What Can I Use Instead Of Keurig Descaling Solution
You can use vinegar instead of Keurig descaling solution. Just pour white vinegar into the Keurig brewer, let it sit overnight, and rinse with water. You can also use citric acid powder and water or lemon juice and water. In fact, vinegar is more effective than Keurig descaling solution when it came to removing soil and other debris from coffee grounds
While using a little bit of pure water with your Keurig Coffee Maker, most people assume you do not have to descalate it since it is completely clean on the inside. To unclog the Keurig coffee makers, you can use either de-scaling solution or vinegar mixed in the clean water. The water will be filled with scale once the descaling solution has removed it from inside the Keurig.
Yes, even though you have already installed the water filter, you and your Keurig coffee maker will still need to go through Keurigs cleansing process. In some cases, when you are still getting that lingering taste after running 2-3 cycles of water through the machine, you might have to consider cleaning out a few more parts in your Keurig. Try running Keurig Rinse pods, or swapping in water filters, which can be trapping extra vinegar.
If you still smell vinegar, refill the tank again with clean water and repeat the process until there is no smell of vinegar. After you have allowed this to sit with your vinegar solution, drain the reservoir, and this time, refill with clean water. Once you are done, it is best to hand wash the reservoir and the cover thoroughly with (light) soapy water before using your machine so that you avoid white vinegar residue on your coffee cups.
One other important note is that you should never just use vinegar with no water, because that will seriously damage the interior of your Keurig. Another thing to note with using white vinegar is that it may also damage the inner components, such as rubber seals and the gasket, which is why Keurig does not recommend using that mix. Getting vinegar tasted in coffee can be an unpleasant experience, so take care to clean out the Keurig.
It is best to use vinegar as your best coffee stain removal solution, both for the coffee maker and coffee spills on clothing. It also helps that vinegar is highly acidic, making vinegar one of the best substances to use when fighting coffee equipment limescale.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Cleans coffee maker more properly | Its expensive |
| Keeps the taste of coffee | Its extremely corrosive |
| It is an fast acting solution | It is time consuming |
To get rid of limescale deposits in a coffee machine, you can either use Keurigs Descale Solution, or, alternatively (and cheaper), plain white vinegar. In place of the Keurigs descaling solution, you can use powdered citric acid (the main ingredient in their solution) and water, lemon juice and water, or white vinegar and water. You can make your own Keurig descaling solution using a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar, using 1 to 2 tbsp citric acid powder with the entire reservoir filled with water, or with a 50/50 mixture of water and fresh lemon juice.
Place citric acid or lemon juice into your Keurigs water reservoir, then let it steep…. Press the Start button on your brewhead. Run the Keurig using a few cycles of citric acid solution followed by several cycles of regular water. Get rid of the vinegar or de-scaling solution in your Keurig by running the Keurig on an entire water-only cycle, brewing cup after cup without any coffee bean pods in it. Once you start your machine without the K-cup, use the mug to hold water in to allow for the brewing.
If you’re interested in Is A Popcorn Machine Worth It, take a look at my other article.
Before doing Step 1, be sure to remove any removable parts from your machine, such as the mug rack, pod holders, and the K-cup holders from the machine, and wash those separately in hot water. Just like you did to descale it with white vinegar, you will need a couple things too, for cleaning your machines water lines and boiler. Add a solution to your water reservoir, and begin descaling according to instructions provided by the machines manufacturer (usually found in their brochure). In addition to thoroughly cleaning your Keurig using the descaling button, you will need to clean the water reservoir with a wet wipe at least weekly.
Using a homemade white vinegar solution is one of the cheaper options to descaling your Keurig machine without the Keurig descaling solution. While a home remedy is the cheaper option, it is also worth noting that if you need to ever take advantage of the Keurigs warranty to get a problem fixed on your machine, the brand may not be too pleased that you relied on vinegar instead of the Keurigs proprietary descaling solution to keep your machine running at its best. You will also want to remember that Keurig may cause you some issues if you have to take advantage of the limited warranty for your machine, if Keurig knows that you ran vinegar through the machine. There is no warranty on cleaning your Keurig with vinegar, though this is not likely to affect the warranty on your machine.
Vinegar may be quite good at cleaning your Keurig, but vinegar does not fully eliminate all of the microbes and bacteria that may build up in your Keurig after repeated usage. Many forget they need to descale their Keurig coffee machines because you are always going to be pouring clean water into the machine, and there is not any coffee being forced through the water supply, which may cause a false belief that the interior of the machine is likely pretty clean. While the Keurigs solution is quite safe for use in your favorite single-serve coffee machine, it could cause harm if swallowed, inhaled, or comes in contact with the skin.
If you’re interested in Is A Popcorn Machine Worth It, take a look at my other article.
Decluttering a Keurig using a simple solution consisting of equal parts water and white vinegar will prolong the life of your beloved coffee machine, while keeping the flavor of the coffee intact. Fill it up to the MAX line with fresh water, then do 12 rinsing brews using the largest cup size to get rid of any traces of vinegar or the descaling solution. Keurig claims the vinegar solution will descalate, removing calcium and other scalds (mineral deposits) that can accumulate within the internal parts of the brewer and in the tanks.
Is vinegar as good as Keurig descaling solution?
Although the procedure is essentially the same whether you use white vinegar or Keurig’s solution, it is advised that you do so. Although it costs a bit more to purchase, we believe it is worthwhile if it allows you to experience a superior coffee flavor.
What can I use instead of descaling solution for Keurig?
It is recommended that you use citric acid instead of Keurig’s descaling solution. You can find citric acid at any health food store. But if it is unavailable, you can also use lemon juice that is strained of pulp and it will work equally well.
Is vinegar better than descaling solution for Keurig maintenance?
It isn’t easy to give a definitive answer as both vinegar and descaling solutions work equally well in descaling. Vinegar is readily available and more affordable than descaler. Even though vinegar leaves a lingering taste, it is considered ideal for clearing away limescale. In contrast, descaler has been specifically created to keep the machine running reliably.