How to Descale a Keurig mini (When should you descale your Keurig mini + more information)

One way of maintaining your Keurig mini is by descaling it. Keep on reading to learn how to descale a Keurig mini.

You can descale your Keurig mini using vinegar or a descaling solution with water. Since I am a huge fan of coffee, I decided to purchase a Keurig mini to make my morning easier and faster when making my favorite cup of coffee. However, four months after buying my Keurig, I noticed that the water was coming down a little slower than it used to, and my coffee tasted stale. I contacted the company I had bought my machine from and was advised to descale it. Are you also experiencing the same issue and wondering which steps you can follow to descale your Keurig mini? Keep reading on, as in this post, I will explain how long you should wait before cleaning your Keurig and some of the solutions and detergents you can use to clean it.

How often should you descale your Keurig mini coffee maker?

To be on the safe side, you should descale your Keurig after every three months. This is because when you leave your machine to stay for too long without being descaled, it will accumulate too many minerals from water or even oil that is found in your coffee. These may end up affecting the taste of your coffee or spoiling tubes or tanks of your Keurig mini coffee maker.

Additionally, if your water source is hard water, it is best to descale your machine every month, as the chances of mineral deposits filling your Keurig will be high. You can also contact the company you bought your machine from about their opinion, as different Keurig machines vary.

What is used to descale a Keurig mini coffee maker?

There are a few pieces of equipment and cleaning supplies that you will need to descale a Keurig mini coffee maker. Below are the things you will need to descale a Keurig mini coffee maker;

• Sponge: you will need a very good thick sponge to scrub both the outside and inside of your Keurig, to remove all the impurities and dust.
• Safety pin: you will need a safety pin to help you access the needle in the Keurig mini coffee maker. The safety pin will help you carefully remove the needle to avoid unnecessary accidents.
• Jar/mug: you can use either of the two to hold your mixture of water and the descaling solution you will use.
• Vinegar: This is among the best solutions to descale your Keurig mini coffee maker as it contains a strong acid that can dissolve any mineral deposits in your coffee maker.
• Water: water is also a significant liquid you need when descaling your Keurig mini coffee maker.
• Dish soap: the soap will help you wash off any dirt and remaining impurities from your machine.
• Descaling solution: if you cannot access vinegar, you can buy a descaling solution from any of your nearest stores.

What is the process of descaling a Keurig mini coffee maker?

Below is the process you can follow to descale your Keurig min coffee maker;

Set your Keurig mini coffee maker for descaling. Other Keurig machines will display a ‘descale’ message on the screen once it is time to describe the machine. Press the left arrow on your machine when this notification appears, and other instructions will follow.

However, if you do not see the ‘descale’ message, you can put it on by pressing both the left and right arrow, and the ‘setting’ option will appear. Then, select the ‘descale mode’ and continue with the process.

Open your water reservoir and empty whatever water that is in it. If you use a descaling solution, pour the whole bottle into your now-empty reservoir. Then fill your descaling solution bottle with water and add it to the reservoir.

Cover your water reservoir and press the ‘brew’ button. Let the brewing process happen as all the water is emptied in your jug and mug.

Repeat the same process until there is no more water in the reservoir.

Now, using soap and a sponge, thoroughly clean the outside and inside of your Keurig mini machine to ensure no dirt or mineral is left.

Rinse the whole machine with water to make it clean. Fill the reservoir with water and perform another ‘brewing’ process while disposing of the water in the sink.

Do this a few more times to ensure your Keurig machine is all clean.

Assemble your machine and use it without any worry.

If you do not have a descaling solution and use white vinegar, you will need to measure equal parts or quantity of your vinegar and water and pour it into your water reservoir. For instance, if you are using two cups of water to clean your machine, add two cups of vinegar to the water to make it stronger and more effective. It is also advisable to leave your water and vinegar solution to sit for at least an hour before ‘brewing’ it. This is because the vinegar solution is a little weaker and may need more time to dissolve all the minerals in your Keurig mini coffee maker.

FAQ Section

Will vinegar damage my Keurig mini coffee maker?

No, vinegar will not damage your Keurig mini coffee maker. The purpose of the vinegar is to dissolve the mineral in your Keurig using its acid.

How much vinegar should you use to descale a Keurig mini coffee maker?

You do not need to use a lot of vinegar as long as you use an equal quantity of vinegar and water to clean your coffee maker.

How do I know my Keurig mini coffee maker needs descaling?

You can know if your Keurig mini coffee maker needs descaling, if the water is coming out of the Keurig at a slower pace, or if your coffee has a weird smell. The mineral deposits in your Keurig can make your coffee taste like it has gone bad.

Can I use just water to descale my Keurig mini coffee maker?

No, you cannot use water to descale your Keurig mini coffee maker. This is because water does not have strong ingredients to dissolve the mineral deposits.

How do I put my Keurig in descaling mode?

To put your Keurig in descale mode, connect your machine to any power outlet and switch it on. Then, using two fingers, simultaneously press the left and right arrows to activate the ‘setting’ button. You will see the ‘descale mode’ on your screen and can proceed.

How do I turn off the descale light on my Keurig Mini?

To turn off the descale light on your Keurig mini coffee maker, press and hold down the right and left buttons simultaneously for at least three seconds, and the descale light will go off.