How to Clean a Ninja Coffee Maker

Co-authored by Marcus Shields

Last Updated: March 6, 2023 References

Cleaning your Ninja coffee maker periodically is important if you want to keep it running efficiently. Over time, hard water causes calcium to build up in the machine. To remove these calcium deposits, you can use the machine’s clean cycle function. It’s very simple. Just pour a mixture of descaling solution and water, or white vinegar and water, into the water reservoir and press the “clean” button. You should run this clean cycle as soon as the clean light on your machine turns on to keep your coffee maker working at its best.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Starting the Clean Cycle

1
Clean your coffee maker whenever the “clean” light illuminates. The “clean” button is located at the bottom right of your coffee maker. You’ll know it’s time to clean your unit when a thin red light appears under the word “clean.”^{[1]
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- Although you’ll still be able to make a pot of coffee if the clean light is on, you’ll still want to clean your unit as soon as possible.^{[2]
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2
Pour descaling solution and water into the reservoir up to the “Max Fill” line. Descaling solution helps remove calcium buildup from your machine, which can improve its performance and the flavor of your coffee. Look at the directions on the specific bottle of descaling solution you’re using to find out exactly how much solution to use.^{[3]
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- You can purchase descaling solution at your local supermarket, or on the manufacturer’s website.
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3
Use white vinegar instead of descaling solution to save money. White vinegar works just as well as descaling solution and is also cheaper.^{[4]
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Expert Source

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.}^{[5]
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Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 22 September 2019.} Start by pouring vinegar into the water reservoir up to the “travel mug” line, or about 16 fluid ounces (470 mL). Then, add water until the liquid reaches the “Max Fill” line.^{[6]
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- Use only white vinegar. Other types of vinegar—such as rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or black vinegar—won’t work.
- The travel mug line is the second line from the bottom on your water reservoir.
- Be careful never to fill your reservoir above the Max Fill line.^{[7]
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Turn the dial on your unit to the “Full Carafe” size and set up the carafe. To do this, turn the dial on your unit all the way to the right. Be sure to also put the carafe under the brew basket before beginning.^{[8]
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Press the “clean” button to begin the clean cycle. When you press the “clean” button, the letters “CLN” and the countdown timer of the clean cycle will appear on the clock display. Don’t press any other buttons while the clean cycle is running.^{[9]
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- A clean cycle will usually last around 1 hour. Although, clean times may vary depending on the model you have.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Flushing Your Unit with Water

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Empty the carafe once the clean cycle ends. When the clean cycle ends, the light next to the clock display will flash, and the word “Flush” will appear on the display. To empty the carafe, simply pour the liquid into your sink.^{[10]
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- The liquid in the carafe will be hot, just like freshly-brewed coffee, so be careful when pouring it out.
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Refill the reservoir with tap water and press the “clean” button again. Once you’ve poured the liquid out of your carafe, put the carafe back under the brew basket. Then, fill the reservoir up to the “Max Fill” line with water.^{[11]
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- This first flush will take around 8 minutes.
- You don’t need to add descaling solution or white vinegar for this step.
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Run another clean cycle with only water. Once the clean cycle with water finishes, dump out the water, and repeat the flushing process. These flushing cycles will help clear the descaling solution, or white vinegar, out of your machine, keeping your next pot of coffee fresh and tasty.^{[12]
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James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.}^{[13]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How I descale my Ninja coffee maker?

James Sears
House Cleaning Professional
James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.

James Sears

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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Fill up the coffee maker's reservoir with white vinegar and run it through your machine. After that, flush the system out by running another cycle with clean water.