How To Deep Clean Your Keurig Coffee Maker Using Just A Paper Clip

By now, most people who own a Keurig know it can do more than just make coffee (though it's pretty good at that). Unfortunately, it can't clean itself. This means the task falls on you. The good news is that you can deep clean your Keurig with little more than a clean metal paper clip and some water (a ceramic mug can come in handy as well). 

To clean, first turn off and unplug your Keurig. Start by removing the pod holder from the appliance. If you've never done this, lift the brewer handle and grab the top of the pod holder with one hand and push up on the bottom of the pod holder with the other. Once the pod holder is released, you can pull the sides to remove the funnel at the bottom. There's a tube on the bottom of the pod holder that will be the focus of this deep clean. Straighten out one side of the paper clip and insert it into the tube.

Wiggling the paper clip around in the tube will remove any buildup that's accumulated over time. Next, you should rinse the pod holder and funnel with warm water in your sink, making sure to clean the tube too. Be careful when doing this process because the exit needle for coffee pods is attached to the funnel.

You can use this same method for the entrance needle area of the Keurig as well. It's not a removable part, so you'll need to lift the brewer lid and find the two holes near the entrance needle. Carefully insert your paper clip into the holes and move it around to break up debris and particles. Be sure to steer clear of the entrance needle enough so you don't prick yourself. Cleaning your Keurig should be a task done without injury. 

Once this part is done, you can reinsert the pod holder with the funnel. Before you brew a celebratory coffee, though, plug your appliance back in, and place your ceramic mug on the drip tray and run at least two water-only cycles to further rinse any debris. The best thing you can do is make this paper clip magic trick part of your Keurig deep cleaning routine. 

If you haven't been deep cleaning it, you need to develop a habit because odds are you aren't cleaning your Keurig as often as you should. While it depends on how often you brew coffee or use the appliance for other reasons, a Keurig should generally be deep cleaned once per month and wiped down after each use. Not cleaning it often enough is a Keurig mistake that's leaving you with a subpar cup of coffee.