a Q-tip or a paper clip to remove the leftover grounds from the funnel as well as the needle under the brewer head. By cleaning the needles, you are ensuring that coffee grounds don’t end up in your drink the next time you go to brew your favorite flavor. Rinse off the funnel and the K-cup holder before putting everything back together and voila! You now have a clean Keurig needle. Be sure to check this part of your machine often to reduce the amount of coffee grounds in your drink.

Can you use baking soda to clean a Keurig?

Using baking soda can help clean your Keurig thoroughly because of the ability it has to naturally get rid of stains, grime, odor, and tough coffee residue from the inside of your machine. Baking soda is a more natural way to clean your Keurig because it doesn’t have any harsh chemicals. Here are the steps needed to clean your Keurig with baking soda:

1. Combine warm water and ¼ cup of baking soda and stir it until it’s a smooth mixture.
2. Add the mixture to the water reservoir in the machine and turn on the machine as if you were brewing a cup of coffee or tea.
3. Allow the mixture to completely empty out into a mug to clean the machine and get rid of any residue or odors.
4. Run the cycle again but with only water to allow any baking soda to empty out of the machine.
5. Repeat step 4 until you get plain, clear water in your mug.

Using baking soda is a great and effective way to clean your Keurig, but if you haven’t descaled your machine for a while, it won’t give you the same result that the descaling process would. Using a different method would be better, because if your machine hasn’t been through the descaling process in a while, baking soda isn’t as good at removing minerals from Keurig’s. In addition to cleaning and wiping down the various parts of the Keurig, it’s also important to know how to descale your Keurig.

Can you use vinegar to clean a Keurig?

Vinegar is also a great natural remedy to clean your Keurig. Combining it with the baking soda would help get rid of the built-up calcium and limescale even more. This process is technically referred to as descaling, which means to strip the machine of those deposits that can be clogging it. It’s recommended that this is done every 1-2 years depending on how often you use the machine. Similar to the baking soda method, simply fill the water reservoir halfway with white vinegar and brew it through the machine. Remove the water reservoir from the machine and rinse it thoroughly with warm water, then refill it and repeat the brewing process until it doesn’t smell like vinegar anymore.

Can you use apple cider vinegar to clean a Keurig?

Using other kinds of vinegar like apple cider vinegar is also a great way to clean your Keurig and get rid of the build-up that appears inside the machine over time. To clean your Keurig with apple cider vinegar, use the same method as you would if you were using regular white vinegar. Make sure you run water through the machine multiple times to get rid of the vinegar taste and smell. You don’t want your favorite coffee or tea tasting like vinegar.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Keurig

Similar to cleaning other appliances regularly, the Keurig coffee maker needs some attention as well. It’s important to routinely clean your Keurig both at the office and at home in order to produce delicious coffee, tea, or cocoa. There are many methods to clean your Keurig, so find one that works for you and the environment that you are in.