How to Descale Your Keurig (All Models & Fixes)

 

Is your morning coffee tasting a bit... off? Is your Keurig brewer sputtering, brewing slowly, or flashing that stubborn "Descale" light? Don't worry, the fix is simple, and you're in the right place.

Over time, minerals from your water (limescale) build up inside your machine's heating elements. This not only affects your coffee's taste and temperature but can also damage your brewer.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, with step-by-step instructions for every major Keurig model.

[Table of Contents - On Shopify, you can make these clickable links to the headings below]

1. Why You Should Use a Dedicated Descaler
2. How to Descale Your Keurig: The General Steps
3. Step-by-Step Instructions by Model
   • K-Supreme®, K-Slim®, & Iced Models
   • K-Duo™ Models
   • SMART Brewers
   • K-Café®, K-Express™, & K-Iced™ Models
   • K-Express™ & K-Iced™ Essentials Models
   • K-Classic® & Older Models
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
5. Shop Our Recommended Descaling Solution

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Why a Dedicated Descaler is Your Best Bet

While many online guides suggest using white vinegar, we highly recommend using a proper descaling solution. Here's why:

• More Effective: Formulated specifically to break down stubborn mineral buildup without leaving behind any residue.
• No Odor or Aftertaste: Vinegar can leave a strong odor and taste that's difficult to rinse out, tainting your coffee for days.
• Safer for Your Brewer: Some manufacturers warn that the acetic acid in vinegar can be too harsh on internal rubber seals and components over time, potentially shortening your machine's life.

Ready to get the best results?

Ensure a perfect clean with no aftertaste.

Shop Our Keurig Descaling Solution

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How to Descale Your Keurig: General Steps

Before finding your specific model below, here are the universal starting steps:

1. Prepare the Brewer: Pour the entire bottle of descaling solution into the empty water reservoir. Fill the rest of the way with fresh water to the max fill line.
2. Prepare Your Station: Place a large ceramic mug on the drip tray. Make sure there is no K-Cup pod in the brewer.

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Step-by-Step Instructions by Model

Find your brewer in the list below and follow the simple steps.

K-Supreme®, K-Supreme Plus®, K-Slim®, K-Slim + Iced™, and K-Iced™ Plus® Brewers

1. Press and hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons together for 3 seconds to enter Descale Mode.
2. Press the flashing Brew button to start a cleansing brew. Repeat until the Add Water light illuminates.
3. Rinse Cycle: Empty, rinse, and refill the water reservoir with fresh water.
4. Press the flashing Brew button to run freshwater rinse cycles. Repeat until the Descale notification light turns off.

K-Duo™ Hot & Iced (Gen 2) and K-Duo Essentials™ Hot & Iced (Gen 2) Brewers

1. Press and hold the CUPS and OZ buttons together for 3 seconds to enter Descale Mode.
2. Press the flashing Brew button to start the single-serve side descale program.
3. Once that's done, press the flashing Brew button again to start the carafe side descale program.
4. The program is complete when the Add Water light illuminates.
5. Rinse Cycle: Empty, rinse, and refill the reservoir. Run rinse cycles until the Add Water light comes on again.

SMART Brewers (K-Café® SMART, K-Supreme® SMART, K-Supreme Plus® SMART)

1. If a descale notification appears, press the left arrow, select Continue, and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. To start manually, press both arrow buttons and select Descale Mode.
3. Follow the prompts, pressing Brew until the screen says to Add Water.
4. Rinse Cycle: Empty, rinse, and refill the reservoir with fresh water.
5. Continue following prompts and running rinse cycles until the screen reads Descale Complete.

K-Café® Barista Bar, K-Express™, and K-Iced™ Brewers

1. With the brewer off, press and hold the 8oz and 12oz buttons for 3 seconds until the Descale Light illuminates.
2. Press the flashing 12oz button to run descaling brews until the Add Water light illuminates.
3. Rinse Cycle: Empty, rinse, and refill the reservoir with fresh water.
4. Press the flashing 12oz button to run rinse cycles until the Descale light turns off.

K-Express™ Essentials and K-Iced™ Essentials™ Brewers

1. Press and hold the 6oz and 10oz buttons together for 3 seconds.
2. Press the flashing 8oz button to run descaling brews until the Add Water light illuminates.
3. Rinse Cycle: Empty, rinse, and refill the reservoir with fresh water.
4. Press the flashing 8oz button to run rinse cycles until the Descale light turns off.

K-Classic®, K-Café®, K-Café® Special Edition, K-Latte®, K-Elite®, K-Compact®, and K-Select® Brewers

1. Turn the brewer on. Perform one cleansing brew with the largest cup size.
2. Repeat until the Add Water light turns on.
3. Power the brewer off and let it stand for at least 30 minutes to let the solution soak.
4. After 30 minutes, discard any remaining solution and rinse the reservoir thoroughly.
5. Rinse Cycle: Fill the reservoir with fresh water and perform at least 12 rinse brews with the largest size to flush the system completely.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We've helped thousands of customers, and these are the questions we hear most often.

1. Help! My Keurig descale light won't turn off after descaling!
This is the most common issue! It usually means the machine's internal counter didn't register the full rinse cycle. Try this:

• Ensure you completed the full descaling AND the full freshwater rinse process exactly as described for your model.
• Unplug the machine for 60 minutes and plug it back in.
• Run one more full reservoir of fresh water through the machine as rinse cycles.

2. Can I use vinegar to descale my Keurig?
Yes, you can, but with caution. If it's your only option, use a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Crucially, you must run at least 2-3 full reservoirs of only fresh water through the machine afterward to completely flush out the vinegar. As mentioned above, we recommend a [link to your product page -> proper descaler] for better and safer results.

3. How often should I descale my Keurig?
Keurig recommends descaling every 3 months. If you have very hard water (water that leaves white spots on dishes), you may want to do it more frequently. Regular descaling is the single best thing you can do to extend the life of your machine.