It can be done It’s hard to know how to clean your Keurig, but it’s important work. If your home is like mine, your coffee pod maker run anywhere from three to seven times per day. All that use can cause gunk to build up, which affects the taste of your coffee and the life of your machine. But with proper maintenance and a dedicated routine, cleaning is easy. Here’s everything you need to know about light daily cleaning as well as deeper cleaning.

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Daily Maintenance

To clean the housing of your Keurig coffee maker or other pod machine, simply take a damp cloth and wipe the outside. You can clean the K-Cup holder and needle by brushing or vacuuming away any debris like coffee grounds—be careful around the needle part because, obviously, it’s sharp.

Some machines have a needle cleaning tool that you insert above and below the needle, and some people on various forums have used a paper clip instead. Some machines have removable pod containers that can be soaked in hot water. It’s always a good idea to refer to your specific model’s user guide, and you’ll probably want to unplug your machine first.

To clean your drip tray and water reservoir, remove it and wash it by hand in hot, soapy water (although avoid using too much dish soap to prevent build-up). If your machine comes with a carafe, wash it by hand or put it in the dishwasher if it’s dishwasher safe. Air dry them or wipe them with a lint-free towel after washing them. You should replace the fresh water in your reservoir regularly, especially if it has been sitting for a while. If your machine has a water filter in its reservoir, replace it every two to three months. Most machines with these types of filters have maintenance reminders—listen to them!

For cleaning internal bits and pieces, you can use something like a Good Rinse Podwhich helps flush out any excess oils or flavors that may remain. This is especially useful after making flavored K-Cups such as hot cocoa or certain types of coffee. You can also run a hot water cycle frequently, which is a good idea if you haven’t used your machine in a few days.

Deeper Cleansing and Descaling

Some manufacturers recommend using filtered or distilled water instead of tap water in your reservoirs, but I always use tap water with the knowledge that I need to clean my machine more often. You should thoroughly clean or descale your pod coffee maker every three to six months, or possibly more often if you notice hard water stains, calcium deposits, or mineral buildup, or your machine prompts you to clean it.

You can do this in a few ways. For the DIY method, fill your water tank with white vinegar and water (about half and half) and run the large capacity brew cycle until the reservoir is empty; In between, consider allowing the vinegar solution to soak for a while, about 20 to 30 minutes. Follow up with a few wash cycles with clean water until the vinegar smell is gone. Alternatively, you can use the dedicated Good descaling solution according to the instructions on the bottle. That solution may work with non-Keurig machines as well. Make sure your machine is thoroughly rinsed before brewing your next cup of coffee.

It is important to perform these deeper cleaning cycles regularly to ensure that your machine lasts as long as possible. And that your coffee tastes good, of course.

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