How to Clean and Descale a Keurig Without Vinegar

You can’t ignore the signs of a mineral buildup in your coffee maker! The descaling process is an important one so that it keeps your Keurig brewers clean and performing their best.

If you don’t know the last time that you cleaned your Keurig and entire reservoir, these simple steps are for you! Learn how to clean a Keurig the right way!

This post about how to clean a Keurig is sponsored by Bar Keepers Friend but the love of their products is my own.

If you’re a coffee-lover, like my in-laws, there’s probably nothing better than a freshly brewed cup. That’s why so many coffee drinkers love the convenience of a Keurig coffee maker.

But these handy coffee makers need a little bit of maintenance to make sure they’re always working properly.

The best way to ensure your favorite kitchen appliance is working well each morning is to clean and descale it on a regular basis.

Bar Keeper’s Friend has the best products to keep your Keurig running at its best – ensuring you can enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of coffee every morning.

Cleaning a Keurig

Now, you’ve probably seen it recommended to use vinegar to clean coffee makers, including Keurigs, but sometimes, vinegar just isn’t enough to really deep clean a Keurig (despite how great vinegar often is for cleaning a variety of things around your home).

So, for this Keurig cleaning tutorial, I am not using vinegar but the coffee maker cleaning products from Bar Keepers Friend.

Keurig Cleaner

Regular Bar Keepers Friend has many uses, and works amazing on so many things, so I wanted to test out their coffee maker descaler and coffee maker cleaner to see if it also gives superior results when used to clean a Keurig coffee machine.

Problem was…. I don’t drink coffee.

I found someone who did and she tested it out for me!

The following are her results and her process for using Bar Keepers Friend coffee cleaning products to clean your Keurig machine.

Note that their coffee machine cleaners are designed to be safe (and effective) for ALL coffee machines: automatic drip coffee makers, single cup coffee makers, and even espresso machines.

Keurig Cleaning Supplies

Before you start cleaning your Keurig, you should take a few minutes to prepare your work surface.

Since Bar Keepers Friend is acidic, make sure to your countertop with a towel to protect it from abrasion, especially if you have stone counters.

After that, cover your hands with a pair of rubber gloves to protect them from the acidity in the cleaner.

To clean and descale your Keurig, you’ll need:

• Bar Keepers Friend Coffee Maker Descaler
• Cold water
• Towel
• Rubber gloves
• Dish soap
• Sponge

After gathering all your supplies, prep your Keurig for cleaning by unplugging it from the electrical outlet and removing the pod from the coffee maker.

Then, check to make sure the water reservoir is empty.

How to Descale a Keurig

After several uses, your Keurig will start to collect hard water deposits inside the reservoir and around the heating element. And if you don’t remove those hard water deposits, your Keurig’s heating element could stop working.

But these hard water deposits are easy to prevent by descaling your Keurig every three months.

Step 1: Mix the Cleaning Solution

To descale your Keurig with Bar Keepers Friend, start by filling your water reservoir with cold water.

For every eight ounces of water in the reservoir, you should add one ounce of Bar Keepers Friend.

Be sure to wear rubber gloves when working with the cleaning solution!

Step 2: Start a Brew

After mixing the solution in the reservoir, place a mug under the discharge area and start a brew cycle.

Step 3: Repeat Until Empty

Let the coffee maker complete the brew cycle, then pour the hot water out and repeat the process until the reservoir is empty.

Step 4: Refill Reservoir and Brew Again

When you’ve completely emptied the reservoir, fill it with cold water again.

Set the coffee maker to do another brew cycle to rinse the cleaning solution from inside the coffee maker and reservoir.

Step 5: Repeat Until Empty

Keep brewing until the reservoir is drained, emptying the cup each time you brew.

How to Clean a Keurig

Descaling is an important step in keeping your Keurig in good working order, but it’s also a good idea to clean the components of your Keurig on a regular basis.

To clean your Keurig and remove oily residue inside the machine, use Bar Keepers Friend Coffee Maker Cleaner to keep the appliance clean between descalings.

How to Clean the Keurig Needles

If you notice your Keurig isn’t brewing properly, it may be because the needles are clogged with coffee grounds.

To keep the needles on your Keurig clean, start by unplugging your machine.

Then, use a paper clip to clear away debris that is stuck in the needles.

How Often Should I Clean My Keurig?

This simple process of descaling your Keurig should be completed every three months to ensure your appliance is clean and in good working order.

But wiping down the outside of the Keurig and washing the reservoir and mug tray with soap and water should be done on a regular basis to prevent coffee stains and dirt build-up.

Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of the machine as well to make sure that you’re getting rid of all the dirt, grime, and pet hair that might be floating around. You’d be amazed at how you can extend the life of your machine with these easy steps. Once you have your first cup of coffee after cleaning it, you’ll be amazed in the difference in the flavor and taste.

Cleaning a single-serve coffee maker important, and regular cleaning should be at the top of your list of things to do. If you can stay on top of the mineral build-up, you’ll have a clean brewing system that is ready to go anytime you’re ready for that morning coffee.

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