Almost any drink dispensing device, whether it be a soda fountain, coffee machine, or water cooler, runs the risk of developing mold within its parts.
That includes the Keurig or similar K-Cup coffee machine in your home or office.
If the possibility of drinking coffee from a machine that has mold inside it is disturbing, there are some simple routines you can follow to clean your K-Cup or Keurig machine to prevent mold growth and bacteria.
Why Does Mold Form in My Keurig?
Almost any coffee making device is a prime habitat for mold to grow in.
A Keurig, drip coffee maker, and other coffee-making devices generally have a reservoir where water sits for varying lengths of time. This moisture combined with the plastic material of the device itself creates a recipe for mold growth.
How to Clean Mold from the Inside of a Keurig
Fortunately, the steps to remove mold from a Keurig or similar K-Cup coffee machine are simple. It’s just a matter of running the right cleaning substance through the system, just as you would run your coffee through it.
The Vinegar Method
- Fill the reservoir half-way with distilled white vinegar, and the other half hot water.
- Stir the mixture as best you can and let the solution sit for 30 minutes (this cleans the reservoir itself).
- Run the solution through the Keurig by using the brew function until all of the solution has emptied.
- Continue to fill the Keurig with the white vinegar solution and brew it through, 2-3 more times.
- Then, simply run fresh water through the brew cycle to rinse out the Keurig. Do this until the acidic taste is no longer present
Commercial Coffee Descaler Products
Commercial branded solutions can be purchased online or at the store that work very similarly to the above vinegar method.
These solutions often contain additional ingredients that help clean and disinfect the Keurig or coffee machine.
If you go this route, just be sure to follow the product-specific instructions.
Mold Removal in California
What Makes Mold Dangerous
Besides simply being a gross substance to find in your Keurig or other coffee-making device, mold can present health risks and even damage the material it grows on.
Health effects of exposure to mold include itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and respiratory issues.
While the amount of mold present in a coffee machine may not be enough to overly concerned over, mold that grows in your home can cause severe structural damage, as well as the aforementioned adverse health effects over time.
Mold Remediation in the San Francisco, CA Area
If you find or suspect mold in your home or business in the San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo or surrounding areas, call ServiceMaster of San Francisco at (800) 439-8833 for mold remediation services.
Our mold removal team will locate all the mold present on your property with infrared technology.
Our IICRC certified technicians will then perform complete mold remediation methods, and ensure the mold does not return.
Steve VanDenBerg is the owner of ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration and Recovery. He has over 30 years of experience working within the restoration industry and successfully leading start-ups, turnarounds, acquisitions and mergers, and rapidly growing companies.
Steve earned his BS in Business & Accounting from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI and began working for DSI Holdings as their Chief Financial Officer. When Steve began with DSI Holdings, they were running an underperforming ServiceMaster Restore franchise with one location. Steve implemented new policies and procedures for accounting and finance as well as a professional sales plan that increased profits eightfold over his time as the CFO. He was then promoted to President and CEO and in this time, he expanded the company from two locations with $4M in sales to 12 locations and $45M in sales. DSI Holdings became one of the largest disaster restoration companies in the U.S. and helped with major restoration projects throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Steve purchased ServiceMaster DRR in 2015 when the business was in decline. Drawing on his years of experience in turning around struggling ServiceMaster franchises, Steve overhauled our operations, including finance, sales, and marketing, which led to a quick turnaround. Within Steve’s first 24 months, sales increased by 60 percent. Steve also helped greatly improve our operating margins and established a relationship with California’s largest residential insurance company. Under Steve’s leadership, we have become one of the largest disaster restoration providers in California.
Steve has found great success in turning around struggling and stagnant restoration franchises by changing the business model and strategy, greatly increasing sales and profits. Many of the changes he has implemented have even been adopted by the franchisor into their operating model.