How To Use Keurig Descaling Solution And Unclog Your Dirty Machine!

Learning how to use Keurig descaling solution in the way the manufacturer intended to descale, unclog and get your single serve coffee machine back to serving you great and perfect tasting coffee.

Keep reading for the details and exactly how Keurig instructs you to use their descaling solution and what it is, and what is in it.

How To Use Keurig Descaling Solution

Descaling your Keurig coffee maker, regardless of which model, is an important maintenance task to ensure that your coffee maker continues to serve and brew perfect coffee every single time. It’s also an important preventative maintenance task for ensuring that the internal tubing, heating element and other parts do not become blocked due to the build up of calcium deposits, limescale, and mineral deposits.

In short, regular descaling keeps your brewer in optimal condition for brewing coffee.

Read: How to use K Cups without machine

What Is In The Keurig Descale Solution?

The Keurig descaling solution is predominantly made up of citric acid, which accounts for 50% of the solution in the bottle.

Citric acid is a natural cleaning agent and perfect for using in your coffee machine and cleaning other food machines like your pizza oven, microwave, and more.

5% of the descaling solution is listed as phosphates and bleaching agents. Phosphates are salts that contain phosphorus, a completely natural compound.

3% of the descaling solution is silicic acid, a weak colloidal and lightly acidic form of silica that acts as a stabilizing agent.

The rest of the descaling solution is made up of H2O, water.

The solution is well-designed with the purpose of removing the buildup of mineral deposits, calcium and limescale without being too harsh on your single serve coffee maker.

How To Descale K-Iced Plus, K-Slim, K-Slim + Iced, K-Supreme And K-Supreme Plus Brewers With Keurig descaling Solution

You can descale your coffee maker in three easy steps as follows.

Step 1: Prepare Your Keurig Brewer

• Open and pour the entire contents of your bottle of Keurig descaling solution and empty it into your water reservoir.
• Fill your empty bottle with water, clean fresh water and pour the contents into your water reservoir.
• Place a large cup or mug on the drip tray below the coffee spout.
• Special Note: There is no need to insert a K-Cup coffee pod.

Step 2: Descale Your Keurig Brewer

• Focus and make sure that your single serve coffee maker is plugged in and powered down. Press and hold down the 8 Oz and 12 Oz buttons at the same time for 3 seconds. When blinking, push the brew button to begin the descaling process.
• The hot liquid, the descaling solution, will make its way around your coffee maker and into your coffee mug below. Discard this solution.
• Repeat step 2 until you see the add water light turning on.
• If your machine is particularly dirty or has not been cleaned in a while, repeat steps one and two as many times as needed to clear the blockages.

Read: How to use a Keurig coffee maker

Step 3: Fresh Water Rinsing Of Your Brewer

• Empty your water reservoir, clean and rinse it well and fill to the max fill line with clean water.
• When the brew button is flashing, press it to run a rinsing cycle. The water will flow through your machine rinsing it well. Discard this water.
• Repeat until you get the descale light or notification turns off.
• Congratulations, your machine has now been fully descaled and is ready to brew a cup of coffee.

There are instances where and when you will need to use a stronger concentration of descaling solution. Those cases are rare and only when your machine is seriously blocked. In this case, use two bottles of the descaling solution and fill one bottle with water and add it to your water reservoir.

A Keurig descaling solution to water ratio of 2:1 and two cycles of this should clear your coffee maker.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Use Keurig Descaling Solution

Do I Use The Keurig Rinse Pod With The Descaling Solution?

No, don’t use them at the same time as your rinse pods, and the descaling solution performs a different function. The rinse pod will rinse and clean the jet lines and your needles, and the pod holder in general. The descaling solution helps to prevent and remove scale buildup and the build up of mineral deposits.

Do You Add Water To Descaling Solution?

Yes, for most Keurig coffee makers, add the full bottle of descaling solution into your water reservoir and fill with plain water fresh water to the max fill line and descale your machine and remove the calcium deposits and mineral buildup.

How Many Runs Does It Take To Descale A Keurig?

The Keurig website advises that you may need to run a minimum of 12 brews to completely descale your Keurig coffee machine. If you see foam forming, don’t worry that is part of the cleaning action.

You may need to run several rinsing cycles to flush the descaling solution from your coffee maker, maybe 5 to 7 water reservoirs full.

Read: How to use Keurig

Do I Remove The Filter Before I Descale My Keurig?

 Yes, take the opportunity to clean and rinse your water filter. If necessary, replace it. Take the opportunity to clean your water tank and all removable parts too.

What Is The Difference Between Keurig Rinse Pods And Descaling Solution?

Your Keurig rinse pods will only clean the K-cup holder and the immediate area like the jet lines and the needles. The descaling solution cleans and descales the internal parts of your coffee maker.

What Can I Use To Descale My Keurig Other Than Vinegar?

You can descale your Keurig with a variety of cleaning solutions including citric acids, lemon juice and water (50% lemon juice and 50% water) and of course Keurigs own descaling solution.

You can also use bicarbonate soda and water. One cup of bicarbonate soda and fill your water reservoir with water to the max fill line and mix well until fully dissolved.

Can You Descale A Keurig Without Vinegar?

Yes, although distilled white vinegar is a great cleaning solution, there are many other options including citric acid, lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda and Keurig’s own descaling solution.

What Is Best Descaler For Keurig?

In my opinion, the best descaling solution for Keurig coffee makers is their custom-made descaling solution as it is with their coffee machines in mind.

Final Thoughts – How To Use Keurig Descaling Solution

When you learn how to use Keurig descaling solution as the manufacturer intends, you will get a perfectly clean and fully descaled coffee maker. Descale your machine regularly to keep it in perfect condition and serving your amazing coffee.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location