Coffee gets us through the weekdays, and all thanks to our coffee makers. But thanking them is not enough, is it? For a smooth functioning, these super heroes require constant care and that’s where descaling works. There are quite a few reasons why you should descale your Keurig every now and then; hygiene being one of them. Below, I have the whole descaling process in three simple steps, so pull up your socks and get going.

How to Descale a Keurig Coffee Maker

Descaling is basically done to remove the calcium deposits from the brewer. According to the mineral content of water, calcium deposits build up and can really affect your Keurig’s performance. If you’re more curious about it, then you can totally read about descaling and what leads to it in this detailed study.

In order to descale your brewer, you will need a few items handy like a ceramic mug, descale solution and the sink.

Step 1: Descaling Solution

• Turn off the brewer through the power button. Whenever you perform any activity on your brewer, apart from brewing, you must make sure the power is turned off. It’s a basic safety measure that should be taken seriously.
• You must have the Keurig descaling solution and if not, then get one because we’re going to pour the whole solution into the water reservoir. That’s right! The whole bottle.
• After this is done, you can refill the same bottle with plain water and spew it back into the reservoir once again. This is quite a hack my mother taught me few years back.
• So, it’s time to turn back the brewer on and selecting the largest brew size, you need to place a container on the drip tray plate.
• You don’t have to use any k-pods. You will see the mug filling up and that is when you pour its contents out in the sink.

Step 2: Brewing

• You have to keep repeating the brew cycle until the reservoir is out of water. You’ll get to know that when the indicator shows “Add Water”.
• Make sure the brewer remains switched on for minimum 30 minutes. I know it’s long and that’s why I advise that you clean the exterior of the machine.
• After that, drain all the residue and wash the reservoir thoroughly.

Step 3: Rinsing Descaling Solution

• Brace yourselves people because this is the final step of descaling your Keurig. Now you need to fill the water reservoir with plain water up to the brim but not beyond the “max fill”.
• Once again, place your container on the Drip Tray and run a brew cycle without the K-Cup Pod. Now that I’ve mentioned k-cup, you guys must be aware of the ruckus about the environmental harms of these innocent looking pods. Well, you can update your knowledge here.
• So, you should continue the brewing for at least 10 times.
• You have completed the descaling procedure and you can use your Keurig to brew a fresh, clean cup.

Cleaning Other Parts 

1. External Cleaning

If you want to keep your brewer at its best, then cleaning the exterior from time to time is a good idea. You can use a damp cloth and warm soap water to clean the outer body of your Keurig. Don’t use water directly on it or that might cause it to malfunction. With a dry sponge, just run the stains after wiping them with soapy water. You can easily do this once a week or even regularly. If you’re an avid coffee drinker like me, then cleaning regularly would be good because no matter how you avoid it, those stubborn stains just remain.

2. K-Cup Pod Holder Assembly

Cleaning the K-Cup Pod Holder Assembly is a detailed task because it has different parts. You might feel reluctant to do it at first but it’s not that bad, just a few parts.

• The good news: you can use dishwasher for cleaning the holder but make sure you place it in top shelf. While you’re at it, be specific and use low temperature cycles.
• You can remove the holder easily by holding up the handle by one hand and pushing its bottom with the other until it pops out.
• The K-Cup Pod Holder has the funnel which should also be cleaned. Well, I mentioned it already that you need to clean the parts thoroughly. So, the funnel can also be easily dismantled by pulling at it until it’s out. You can use the dishwasher but if you’re really particular about cleaning, then use warm water and soap as usual.
• There’s also an exit needle in the assembly which is located at the bottom. Usually, it gets clogged due to coffee grinds and hence the unusual noises. So, while cleaning the funnel assembly, you must also clean the exit needle. As the holder assembly has already been dismantled and your funnel is already detached, you can use a paper clip to clean the clog. A few times is all that’s required and your coffee maker is clean as a whistle.

3. Water Reservoir

Water reservoir is another part that needs cleaning from time to time. But people, you can’t wash the reservoir in the dishwasher. If you’ve started worrying about it already, then don’t. It’s super easy.

• Both the lid and the reservoir must be rinsed with a damp cloth and warm soapy water.
• You should resist cleaning the inside of the reservoir with a dry cloth as it might leave lint. (And it’s annoying, trust me)
• The filter screen at the bottom of the reservoir should be washed with strong force of water.
• You can either wash it under the faucet or a hose. This is actually a little fun to try out but don’t end up getting all drenched like me.
• Either way, you should aim the water at the filter screen, so that the impurities that get accumulated at the bottom are cleaned.
• After all this is done, fill up the reservoir with some clean water and shake it. You’re almost there.

I hope my cleaning skills helped you guys and if you still face any problems doing it, then feel free to contact me. I’ll be more than happy to help again. Also, if you’re looking for a coffee maker and can’t decide it for yourself, then check out my latest review of the best Keurig Coffee Maker. Cheers!