Why You Shouldn't Leave Water Sitting In Your Keurig

If you regularly enjoy a cup of coffee at home, you've likely invested in some kind of coffee-making appliance, whether it's a fancy custom coffee machine you can control via a smartphone app or a single-serve coffee maker like Keurig.

Even Keurig itself has a wide range of coffee makers to choose from, with its average single-serve machine costing around $80 and its Premier Brewing System costing just under $300. Some coffee makers are quieter, some are faster, and some are smaller. Some are simply better at making certain kinds of coffee.

However, there is one thing that all Keurigs (and likely most coffee makers, for that matter) have in common: They need regular maintenance. To keep your coffee maker running smoothly and keep yourself from getting sick, these appliances need to be kept clean — inside and out. Most importantly, you shouldn't be leaving water sitting in your Keurig for more than a few days at a time. Here's why. 

Whether you've just gotten a Keurig or have had one for years, it's important to know the do's and don'ts where your coffee maker is concerned. Generally speaking, one of the biggest don'ts is leaving water in your coffee maker. Overnight or even for a couple of days is fine, but you definitely don't want to leave water in your Keurig for a week or longer (via Roasty Coffee). 

Keeping water in your Keurig for too long can allow for the growth of mold and bacteria, as well as limescale. While limescale will mainly just affect the taste of your coffee, ingesting mold or bacteria from your coffee maker can make you very sick.

The best way to prevent any kind of growth inside your coffee maker is to stay ahead of build-up. Clean and descale your coffee maker on a regular basis by running vinegar or citric acid through brewing cycles. Rinse with hot water, and voila, your Keurig is ready to make your next cup of coffee. For less fuss, Keurig also offers special cleaning pods. Regardless of how you choose to approach it, put cleaning the Keurig on your to-do list to ensure you're drinking tasty, germ-free coffee.