One thing the average person can’t make it through their day without is coffee. Food, water, and sleep are all important too, of course, but we all know that coffee is our daily bread and butter. For that reason, our coffee makers are our best friends – they make the thing that keeps us going all day long. Needless to say, we have to give these special appliances a little TLC from time to time, and that starts with descaling your coffee maker.

Descaling is crucial step in keeping your Keurig or other coffee maker running strong for as long as possible. While it may not be something we all know how to do, it’s important to learn how so you can get the most out of your coffee maker. Unsure where to begin? Never fear. We have a comprehensive guide to descaling and cleansing your Keurigs and coffee makers right here.

How to Descale Your Regular Coffee Maker

Now, the go-to way of descaling has always been using vinegar. While that can work in some instances (and we’ll get to that later), vinegar not only gives a funny smell to your coffee machine, it also has a tendency to deteriorate rubber and metal seals inside your appliance.

If you’re looking to try something other than vinegar, we’ve got just the technique for you.

YOU’LL NEED – Descaling product – Mug – Baking soda

STEP 1: First, you have to find the right descaling product. This might take a little research but if you’re looking for an easy solution, check out the manufacturer’s website for your machine. For instance, if you own a Mr. Coffee, try searching the web or calling the company to inquire about their owned brand of descaling products. Most companies will have one, so you’ll know it will be suitable for your coffee maker off the bat.

If you’d like a product NOT made by the manufacturer, go to Whole Latte Love’s website. There they have a step-by-step process of finding the right descaling product for you.

STEP 2: Once you have your ideal descaling product, it’s time to get to work. Add the descaling solution (whether it’s a liquid, powder or tablet) to your water supply and run your machine like you’re brewing. Make sure to run regular water through several more times just to get all of the product out of the machine.

The best way to tell that your machine is rinsed out is with a little science experiment. Add some baking soda to your water. If there is still acid present from the descaling product, it will start to bubble.

How to Descale Your Keurig

Keurigs are not exempt from descaling – they experience the same build ups that can ruin your machine!

Luckily, Keurig itself has put out a how-to video on the most effective way to descale their products. Watch the video below, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see it’s VERY similar to descaling your regular coffee maker.

YOU’LL NEED – Keurig’s descaling solution – A pitcher of water – A timer – A ceramic mug – Your Keurig

STEP 1: Make sure your Keurig is clear of water and filters and is turned off for this procedure. Proceed to pouring the entire bottle of descaling solution in your water reservoir. Refill the bottle with water and add that to the reservoir. Run a cycle through on the largest size into your mug and pour it out.

STEP 2: Prepare to run a second cleansing cycle, but stop when your Keurig indicates “Add Water”. Then set a timer and wait for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, pour and rinse out the water reservoir.

STEP 3: Pour the whole pitcher of water into the water reservoir and run it through until you’ve completed 12 brews.

How to Clean Your Keurig With Vinegar

Still attached to the old vinegar method? We don’t blame you. It IS a cleaning staple and vinegar isn’t some chemical product you buy in the store, you know that it’s safe for you and your family to consume. If you’re interested in learning this method, check out the video below.

YOU’LL NEED – White vinegar – A mug

STEP 1: Fill half your water reservoir with vinegar and run through a few cycles into your mug, pouring each one out.

STEP 2: Fill the reservoir with regular water and run until the vinegar taste is no more.

General Coffee Maker Tips

– Most removable parts of your coffee maker ARE dishwasher safe! No need to hand wash every little part if you have a dishwasher.

– Keep the top of the coffee maker open after a brew to prevent germs from thriving in the moisture.

– You can run vinegar cleansing cycles through a regular coffee pot, too. Just make sure the solution is equal parts vinegar and water and then brew at least two pots afterwards to get rid of the vinegar smell and taste.

General Keurig Tips

– If you’re going away for a week or more, make sure to dump out whatever leftover water is in your water reservoir. Dust, debris and bacteria will be leftover in the reservoir because the water will have evaporated. And those do not sound like fun additions to your morning coffee.

– After making sugary drinks (iced teas or hot chocolates) make sure to run a cleansing cycle of just water through the Keurig. If you don’t, the sugar will crystallize and clog up your machine.

– If you want to descale less, use distilled water. It doesn’t have the same minerals tap water does, which leads to less build up in your Keurig.

Do you have any tips or tricks to descaling your coffee maker or keeping them sparkling clean? Share your ideas in the comments section below.