First questions first, when was the last time when you actually checked and cleaned your Keurig coffee maker? If you never did since the date you bought it, then probably you should check it now because perhaps you might find some of the colonies of bacteria resting right under your machine.
Sounds ew? Well, probably then it’s the best time that you should descale and clean your coffee machine and should check your Keurig maintenance cup by using Keurig maintenance accessories.
Table of Contents
Read the Keurig B60 manual that comes with the machine and read Keurig descaling instructions within your manual. For keeping your machine away from bacteria, you should know a couple of things about it. For example: ‘How to change Keurig filter?’ ‘In Keurig where to put water?’ and all other such things that can keep your machine running for a longer span of time.
Along with that, you should also have an idea about the Keurig 2.0 parts and make sure that you get yourself familiar with Keurig 2.0 needle maintenance too in order to keep your machine clean and tidy.
We are going to discuss three methods for descaling and cleaning our Keurig 2.0:
- Keurig Descaling Solution
- Vinegar
- Lemon Juice
Things Required For Descaling Keurig Coffee Maker
- White Vinegar/Lemon Juice/Descaling Solution
- Water
- Any kind of brush
- A towel
- Paperclip
- Dishwasher and all-purpose cleaner
- A mug
Things That Need To Be Done On Regular Basis
- Remove the water reservoir.
- Remove the K-cup holder and the funnel.
- After that, remove the drip tray along with the drip tray cover.
- Clean all these external parts of the Keurig machine by using a towel, a dishwasher or all-purpose cleaner.
- Clean and remove any of the clogs around needles by using paper clips.
- Keep the reservoir void of water when it’s not being used.
Cleaning Keurig with Vinegar
- Attach the Keurig water reservoir with the machine.
- Fill it up with the vinegar and the water equally.
- Use filtered water instead of tap water. It ensures that there are no bacteria in the water.
- Place a large sized mug on the stand.
- Run the brew cycle without placing any K-cup.
- Empty the mug each time after it gets filled with water.
- Keep repeating the same process until the Keurig water reservoir gets empty.
- Wash the machine thoroughly three to four times until you don’t find any taste of vinegar in the water
Cleaning Keurig with Lemon Juice
This method includes the same steps we discussed above and you can even descale Keurig without vinegar.
You’d need a lot of lemons for extracting lemon juice or else invest some money and buy some lemon juice from your nearest supermarket so you can easily go with cleaning Keurig mini without vinegar by applying this method.
Directions:
- Firstly, fix the Keurig water reservoir with the machine.
- Now, after attaching the water reservoir, fill it up with lemon juice and water by keeping the ration 1:1 in mind.
- Put a large-sized ceramic mug on the drip tray.
- Make sure that there is no K-cup while brewing the cycle.
- After the water is run and the mug gets filled, clear it up.
- Repeat the same process until the entire reservoir becomes void of water.
- Lastly, wash the machine enough times with the water until you get it cleared from the after-taste of the lemon juice.
Cleaning Keurig with Descaling Solution
Before we delve into the directions, the first thing to know is where to buy Keurig descaling solution from? Check out the below products on Amazon:
Directions:
- First off, attach the water reservoir after washing it off properly.
- Repeat the same process as was done in the previous two methods of filling the reservoir with half the water and the other half with the descaling solution.
- Again, put a large sized mug on the stand or a drip tray.
- While you brew the cycle, make sure that you have detached the K-cup from the Keurig coffee maker.
- Clear the mug up whenever it gets filled till its brim.
- Repeat step 4 and 5 until the water reservoir gets empty.
- Wash the machine externally and internally so that no remnants of the solution are left unwashed.
Descaling solution Vs Vinegar
In our opinion, descaling solution is better than vinegar. Vinegar, if not be properly cleaned out of the machine, can give a very bitter taste in your next couple of coffees. In such cases, it’s better to invest some money and buy a descaling solution for washing it properly.
How often should you clean your coffee makers?
One of the things that most of the coffee lovers neglect is that their coffee makers need some cleansing every now and then too. The debris of the coffee beans and hard water remains inside after brewing each cup of coffee. For cleaning that detritus out, it is essential to clean your coffee makers once in a week. If not that then once in a month at least if you desire to have some fresh java cups.
I would like to see a video regarding water not heating, I did put hot water in and than it heated and ran, but I don’t know what happened and what to do. I love the videos on doing the cleaning.
Shirley I’ll try my best to present video solutions in my upcoming blogs.
I put vinegar into the water reservoir and the machine drew it in, but it still wouldn’t push the vinegar out. Im leaving it in the machine overnight to soak and will try again in the morning. Any other thing a to try to unclog the machine?
Tina this vinegar thing should really work. Do update us.
I tried cleaning my Keurig with a vinega water solution. It ran one cup through then quit. Now all the lights stay on and it does nothing. I’ve tried the paper clip and reset method but to no avail so I purchased another one. I would Iike to have the other one as a extra. Is there any thing else I could try before trashing it. Ty
Millie can you try the descaling method once again and let us know the output?
I use only distilled water in my Keurig because I know I have hard water. But now that my machine is getting older it seems that cleaning is necessary after every other cup. Is this normal when the machine is getting older? If so, guess I should invest in a new machine before this one completely dies. Or is there a solution to this too?
Joanne I would suggest descaling your machine but even if the problem remains then I would suggest getting a new machine. You can have a look on the products I have mentioned above.
I have hard water too. I believe the instructions say not to use distilled water, but I wouldn’t use it anyway because it would negatively affect the taste. Coffee is afterall 99.9% water. I would use bottled water if I had no other choice. Fortunately I have a water dispenser that uses 5-gal water jugs. However, there are places you can fill your own water bottles. You could use 1-gal, 3-gal, or 5-gal bottles. That water is filtered and disinfected. Some grocery stores have these machines and there are also unattended KIOSKs now where you can get your ‘coffee’ water from.
My machine blasts out and leaves a mess.
Ken what do you mean by blasts out?
My Keurig 2.0 won’t continue the rescaling process after the 1st cup (vinegar version). What else can I do?
Did you try resetting it?
I am having a problem with back up of coffee grounds in my Keurig Coffee maker. It will work fine and then all of a sudden I am getting a backup of water & coffee grounds. Which makes quite a mess in and out of my Keurig coffee maker. I do have well water but also have a Deluxe Culligan Water Softener. There are holes in the top and bottom of the coffee ground cup so I would think the water should freely flow. I have tried to clean the point of the needle with a paper clip and small brush but after a couple cups it starts all over again! I am not seeing any build up of lime on the needles inside of the coffee maker! Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
Hello Ruth, thanks for your detailed query. Well it looks like you are doing everything right and the issue could be with your machine. How often do you see any build up of lime on the needle?
My Keurig is pulling water, but when I select cup size and engage the pod it pumps hot water right back into the reservoir. There seems to be no way to dis-assemble the top to clean inside. Also where does the filter pod go?
Edna, when my keurig dispenses the coffee it blast it out, sprays in all directions. I have cleaned out the needle as well as changed filters and cleaned/descale the coffee maker. Also I do not use k-cups instead I use a permanent cup where I can refill my own coffees. Have been using this for years and now the coffee makers spits out coffee all over. Leaves a mess.
Hey Carol, thanks for your detailed questions. For how long you have been using this coffee machine?
I’m seeing that my Keurig 2.0 is leaking from the bottom in the back, under the power chord. Would descaling fix this or do I need to take it apart?
Melissa I would recommend descaling it first and in hopes of fixing the issue.
Hi. I descaled my Keurig 2.0. Now the coffee tastes like soap. Followed directions to the T. Thank you.
Laurie can you please run the machine with just water and see if it solves the problem.
when cleaning, do u take out the old filter? or leave it in untill cleaning is done? i change the filter every time i clean it
Hey Alice, it’s always recommended to change the filter as well.
Here’s what I do. Sometimes the paper clip trick doesn’t work. I takes a can of compressed air like you use to clean o out your computer keyboard . Holding the can upright I take the straw( comes with the can ) and hold it to the injectors where the coffee cones out and mixes with the cup. A-Few quick burst is all you need. I’ve been doing it for years and have not damaged anything . Put a cup under it and run clear water through it to get the grinds out . Remember to remove any used cups prior to this method .
Thank you for your input here Grey. Much appreciated.