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.

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Forum Comments (2)

How to clean my Keurig with vinegar?

So, white vinegar is safe to consume. That’s kind of the idea here—other chemicals can clean your machine, but vinegar is the safest natural option. White vinegar is slightly acidic so it will work to break down the scale, which is mostly just mineral deposits like calcium. That stuff is in your water naturally, so it builds up in the machine. You load up your Keurig’s water reservoir with white vinegar and run a few cycles until you have depleted all of it. Make sure you have a cup underneath to catch the vinegar, as the vinegar will come out as normal, like you were making coffee. Here are the complete instructions based on Keurig’s guidance:

Step 1: Power off & empty the reservoir (remove the water filter).
Step 2: Pour white vinegar into reservoir.
Step 3: Fill an empty bottle with water and add to reservoir.
Step 4: Power on, place a mug underneath, and perform a cleansing brew using the 10oz. brew size.
Step 5: Pour the contents of the mug into sink.
Step 6: Repeat until the add water light comes on.
Step 7: Let the machine sit for 30 minutes (with the power on).
Step 8: Rinse reservoir thoroughly.
Step 9: Fill reservoir with fresh water and perform at least 12 cleansing brews with water alone.

Best way to clean cast iron skillet w/o ruining seasoning?

To remove rust from a cast iron skillet, make a paste of hot water and baking soda. Apply it to the skillet and let sit and soak for 5 minutes. Then, scrub it off with a sponge.

Q&A Comments (54)

How can I prime a Keurig with vinegar?

All you have to do is fill the reservoir with vinegar and let brew in the machine with the power on for 30 minutes. After that, run the machine with some fresh water to flush it out.

How can I stop iron from rusting?

If the piece of iron gets wet, dry it off immediately so it doesn't start corroding.

What's a good home remedy for cleaning rust off of metal?

You can always mix white vinegar and baking soda with some hot water to make a cleaning paste. Scrub whatever you're cleaning with a sponge to help lift the rust.

See more comments

Co-authored Articles (54)

How to

Descale a Keurig

Over time, Keurigs can develop lime scale that affects the machine’s performance and the taste of the coffee it brews. Fortunately, it’s easy to descale a Keurig using a cleaning solution or a few simple household in...

How to Clean a Keurig Supreme: Descaling & Troubleshooting

''Learn to clean your Keurig Supreme and bypass the descale light'' When you’re trying to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, the last thing you want is a metallic taste. Mineral build-up causes this, and descaling helps prev...

How to Finally Get Your Keurig Descale Light to Turn Off

Get your Keurig back up and running with these simple steps Are you ready to brew a fresh coffee, but that stubborn descale light keeps flashing? You're not alone—a persistent descale light is a typical issue Keurig us...

Where is the Keurig Water Filter? Find & Replace Yours

Removing the old water filter & installing a new one easilyYou probably love brewing a fresh cup of joe in the morning with your Keurig coffee machine. But if your water is tasting a little stale lately, it might be time...

The Best Way to Descale & Clean Your Keurig with Vinegar

Sanitize and remove buildup from any Keurig with our complete guide If your Keurig isn’t working properly or you notice buildup forming, it’s time to clean your machine. Whether you’re descaling your Keurig or ju...

How to

Tell the Difference Between Mouse and Rat Droppings

Blech! Few things are worse than finding a tell-tale pile of rodent droppings somewhere in your home. But which pesky critters made the mess: rats or mice? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for plenty...

Why Your Keurig Isn’t Pumping Water & How to Fix It

Troubleshoot your Keurig with this quick guide Are you ready to brew a fresh cup of coffee only to find no water pumping out? Besides a faulty machine, three common causes can be easily fixed to remove mineral build-up a...

How to Clean a Computer Keyboard

Remove dirt, debris, and stains from between your keysComputer keyboards can become dirty after extended use even if you don't eat or smoke near them. Overtime, dust, debris, and grime can affect a keyboard's performance...

How to Get Velcro to Stick Again: Cleaning Tips

Freshen up your Velcro strips with common household itemsUsually, when Velcro loses its stickiness, it’s because it’s clogged up with lint, hair, and other debris. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to toss out the ...

Eliminating Dust in Your Home: 18 Expert-Approved Tips & Tricks

Keep your home dust-free with this easy guideDo you ever look around your house only to notice dust here, there, and everywhere? Dust is an accumulation of tiny particles that include bits of cloth fibers, paper, hair, p...

How to

Clean a Refrigerator Drip Pan

The drip pan in your refrigerator captures defrosted ice from your freezer so it doesn’t leak in your kitchen. While commonly overlooked, you should clean your drip pan every 3 months to prevent any mold or odors from ...

How to

Get Vomit Smell Out of a Couch

It's no fun when someone vomits on a couch, but accidents happen. If this happened to you, your child, or even your pet, you likely cleaned up the aftermath as fast as possible. One thing that might still be lingering is...

How to

Use Bleach in Your Washing Machine

Using bleach in your washing machine can be a game-changer, but only if you use it the right way. Adding bleach at the wrong time or not diluting it first can lead to a laundry catastrophe (think bleach stains all over y...

How to Remove Burnt Food from a Pot

Remove burnt food from your pot with these tips Is there burnt food stuck to the bottom of your favorite pot or pan? No worries! We’ve got tons of easy ways to use everyday household supplies to restore pots and pans, ...

How to

Clean a Jetted Tub

Jetted tubs accumulate soap scum, biological materials, and other gunk in their jets over time. Whether you want to clean a jetted tub that hasn’t been used in a while, or keep a tub that you frequently use clean, you'...

How to Use a Keurig Machine: Brewing, Assembly, & Cleaning

Plus, expert tips for getting the most out of your machineKeurig coffee makers are quick, convenient, and easy to use. To get the most out of your next cup of coffee, keep reading for a step-by-step guide that will walk ...

How to Clean Velcro & Make It Stick Again

The best ways to remove lint and wash VelcroHook-and-loop fasteners, such as the Velcro® brand fasteners, are a breeze to use but can be difficult to keep clean. Clothing fuzz, pet hair, and lint get stuck in the little...

How to Tell How Many Rats Are in Your House and Eradicate Them

Rats are devious little critters, and they don’t make it easy for you when it comes to figuring out how bad an infestation is. Since the rats won’t voluntarily come out in the open and let you count them, you’re go...

How to Clean Rusty Pots and Pans

Get rust off your cookware & keep it from coming back When metal pots and pans are exposed to moisture, they can develop unsightly spots of rust. Rust isn’t safe to eat, so it’s important to remove it before you cook...

How to Descale a Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker

Quickly remove scale buildup in your Keurig with this easy guide If your Keurig isn’t working properly or brewing bitter coffee, it’s time to descale your machine. It’s easy to get rid of all the buildup in your K...

See more articles