How to Easily and Relaxed Clean a Mini Keurig
In this post, I’ll show you how to clean a little Keurig the same way I do! I love little appliances, but they seem to break down faster, in my opinion. Because they are applied frequently and have a restricted volume, buildup happens more quickly. Despite not having a reservoir like some of its 1.0 model siblings, the Keurig K10 tiny has to have its internal anatomy periodically descaled and given some elbow grease to guarantee optimal performance.
The procedure I’m going to show will work with the Keurig K10, K31, and K15 models equally because they are all quite similar in terms of size, internal makeup, and performance. It is rather similar to how one would handle one of its larger cousins, but it adopts a slightly different strategy for small or nonexistent reservoirs.
Cleaning the Detachable Parts of a Mini Keurig First!
I prefer to use a dry microfiber cleaning cloth for the exterior surface areas; you may have seen them; they are gentle to the touch and are good at collecting dust (please do not use solvents).
You must remove the small water level indicator before beginning this procedure in order to avoid getting buildup in the region underneath. Because it only fits into tiny spaces, it comes off easily.
Additionally, take out the brew holder component in the shape of a funnel. It can be challenging, but once you figure it out, it really comes down to using caution around the interior piercing needle. I enter from the bottom and slightly raise myself. View the area where my fingertips are visible here:
The drip tray, brew holder assembly, and water level indicator may all be hand-washed with a small amount of dish soap and then thoroughly rinsed.
Because the brew holder is shaped like a funnel, you can force out any loose ground particles by sticking a bent paper clip through the opening.
Consider using an old toothbrush or a bottle brush for the procedure. I never discard an old toothbrush since they are excellent for maneuvering into tight spaces! An ideal situation for this specific work is a single-cup coffeemaker without a reservoir.
Since it is evident that soap cannot be used here, make a small vinegar-water solution and use an old toothbrush to clean the reservoir’s outside and the inside of the brew chamber. This is because stray grinds have a tendency to adhere to these surfaces.
The steps involved in descaling a mini Keurig
We must remember to describe the Mini every few months, depending on how much use it receives, because it lacks a setting like the larger models that would indicate when it’s time.
For this low amount, the pills alone might be too potent; instead, you can use distilled white vinegar or a suitable descaling solution. Less than one-third of what the labelling suggests should be used for the liquid descale solution, as opposed to the huge reservoir models.
Fill the compartment with clean, filtered water; the maximum capacity is roughly 10 ounces. To ensure that the mug is completely drained into the tank, place it beneath the dispensing area, turn on the power, and lift the lever. Hold it for approximately five seconds.
Full-strength vinegar is generally not what I want to use here. It is nonetheless acidic and too strong for the more delicate internal anatomy of the coffee maker that is hidden from view, while being a terrific household cleaning agent. I cut it in half every time. The maximum capacity is 10 ounces, therefore I use roughly 5 ounces of vinegar and 5 ounces of water, respectively.
(Keep in mind that none of this is done with a K-cup.)
Lower the handle, then press the brew button when you see it flash blue. This will cause it to flash red first, then a continuous red.
Once the cycle is complete and the mug is full of water or vinegar, dump the contents into the washbasin. Now follow the previous instructions to “rinse and repeat,” but this time, when the light becomes red steadily again, switch it off and leave it for 30 minutes. After that, restart it, raise and lower the handle, and launch another “brew” cycle to continue where you left off. It will now dispense into the mug once more.
Depending on the amount of buildup, you may discover some stray trash here and there. This is typical.You should now perform another “rinse and repeat,” but this time, you should only use clean water. It can take two to three cycles until the vinegar odour is gone.
In conclusion
Your mini Keurig coffee maker may now be cleaned with ease! I think it’s important to keep track of the “whens” in this situation. If you’re utilizing filtered water, aim to automate the process at least once every three months.
I sincerely hope this is helpful, and keep in mind that this technique also works for other smaller reservoir-less single-cuppers.