Here's How Often You Should Really Be Cleaning Your Keurig

Single-serve coffee makers make it easy to just grab your joe and go and allow sippers to change up their coffee habits with the swap of a pod. But, unlike a standard coffee maker, cleaning it isn't as easy as placing the parts in the dishwasher and running some vinegar through it. In fact, it turns out that single-serve coffee makers, specifically Keurig coffee machines, can be full of bacteria.

According to Food & Wine, three CBS stations around the country did a test and each found potentially harmful bacteria, including things like E. coli, Streptococcus, and mold, within these coffee makers. But don't banish your Keurig to the back of a cabinet just yet — there is hope for keeping it safe from hazardous germs. As long as it is cleaned on a regular basis, you will be able to ward off many of these bad-for-you agents. So, how often should you be cleaning your Keurig and how can you prevent mold and bacteria build-up in between cleanings?

Taste of Home reports that Keurig itself says a deep cleaning every three to six months is a best practice for the coffee machine. This includes a descaling process, which helps to clean the guts of the system thoroughly. There are several ways to deeply clean your Keurig and descale it, the outlet explains. These include Keurig-branded cleaning items, vinegar and water, or citric acid. Additionally, you can invest in Keurig rinse pods as well (these little guys not only help clean your machine but also help get rid of remnants of flavor, too).

In between deep cleanings, other steps for keeping your Keurig in tip-top shape include using filtered water, changing the water after every use, and, of course, wiping it down as part of your overall kitchen cleaning routine. Food & Wine also notes that after cleaning your Keurig, it's best to give it a few run-through rinses to ensure your morning latte doesn't have a slight chemical aftertaste.

Routine maintenance on your coffee machine will not only keep you a healthier person, but your coffee will taste better, too. We call that a win-win situation.