How to Clean a Keurig Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Owning a Keurig means you no longer have to think about wrangling filters and ground coffee beans every morning. But many of us are probably guilty of not thinking about cleaning it either — and that thing can get dirty. Like all coffee makers and pod coffee systems, Keurigs can serve as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold if not regularly cleaned. Grossed out? Us too.

We asked Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, for advice on how to maintain your go-to morning machine. Start by buying the following cleaning essentials, then follow the timeline below for how often you should clean every part of your brewer.

What you’ll need:

Every week:

Ideally, you’ll want to wash the removable parts of your machine on a weekly basis.

1. Unplug the machine.
2. Disassemble the water reservoir, lid, mug tray, and K-cup holder.
3. Clean the mug tray and K-cup holder in warm soapy water.
4. For the water reservoir and lid, remove the water filter, then wipe the surfaces with a damp, soapy cloth.
5. Rinse the reservoir and lid with water and let air dry — you don’t want to dry it with a cloth since this could leave lint behind.
6. Wipe down the exterior surface with a wet sponge.
7. Replace all the removable parts and plug the machine back in.

Every two months:

Replace the water filter cartridge to keep your coffee fresh every other month.

1. Start by soaking a new cartridge in fresh water for five minutes, then rinse it for 60 seconds.
2. Wash the mesh of the lower filter holder.
3. Insert the cartridge into the upper filter holder, and snap on the lid.
4. Finally, put it back into your reservoir and lock it into place.

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Every three to six months:

Descale your machine to remove hard water minerals that can build up over time, which could affect how well it works.

1. Begin the descaling process by filling the reservoir with 10 ounces of white vinegar or Keurig’s Descaling Solution.
2. Start the brew cycle without a K-cup and let the machine run as usual, using a mug to catch the liquid.
3. Repeat this process a second time.
4. Then, repeat the process one last time, but with 10 ounces of fresh water to remove any vinegar taste.
5. Brew coffee as usual.

As needed:

When you see grounds in your K-cup holder, remove them with a sponge to prevent them from ending up in your beverage tomorrow morning. If you’re having trouble brewing, there may also be coffee grounds stuck in the needles, which punch the entrance and exit points the water flows through.



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To clean Keurig needles, first unplug the machine. Then, Keurig recommends carefully using a paperclip to clear away any clogging debris lodged in the needles before rinsing. (See where to find them in this video.) For a Keurig 2.0, you can use the Keurig brewer maintenance accessory instead.

As long as you follow these steps, you won’t have to worry about anything other than coffee being in your morning brew (well, unless you like yours with milk and sugar, that is).

WATCH: This Machine Is Like a Keurig for Cocktails

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