How to Clean Your Keurig (Because It’s Probably Full of Germs)

If you haven’t cleaned your Keurig or other pod system coffee maker in a while, it’s probably dirty — like, really dirty.

Just like most things in the kitchen — especially things that are subject to daily use — these coffee makers can be full of bacteria, yeast and mold if they aren’t properly cleaned.

Since the hot water isn’t enough to decontaminate the machine, harmful germs can build up to a point that it can actually make you sick.

Single-serve machines like Keurigs are no exception. So, every few weeks, take some time to keep your Keurig running smoothly and your coffee germ-free. Thankfully, the folks over at ASimplySimpleLife have Kuerig-cleaning down to a science.

How to Clean Your Keurig or Other Pod System Coffee Maker

Cleaning your Keurig is pretty straightforward. In order to do it you will need:

• Dish soap, such as Dawn
• A cleaning brush (a toothbrush works great!)
• Butter knife
• Paper towels
• Distilled white vinegar
• Purified water

The steps for cleaning the Keurig machine are as follows:

1. If there’s a K-Cup in the machine, remove it
2. Carefully remove the K-Cup holder
3. Remove the water reservoir and lid
4. Remove the drip tray and drip tray cover
5. Clean the K-Cup holder, water reservoir and lid, and drip tray and drip tray cover in the sink with dish soap
6. Wet your brush with some purified water to remove the old coffee grounds from the area where you removed the K-Cup holder. Wet a paper towel and use it on the end of the butter knife to get to hard-to-reach spots.
7. Repeat this process in the area where you removed the water reservoir
8. Replace the water reservoir, fill it halfway with the distilled vinegar and start the brew process (with no K-Cup)
9. Repeat the process until there is no more vinegar in the reservoir
10. Fill the reservoir with purified water and run the brew process as many times as necessary to empty the reservoir
11. Replace the K-Cup holder, drip tray and drip tray cover

Voila! You have a clean Keurig!!! If you’re a visual learner, check out the ASimplySimpleLife video below for a walk-through of the process.

Do you have tips for cleaning small appliances around the kitchen? Let us know in the comments below!

More Resources From Clark.com:

• 12 Cheap Brands of Coffee That People Really Love
• 30+ Cleaning Hacks You’ll Wish You’d Known Sooner
• Putting the Dollar Tree Cleaner ‘LA’s Totally Awesome’ to the Test