Cleaning A Keurig 2.0

How I Inadvertently Learned to Deep Clean Our Keurig

I don't drink coffee, but my honey does. He's been frustrated with the sluggish and post brew drip with his Keurig, which didn't clear up even after running it through the automatic cleaning process.

Today I went to make myself some tea and as I was rinsing the K-cup holder (I didn't want coffee in my tea), a chunk of coffee came out, which prompted me to scrub it. As was going to place it back in the machine, I noticed build up in the well, so as I was wiping it, I felt something move... that also is removable, so I washed it too. Then I wiped the inside of the well.  Just as I was about to put it all back together, I noticed the pieces are numbered and the part that holds the pod is a two part piece. So, I further dismantled and cleaned it some more.

Finally it is all put together, brewing fine and no more post brew drip. My love is very pleased. He will be bringing home the one he has in his office to be dero cleaned as well.

The Cleaning Part

Step 1: Using cleaning pod included with your Keurig, run through automatic cleaning cycle. Remove cleaning pod, discard spiked water and rinse.

Step 2: Clean removed pod holder (part that pierces KCup) and wash. Use caution when cleaning inside, so as not to poke yourself. This is the two part piece. On the side you will see the number 2, squeeze both sides and the inside piece will pop out. Thoroughly clean both piece. The outside pice eill have to small openings that will require creativity to clean. I used a straw cleaning brush. For some of the crevices, I used small scrub brushes, which I keep on hand on my sink.

Step 3: Remove small treat inside well and wash. It is not too detiled, but I also used a small scrub brush for this, Jo ensure all if the gung was removed.

Step 4: Using a wet paper towel, wipe the inside of the well. I used two and followed up with a dry one.

Step 5: Reassemble and you're done.

Note: This is also a good opportunity to wash the drip tray and wipe down the outside of the Keurig. This I do about once a week.

Questions? Please comment and I will be glad to help.

Be well!

#Keurig #CleaningAKeurig #CleanKeurig #PostBrewDrip #CloggedKeurig #KCup #Coffee #CoffeeLover #OCDWife #HappyHusband

A Story of Health Lost and Regained

2016-12-02: Today as I was reviewing my blog, I noticed I had a a forgotten draft from 18 July 2016. I don't know why I didn't post it, but here it is now.
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As I sit here writing my to get done list for today, I write down the date and it dawns on me that it is a significant anniversary in my life.
It was 18 years ago today that my struggle with with my health and fitness began. It was the day that I incurred an injury during training with the Army, at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA. In spite of the accident, I was able to resume my duties for the remainder of our training days. However, as time progressed, so did the effects of the injury, until one day I was unable to move because my back locked up. I spent the rest of that day flat on my back, because any movement would shoot pain through my body. When you are just barely 30 years old and you are incapacitated, it mind f#¢%$ you.
Even before I was rendered immobile, I was slowed down and gradually losing the my physical fitness abilities. Before the accident I was scoring pretty high in my PT tests. I was on profile and back then, the mindset was that when you are on profile, you don't do any physical training (PT). This was the start of the roller coaster ride with my physical fitness, weight and health issues. The three really are connected. If you are not taking care of your fitness and eating right, your health suffers. If you are unhealthy, your physical fitness suffers. If both are off, you can gain weight and lots of it, quickly.
For the next 16 years I dieted using the Atkins diet, weight watchers, eating less and even resorted to diet pills. Healthy right? I would get into a routine of going to the gym and even taking classes, then life would happen or I'd get bored and not go as often. To be honest, it was just too much hassle to go to the gym, especially after a long day at work and I hated the locker room drama. I tried at home workouts, which were actually preferred, but I had no real structure with them. Although I do love me some Taebo.
In 2010 via an infomercial, I was introduced to P90X, ordered it, did it and was pleased with the results. I intended to do a second round, but never got around to it. I had no accountability, so it was easy to keep putting it off. In the fall of 2012 I was loaned the first part of Insanity, but not the second, so I didn't complete it. A few months later my son-in-law gave me his set of Insanity and it took me a couple of months to get back into it and just when I started, our life changed. We started a remodeling project and if that wasn't crazy enough, in the middle of that we decided to buy a new house. So with the contractor's tools and supplies in my primary workout area and all of the boxes we were packing my secondary area, the workout halted.
In the the preceding years I not only had one setback or another with my physical fitness due to injuries, I also had health issues. Each time I would get one or the other handled, another would come along and stop me in my tracks. The final straw was after working with a nutritionist at the hospital and getting great results the healthy way, I started to regain weight in spite of my efforts. The diagnosis was Hypothyroidism. When your thyroid is out of whack, you're in a "storm" and feel like your'e going insane. You go from being depressed to angry, even rages. I about gave up trying to get back to the healthy me I knew I could be and just work at not getting any fatter or more out of shape. I was going to resort to maintaining my then unhealthy state. Crazy isn't it?
Then one day I woke up and the fighter in me shook me and said don't give up, try again. I made a plan, dusted off the set of Insanity and that following Monday, set out dig deep. And dig deep I did. I had not one, but two ailments in the midst of that 90 day program. The old me would have stopped, but the new, resolved to lick my health issues me said "Not this time!" There are no modifications offered in Insanity, so I came up with my own. I finished the whole damn program, missing only one day when I my back pain was so bad, I had to give my body that break.
What kept me going? First, my determination to change. Being sick and tired of being sick tired kept me going. The other thing that kept me going was this quiet motivation from someone on my friend list. Whenever I would post a completed workout, or shared a victory, she would be there silently clicking like. From seeing her posts, I knew she had recently made changes in her health and had also become a Beachbody Coach. There were other Beachbody Coaches on my friend list, but she was the one that helped keep me motivated. She was never pushy, just supportive. She did invite me to an accountability group once, but I wasn't quite ready. One of the cast members of Insanity is a coach and towards the end of the program, I started thinking I wanted to do the same. I didn't know exactly what coach did, but it sounded like something I wanted to do. So, I contacted this gal and from then on I became part of a bigger circle. A circle that offered the missing component of being successful at reclaiming my healthy and fitness... ACCOUNTABILITY. That is what I had when I was in the Army and the Navy, a regular PT test kept me ACCOUNTABLE. Once I lost that, I lost my motivation and some of my fighting spirit. Now I had it back! Thank you to my coach Kayleigh, for being my encourager and supporter when I needed it most.
Since then, I have made great strides. Not only did I lose the weight, I regained strength and confidence. My goal with my thyroid health was to stabilize it and eventually get off of medication. I was told by doctors that I would always be on medication for Hypothyroidism. I had proven them wrong before with previous health issues, and I was intent on doing it again and I did. I have been medication free for nearly two years and feeling healthier than ever. I am stronger than I have been in a long time. Yes, there have been many obstacles along the way. I have dealt with an ulcer and hiatal hernia. I have fallen and thought I broke my knee cap. I have fallen on the ice, injuring my back. Most recently, I have incurred a torn tendon in my shoulder, which I am still dealing with. However, this time I have not let these illnesses and injuries stop me. I simply adapt, improvise and overcome. I would dare say I am the queen of modifications. I may do it slower, I may do it differently, I may do it less intensely, but I WILL do it. When life gets crazy and there is a threat to my lifestyle, I find a way around it. I have set personal policies about putting my health and fitness goals first. I may have to compromise, but I will not stop.
This my friends, is why I share my post workout selfies. Why I talk about nutrition and share meal prep activities. Why although rare, when I manage to catch a bug from one of my many grandchildren, I share that I keep going and burn it out. Not because I want to say look at me, I am awesome! I do it because I want to motivate others, to encourage them to do the same. I want YOU to be healthy too. I want you to see that no matter what life throws at you, you CAN reclaim and control your health. You CAN be fitter. You CAN be stronger. If watching my journey has inspired YOU in any way to take steps towards a healthier, fitter you in healthy way, then I have been doing my job right. I don’t care if all you do is walk and eliminate just one bad food from your regular diet, as long as you do it and do it consistently, because it is a start.
Lastly, but definitely not least, thank you to my husband Mike. Your support throughout the years have been instrumental in me getting to this point. You help make it possible for me to keep going. I love you.
If you would do me a favor and let me know if I have motivated you in any way to be healthier, I would appreciate it. Maybe even share with me motivational quote (meme) that helps you.

Be well!