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After having many readers write me about this, and then reading a silly article online, I decided to write this post on how to clean a Keurig machine the right and easy way!

Just like any coffee pot, a Keurig will hold residue overtime, like coffee grounds, water minerals, and moisture.

And just like any coffee pot, you need to clean it every few weeks to keep it safe and healthy.

How to Clean a Keurig

Before we get into this post, I want to talk about this article I read. The author mentioned they had used their Keurig for a few years. When they moved, they took the machine apart. They found mold inside of the Keurig and were really disgusted. She said that Keurigs are horrible because they can’t be cleaned or dried, and they had probably been drinking mold.

The article went on to describe all these details. My first thought was, huh? Did she not clean the Keurig? Then, I thought you might not realize this machine is just like an coffee maker. It can be cleaned and used just like a traditional one. When a machine has water running through it constantly, it is important to clean out residue, moisture, and hard water deposits. If you do this regularly, it should never develop mold.

Over the past few months, I have had many readers asking me how to clean their Keurigs as well. So, I thought this would be a beneficial post for others.

This is where the amazing household chemical acetic acid comes in. Acetic acid is very effective at removing ANY residue at high temperatures. Just like with this really easy microwave cleaner!

First, you need to do a vinegar rinse every 2-3 weeks (if you have gone too long without cleaning your machine, then read this post on descaling it!!!)

Vinegar, or acetic acid,  is not safe for natural stone surfaces, like we’ve mentioned in this post, but it is very effective at removing odor and residue.

• White Distilled Vinegar
• Distilled Water
  
  

Make sure you are using a white distilled vinegar. Empty all the water from the Keurig, add about 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of distilled water. Choose the 12 oz of water, and run it through.

Now, run an 8 oz option of hot water.

At this point, add in another cup of distilled water. Run another 2 cycles of hot water. **

Dump out any remaining water/vinegar solution in your Keurig and fill with fresh water. Since vinegar can linger in odor or smell, I recommend running 2-4 more water cycles to make sure you get all vinegar out.

Now that everything has been vinegar steam cleaned, it is very important to let everything dry. Lift up the handle, remove the water holder and let it all dry for a few hours.

** If you still see coffee residue after these cycles, feel free to repeat the vinegar steps.

Chemist Tips for Keurigs

If you missed this post on my favorite coffees for Keurig, definitely check it out. I love testing and trying all the options out there. Those in the post are the best!

Instead of wasting anything, save your coffee grounds for something useful! Definitely check out the post on coffee grounds here!

There are also many Keurig users who are a little concerned about the plastic cups for health and environment.  If it bothers you too, there are many biodegradable options like these type of K-cups. I have also used these cups for tea and really like them. These are used with recycled material.

Another option is using these reusable k-cups.  All you need is to buy filters! This is healthy, safe, cheaper, and you can use your own coffee!

So, if you have concerns about this, just use these safe options!

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