How To Descale The Keurig® Coffee Maker

Last Updated on September 7, 2023 by Timothy Byron Smith

Descaling is an essential part of maintaining your Keurig® coffee maker. Over time, calcium deposits, also known as scale, can accumulate inside the machine, affecting its performance. While calcium and scale are not harmful, ignoring them can lead to issues with your brewer. Here’s a step-by-step guide to descaling various Keurig brewer models:

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Descaling K-Supreme, K-Supreme Plus, K-Slim, K-Slim + Iced, and K-Iced Plus Brewers

1: Prepare the Brewer

1. Empty the entire bottle of Keurig® Descale Solution into the water reservoir.
2. Fill the empty bottle with water and pour it into the reservoir. Do not insert a K-Cup® pod.
3. Place a large mug on the drip tray.

2: Descale the Brewer

1. Make sure the brewer is plugged in and powered off.
2. Press and hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons together for 3 seconds to activate Descale Mode.
3. When the buttons flash, press the brew button to start the descaling process.
4. After brewing, pour the hot liquid into the sink.
5. Repeat this step until the ADD WATER light illuminates.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Empty and rinse the water reservoir.
2. Refill the reservoir to the MAX fill line with fresh water.
3. When flashing, press the brew button to start the rinsing process.
4. Once the brew is complete, pour the hot liquid into the sink.
5. Repeat this step until the DESCALE notification turns off.
6. Your brewer has now exited Descale Mode and is ready for use.

Read More: How To Set Clock On Keurig Coffee Makers

Descaling K-Express and K-Iced Brewers

1: Prepare the Brewer

1. Pour the entire bottle of Keurig® Descale Solution into an empty water reservoir.
2. Fill the empty bottle with water and pour it into the reservoir. Avoid using a K-Cup® pod.
3. Place a large mug on the drip tray.

2: Descale the Brewer

1. Ensure the brewer is plugged in and powered off.
2. Press and hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons together for 3 seconds until the DESCALE light turns solid.
3. When flashing, press the 12oz button to start the descaling process.
4. After brewing, pour the hot liquid into the sink.
5. Continue brewing until the ADD WATER light illuminates.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Empty the water reservoir and refill it to the MAX fill line with fresh water.
2. Ensure the mug is on the drip tray.
3. When the BREW button flashes, press it to begin a fresh water rinse.
4. Once the brew is complete, pour the hot liquid into the sink.
5. Repeat this step until the screen says DESCALE COMPLETE.
6. Your brewer is now ready for use.

Descaling K-Express™ Essentials and K-Iced™ Essentials™ Brewers

1: Prepare the Brewer

1. Empty the entire contents of the Keurig® Descale Solution bottle into the water reservoir.
2. Fill the now empty Descale Solution bottle with water and pour it into the reservoir. Make sure not to insert a K-Cup® pod.
3. Place a large mug on the drip tray.

2: Descale the Brewer

1. Ensure the brewer is plugged in and powered off.
2. Activate Descale Mode by pressing and holding the 6oz and 10oz buttons together for 3 seconds. When the buttons start flashing, press the 8 oz button to initiate the descaling process.
3. After the brewing cycle, pour the hot liquid into the sink. Continue brewing 8oz cycles until the ADD WATER light becomes illuminated.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Empty the water reservoir and refill it with fresh water up to the MAX fill line.
2. When the 8 oz button flashes, press it to start the rinsing process. Once the brewing is complete, pour the hot liquid into the sink.
3. Continue brewing 8oz cycles until the DESCALE notification turns off. Your brewer has now exited Descale Mode and is ready for regular use.

Descaling SMART Brewers (K-Café SMART, K-Supreme SMART, K-Supreme Plus SMART)

1: Prepare the Brewer

1. 1. When the Descale notification appears on the screen, press the left arrow, then choose CONTINUE.
   2. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the descale process.
   3. If you don’t see the descale notification, press both arrows simultaneously to open Settings, then select Descale Mode.

2: Descale the Brewer

1. Empty the water reservoir and add Keurig® Descaling Solution.
2. Pour the entire bottle into an empty water reservoir.
3. Fill the empty bottle with water and pour it into the reservoir.
4. Press the flashing BREW button to dispense 12 oz of hot water. Discard this water and replace the mug on the drip tray.
5. Repeat until the water reservoir is empty, and the screen says ADD WATER.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Rinse the water reservoir and refill it to the MAX fill line with fresh water.
2. Ensure the mug is on the drip tray.
3. When the BREW button flashes, press it to begin a fresh water rinse.
4. Once the brew is complete, pour the hot liquid into the sink.
5. Repeat this step until the screen says DESCALE COMPLETE.
6. Your brewer is now ready for use.

Descaling K-Duo Series (K-Duo, K-Duo Essentials, K-Duo Special Edition, K-Duo Plus)

1: Cleansing Rinse

1. Power off the brewer.
2. Pour the entire bottle of Keurig® Descaling Solution into an emptied water reservoir.
3. Fill the empty bottle with water and pour it into the water reservoir. Do not add any K-Cup® Pods or ground coffee.
4. Place a large mug on the drip tray.
5. Turn on the single cup side by pressing the OZ/POD button, then press the 12 button to start a single cup rinse brew. Pour the hot liquid into the sink.
6. With the carafe on the heating plate, press the CUPS/CARAFE button to turn on the carafe side. Press the 12 button to start a carafe rinse brew. When complete, pour the hot liquid into the sink. Press and hold the CUPS/CARAFE button to turn off the heating plate.

2: Internal Tank Soak

1. Let the brewer stand for at least 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, discard any residual solution from the water reservoir and rinse thoroughly.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Fill the water reservoir with fresh water to the MAX fill line.
2. Put the carafe on the heating plate.
3. Press the CUPS/CARAFE button to turn on the carafe side, then press 12 to start a carafe water brew.
4. When the brew is complete, press and hold the CUPS/CARAFE button to turn off the heating plate. Pour the hot liquid into the sink.
5. Refill the reservoir and place the mug on the drip tray.
6. Press OZ/POD to turn on the single cup side, then press 12 for a single cup water brew.
7. Repeat the 12oz brew process three more times for a total of 4 brews.

Descaling  K-Mini and K-Mini Plus Brewers

To maintain your Keurig Mini’s performance, follow a regular cleaning and descaling routine. By learning how to use a Kurig mini effectively can save you from the troubles of malfunctioning and repairing.

1: Cleansing Rinse

1. Turn on your brewer.
2. Pour one-third (4.6 oz) of the Keurig Descaling Solution into the water reservoir and add fresh water to the max fill line.
3. Place a large ceramic mug on the drip tray.
4. Lift and lower the brewer handle. Do not add a K-Cup Pod.
5. Press the BREW button. Once dispensed, pour the contents into the sink.

2: Internal Tank Soak

1. Repeat the above process.
2. Power off as soon as Descaling Solution begins to dispense.
3. Let the solution stand in the brewer for at least 30 minutes.
4. Power on the brewer, lift and lower the brewer handle, then press the BREW button.
5. Discard the hot contents into the sink.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Perform actions in Step 1, using the largest fill amount of fresh water only.
2. Repeat two more rinsing brews.

Related: Keurig K-Slim vs K-Mini

Descaling K-Classic, K-Café, K-Café Special Edition, K-Latte, K-Elite, K-Compact, and K-Select Brewers

1: Cleansing Rinse

1. Press the power button to turn the brewer off.
2. Pour the entire bottle of Keurig Descaling Solution into the water reservoir.
3. Then fill the empty bottle with water and pour it into the water reservoir.
4. Press the power button to turn the brewer back on.
5. Run a rinsing brew: Place a large ceramic mug on the drip tray, lift and lower the brewer handle, select the largest brew size, and press the BREW button (if applicable). Pour out the mug into the sink.

2: Internal Tank Soak

1. Repeat the rinsing brew process until the ADD WATER light illuminates.
2. Let the brewer stand for 30 minutes while still on.
3. After 30 minutes, discard any residual solution and rinse the water reservoir thoroughly.

3: Fresh Water Rinse

1. Fill the reservoir with fresh water to the max fill line.
2. Place the large ceramic mug on the drip tray and run a rinsing brew using the largest brew size. Do not use a K-Cup Pod. Pour the contents of the mug into the sink.
3. Using the largest brew size, run at least 12 rinsing brews. You may need to refill the water reservoir.

The Best Way to Clean Keurig

1. Exterior Cleaning:

Start by unplugging the Keurig to ensure safety. Remove the water reservoir and clean it with soapy water, preferably weekly. If your Keurig has a water filter, replace it every two months. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away coffee residue from the drip tray and under the K-Cup pack holder. Allow all parts to air dry.

2. Cleaning the Pod Holder:

Open the Keurig and gently remove the K-Cup holder. This holder comes apart into two pieces, including a funnel with the brewer needle. Use a paper clip or other small tool to dislodge coffee grounds and clogs from inside. Rinse both the funnel and K-Cup holder with hot water. Don’t forget to clean the brewing needle thoroughly.

3. Descaling:

For more thorough cleaning, use white vinegar or a descaling solution to remove mineral deposits from the water reservoir. This step is needed every three to six months to maintain the machine’s performance.

4. Rinsing:

After descaling, run several brew cycles using fresh water only to flush out any remaining descaling chemicals or vinegar.

5. Exterior Care:

Wipe down the exterior of the Keurig with a microfiber cloth to minimize water spots and keep it looking new.

Read More: Keurig Won’t Turn On After Descaling – Here Is Why!

How to Clean the Keurig from Inside

To clean the inside of your Keurig effectively, start by preparing a descaling solution. Fill the water reservoir with the descaling solution, then top it up with either filtered or tap water. After plugging in the machine, place a large mug under the spout and run brew cycles at the highest cup setting until the water reservoir is empty. This process helps remove mineral buildup and residue inside the Keurig.

After completing the descaling cycles, allow the machine to sit for about 30 minutes to let the descaling solution soak the internal components thoroughly. Then, rinse the water reservoir with fresh water by running another brew cycle without adding coffee. Repeat this rinsing process until you’ve run several cycles, ensuring that all remnants of the descaling solution are flushed out. Now you’re ready to brew a fresh and delicious cup of espresso wtih your keurig.

Cleaning the Keurig with White Vinegar

To clean your Keurig with white vinegar, follow these steps:

1. Prepare the Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Fill the Keurig’s water reservoir about halfway with white vinegar and then top it off with water, ensuring it doesn’t reach the very top to avoid a vinegar taste in your coffee.
2. Lift the Lid: Lift the Keurig’s lid so that the vinegar-water solution can enter the machine. Allow the solution to sit in the Keurig for about 30 minutes, but do not let it sit for more than 3 hours.
3. Brew Cycle: Turn on the Keurig, place your cup in position, and run through the brew cycle until the reservoir is empty. This allows the vinegar solution to clean and descale the inner components of the Keurig.
4. Rinse with Water: After the vinegar cycle, rinse out the water reservoir thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining vinegar residue.
5. Final Rinse: To ensure all traces of vinegar are eliminated, run several brew cycles with fresh water. Place an empty cup in the base to catch any potential leakage.

By following these steps, your Keurig will be cleaned and free of mineral buildup, ensuring your coffee tastes fresh and doesn’t have a vinegar flavor.

Read More: Coffee Maker Cleaning Tips

Is Vinegar Enough to Clean a Keurig?

Vinegar is a useful and effective cleaner for your Keurig, particularly for descaling and removing mineral buildup. It can help maintain your machine’s performance and ensure your coffee tastes fresh. However, for routine cleaning and flavor-switching, you can opt for a simpler approach.

You can use a mini white vinegar rinse whenever you switch K-Cup flavors to clean the internal components effectively. Alternatively, Keurig’s rinse pods are designed for this purpose. Just place one in the machine and run an eight-ounce cycle, and your Keurig will be ready for the new flavor.

For general Keurig maintenance, wiping down the exterior with a damp cloth and dish soap is a good practice to keep the machine looking clean and functioning well. These steps, combined with occasional vinegar descaling, should help keep your Keurig in great shape. check out this guide for more on Vinegar vs. Descaling Solution for descaling coffee pods.

How Often to Descale Your Keurig Coffee Machine

The frequency of descaling depends on the mineral content of your water. Using filtered or bottled water for descaling offers the benefit of reducing mineral buildup, resulting in better machine performance and longevity. Typically, descaling your brewer every 3 to 6 months is sufficient to prevent issues. Your system will remind you when it’s time to descale, and if you postpone it, the reminder will reappear in 6 weeks. It’s essential to descale promptly to maintain optimal performance, especially if your water has a high mineral content.

Conclusion

Maintaining and cleaning your Keurig coffee maker is essential to ensure it continues to brew delicious coffee and operates efficiently. Regular cleaning, both inside and outside, helps prevent mineral buildup, coffee residue, and potential clogs.

Descaling your Keurig every 3 to 6 months, depending on your water’s mineral content, is a crucial step to maintain optimal performance. Additionally, using white vinegar or Keurig’s descaling solution effectively removes mineral deposits.

Remember that the cleanliness of your Keurig directly affects the quality of your coffee. By following these cleaning and descaling methods, you can enjoy consistently great-tasting coffee and prolong the life of your Keurig coffee maker.

Now that you have the knowledge to keep your Keurig in top shape, you can savor every cup of coffee without worry!