How to Descale, Clean, and Maintain a Keurig Duo Coffee Maker

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Clean your Duo Essentials, Special Edition, or Plus brewer in minutes
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If the “DESCALE” light on your Keurig Duo is on, if your brewer is starting to sputter or work slowly, or your coffee tastes off, it may be time to descale your machine. Descaling is an easy process that involves running a descaling solution or vinegar through your machine. We’ll tell you how to do this, plus how to turn off the descale light if it stays on. We also talked to cleaning expert Ryan Santos and house cleaning professional James Sears to find out the best ways to clean and maintain the rest of your Keurig Duo. Read on for more!

Descaling a Keurig Duo

  1. Pour descaling solution or distilled vinegar into the reservoir.
  2. Fill the rest of the reservoir with fresh water.
  3. Brew a 12 oz (1.5 cup) single cup of the descaling solution.
  4. Brew 12 cups of the descaler through the carafe side.
  5. Let the Keurig sit for 30 minutes.
  6. Rinse the carafe, cup, and reservoir and fill the reservoir with water.
Section 1 of 4:

Descaling a Keurig Duo

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    Turn off your Keurig Duo by pressing the power button. Remove the reservoir’s lid, then pull the tank straight up out of the brewer. Pour out anything inside the reservoir, then pour in an entire bottle of descaling solution or about 30 oz (3.75 cups) white distilled vinegar. Fill the rest of the reservoir up with fresh, clean water. [1]
    • Pour 2 bottles of descaling solution into the reservoir for better cleaning power. Fill the rest up with water.
    • Most Keurig Duo machines can hold up to 60 oz (7.5 cups) of water. [2]
    • This machine doesn’t have a descaling mode like other coffee makers. Instead, you descale your machine by brewing the descaling solution or vinegar and water.
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    Open the K-Cup compartment to ensure there are no K-Cups inside the machine. Place a large mug or container on the drip tray under the K-cup part of the machine, then press the “OZ,” “POD,” or mug-shaped button. Press the “12” and “K” buttons to start the brew. [3]
    • If you used vinegar, the machine may emit a strong vinegar smell—this is nothing to worry about. Later, you’ll rinse your machine to get rid of any remaining smell or taste.
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    With the carafe on its heating plate, press the “CUPS,” “CARAFE,” or carafe-shaped button. Press the “12” button, then press the “K” button to start the brew. After the brew finishes, press and hold the “CUPS,” “CARAFE,” or carafe-shaped button to turn off the heating plate. [4]
    • The carafe button will glow red to signal that the heating plate is on. After you press and hold it for a few seconds, it will turn off.
    • If you’re using the Keurig-brand descaling solution, you may notice a foam dispensing from the brewer. This is completely normal, and won’t affect your machine.
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    Letting the machine sit allows the vinegar or descaling solution to dissolve the mineral deposits inside. After about 20 minutes, empty the carafe, your cup, and the reservoir. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water. [5]
    • Rinse out the filter basket inside the carafe side of the machine, too.
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    Fill the reservoir with fresh, clean water. Place your cup on the drip tray and press the “OZ,” “POD,” or mug-shaped button, then press the “K” button to start the brew. [6]
    • Check the water reservoir after the brew is finished. If it’s low, fill it with fresh water to the fill line.
    • The water will rinse the descaling solution out of the single-cup part of the machine.
    • If your machine is heavily scaled, the water may not come out and you may hear air blowing through instead. If that happens, turn off and unplug the brewer. Empty and fill the reservoir with fresh water, then plug it back in and repeat this step.
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    Make sure the water reservoir is filled to the “MAX” fill line. Put the carafe on the heating plate. Press the “CUPS,” “CARAFE,” or carafe-shaped button, then press the “12” and “K” buttons to start the brew. [7]
    • Make sure to turn off the heating plate after the water is finished brewing. Press and hold the “CUPS,” “CARAFE,” or carafe-shaped button for a few seconds until the red light goes out.
    • This will rinse out all the vinegar sitting in the tubes in the carafe side of the machine.
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    You will brew fresh water through the single-cup side 4 times, and brew water through the carafe side 4 times. This makes sure that no vinegar or descaling solution remains in the machine. [8]
    • Once you’ve finished the 4th cycle on both sides of the machine, rinse out the carafe, reservoir, and filter basket inside the carafe side.
    • Now you’re ready to make a cup of your favorite coffee!
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Section 2 of 4:

Turning off the Keurig Duo Descale Light

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    If you finish descaling your brewer and the screen still says “DESCALE” or the descale light is on, press and hold the “8” and “10” buttons on the top of the machine for 3 to 5 seconds. [9] This will reset the descale sensors and the notification will turn off.
    • If the light still stays on, press the power button to turn the machine off. Turn the machine back on, then try this method again. [10]
    • If you postpone the descaling process and dismiss the descaling notification, the system may remind you again in 6 weeks.
Section 3 of 4:

How often should you descale your Keurig Duo brewer?

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    Calcium and other mineral deposits can quickly build up in your machine, reducing its efficiency and hindering its performance. [11] Try to repeat the steps above every 6 months to descale your brewer. [12] If you have hard water, descale it every 3 months instead. [13]
    • It might also be time to descale your machine if it struggles to pour a cup or if it starts to affect the quality of your brew. [14]
    • Sears says “The harder your water, the more often you should descale. A trick to avoid this cleaning time would be to consider using… bottled water with low mineral content for your coffee water reservoir.”
    • Keurig advises against using distilled water because its sensors rely on the minerals in water. Your brewer may not be able to detect water in the reservoir and the “add water” light may stay on. [15]
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Section 4 of 4:

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Keurig Duo

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    Fill a sink with warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap. Wash each part of the coffee maker with a soft scrub brush, then rinse them off with clean water. [16] Allow them to dry completely before putting them back inside the machine.
    • Wash these components after every use to keep them clean.
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    Lift the handle on the single-cup side of the machine to open the pod holder. Grab the rim of the plastic piece where the pod sits and pull it straight up. Separate the top of the pod holder from the funnel. Wash the pod holder with a small brush , dish soap, and water. [17]
    • Put both pieces back together and insert the pod holder into the brewer after you’re done.
    • To clean the exit hole, insert the end of a toothpick or paper clip into the bottom of the tube, moving it around to dislodge any debris. [18]
    • The pod holder has a sharp needle inside the exit hole that pokes a hole in the bottom of K-Cups. Try to be careful as you wash it.
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    To unclog the needle, Santos says to “unplug your Keurig and remove the water reservoir and drip tray. Next, use a paperclip or a toothpick to gently clear any clogs or debris from the needle. You can also use a small, soft-bristled brush to gently scrub the needle and surrounding areas.”
    • It may be easier to do this step if you remove the pod holder first. [19]
    • After you’re done, “reassemble your Keurig and run a few cycles of hot water to flush out any remaining debris,” Santos recommends.
    • The needle is very sharp, so be careful as you clean it.
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    Antibacterial wipes can ensure that your machine is clean while preventing the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other germs. [20] Wipe the top, sides, and the area behind the carafe or coffee mug until they’re clean.
    • Alternatively, Sears recommends cleaning “the exterior of your Keurig with a microfiber cloth, and an all-natural plant-based cleaner such as Better Life .”
    • Wipe down the outside of your Keurig Duo after every use to keep it clean.
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      Tips

      • Keurig doesn’t recommend using vinegar to clean your machine long-term because the acidity can damage the parts inside. [21]
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      • The water reservoir and reservoir lid are not dishwasher-safe. It’s best to clean them by hand with dish soap and warm water. [22]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/how-to-descale-your-keurig-coffee-maker
      2. ↑ https://www.qvc.com/footers/cd/pdf/K50001_FAQ.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/how-to-descale-your-keurig-coffee-maker
      4. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/how-to-descale-your-keurig-coffee-maker
      5. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/how-to-descale-your-keurig-coffee-maker
      6. ↑ https://support.keurig.com/?kmContentId=1012522&page=shell&shell=knowledge-article
      7. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/how-to-descale-your-keurig-coffee-maker
      8. ↑ https://support.keurig.com/?kmContentId=1012522&page=shell&shell=knowledge-article
      9. ↑ https://support.keurig.com/?kmContentId=1012522&page=shell&shell=knowledge-article
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/_VgPcq4w_aQ?t=28
      2. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/how-to-descale-your-keurig-coffee-maker
      3. ↑ https://support.keurig.com/?kmContentId=1012522&page=shell&shell=knowledge-article
      4. ↑ https://www.keurig.ca/support/keurig2-brewers
      5. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/coffee-makers/how-to-clean-your-coffee-maker-a9071238280/
      6. ↑ https://www.keurig.ca/support/keurig2-brewers
      7. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/keep-your-keurig-coffee-maker-brewing-like-new-with-regular-maintenance
      8. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/keep-your-keurig-coffee-maker-brewing-like-new-with-regular-maintenance
      9. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/cleaning-your-keurig-brewer-needles
      10. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/cleaning-your-keurig-brewer-needles
      11. ↑ https://www.keurig.com/hub/support/keep-your-keurig-coffee-maker-brewing-like-new-with-regular-maintenance
      12. ↑ https://www.keurig.ca/support/keurig2-brewers
      13. ↑ https://www.keurig.ca/support/keurig2-brewers

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