Daily and Weekly Cleaning

  1. 1

    Empty and wipe the drip tray

    Remove the drip tray and empty it. Wash in warm soapy water. This should be done weekly — a wet drip tray develops mould quickly.

  2. 2

    Clean the pod holder

    Remove the pod holder assembly (it lifts out). Rinse under running water. Use a toothpick or the needle cleaning tool (if your Keurig included one) to clear any coffee grounds from the exit needle underneath the pod holder. Grounds blocking the needle cause weak or incomplete brews.

  3. 3

    Wipe the exterior

    Wipe down the outside with a damp cloth. Pay attention to the area around the pod entry point where drips accumulate.

  4. 4

    Wash the water reservoir

    Remove the reservoir and wash with warm soapy water weekly. Rinse thoroughly — any soap residue affects coffee flavour. Leave to air dry before refilling.

Descaling (Every 3–6 Months)

Mineral deposits from water build up inside the machine over time, affecting heating efficiency and flavour. Descaling removes these deposits.

  1. 5

    Empty the reservoir and remove the water filter

    Empty the water reservoir completely. Remove the water filter if your model has one.

  2. 6

    Add descaling solution or vinegar

    Pour one bottle of Keurig Descaling Solution plus the same amount of water into the reservoir. Alternatively, fill with undiluted white vinegar (cheaper, works well). Place a large mug on the drip tray.

  3. 7

    Run brew cycles without a pod

    Select the largest cup size and run brew cycles without inserting a pod. Pour out each mug of descaling solution that comes through. Repeat until the ADD WATER light comes on and the reservoir is empty. Let the machine sit for 30 minutes — this allows the solution to break down deposits inside the heating element.

  4. 8

    Rinse with fresh water — twice

    Fill the reservoir with fresh water. Run the full reservoir through in brew cycles without a pod. Empty and repeat with another full reservoir of fresh water. This rinses out all descaling solution residue. Your Keurig is now descaled.

How do you know when to descale?Your Keurig may flash a DESCALE light. Other signs: coffee taking longer to brew, weaker coffee, unusual sounds during brewing, or lower water temperature. Most Keurigs need descaling every 3–6 months depending on water hardness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — white vinegar is an effective and much cheaper alternative. Use undiluted white vinegar instead of the descaling solution, then run at least two full reservoirs of fresh water through afterwards to remove the vinegar smell and taste. Some people find three rinse cycles needed to fully clear the vinegar.
The most common cause is a clogged exit needle. Remove the pod holder and use a toothpick or needle cleaning tool to clear the needle underneath. Also descale the machine if it has not been done recently. If still not brewing fully, try running a water-only brew cycle to clear any partial blockage.