I don’t know who needs to hear this, but clean your Keurig already

This story is part Tips for the houseCNET’s collection of handy tips for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Put your Keurig working morning after morning will inevitably lead to a buildup of gunk over time. But beware, if left unchecked, mineral buildup can prevent your Keurig from performing optimally. And if enough of that dirt gets to the inner workings of the machine, the Keurig could stop working altogether.

Luckily, it’s easy to banish grime and keep your Keurig brewing for years to come: just give your favorite coffee maker the TLC it deserves. The brew system, drip trays, and water reservoirs all require frequent attention. Even the exterior of your machine will gather unsavory smudges, fingerprints, and other marks of grime that you’ll want to wipe away.

Here’s how to clean your Keurig and keep it in pristine condition. (You can also learn how to make iced coffee at homeand how to organize your fridge. Plus, check out our picks for the best coffee makers, best cold brew coffee makers and best coffee accessories.)

1. Clean the outside of the Keurig

Begin by wiping down the outside of the brewer. Keurig actually recommends that you do this daily. First, make sure the coffee maker is turned off and unplugged. Then use a damp cloth to wipe dust and other debris from the outside of the machine.

Pay particular attention to the area at the front, just below the coffee dispenser. This section usually attracts a lot of splashes and drips.

2. Wash the drip tray

The drip tray is another part of the coffee machine prone to dirt. Liquid from spills often sits inside unnoticed. Coffee drips can evaporate here too, leaving stains. A quick hand wash in the kitchen sink will eliminate this mess in a jiffy. Hot water and dish soap work well. Perform this cleaning task daily.

3. Clean the water tank

Here is another daily cleaning task. This is to give the same hand washing treatment to the water tank. Be sure to remove the water filter first if your machine has one. Depending on your brewer, your tank is safe to throw in the dishwasher.

4. Check the pod holder

The dirtiest section of my test Keurig K-Classic brewer was its pod holder. Grounds, dirt and dried coffee had formed a noticeable amount of rawness here. To solve this problem, I removed the pod holder and separated it into its two main parts. Then I gave them a rinse with water and a good scrub with a damp cloth.

You can also use a paper clip to remove any debris from inside the brewer outlet needle. The exit needle is inside the pod holder. Be careful because this needle is sharp. Be aware that Keurig recommends that you clean the pod holder weekly.

5. Flush the entire system

It is essential to keep the brewing system of your Keurig machine clean. Dirty equipment can lead to unwanted flavors from the last brew. Enjoying a pumpkin spice latte in your Sumatra single origin is not ideal. Chunks of soil or other debris can also cause clogs or even malfunction.

To clean everything, run a daily water-only brew cycle through the machine. Make sure there is enough water in the reservoir and the pod chamber is empty. You can run any cup size cycle you like, as long as the cup you are brewing in is large enough to accept the liquid.

And if you’ve never descaled your coffee maker, or if it’s been three months since you did, consider doing it. According to Keurig, you should perform the procedure quarterly. You can use vinegar or the company’s own. special descaling product. Keep in mind this is a long process requiring at least 45 minutes (4 hours with vinegar).

However, descaling will remove any mineral deposits (often present in tap water) that may cling to the internal components of your coffee maker. This in turn ensures that your coffee maker is brewing at its optimum temperature.

Once you have completed all of these steps, wipe down the infuser again to remove any excess moisture. It should now be ready to brew in perfect condition.

To find out more, see how to clean a cast iron skillet, how to clean your grill and how to clean a mattress.

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