How to Clean Ninja Coffee Maker With Clean Button the Right Way

Waking up to a cup of fresh coffee is a great feeling — until your Ninja coffee maker starts tasting weird or smelling bad. That’s a sign it needs a deep clean. In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to clean Ninja coffee maker with clean button the right and easy way. This is the same method I use for my own machine when coffee starts tasting off. In just a few steps, your machine will be fresh again. You’ll be amazed how much better your coffee tastes afterward.

Unplug and Get Your Machine Ready for Cleaning

Before you begin cleaning, the first thing to do is unplug your Ninja coffee maker from the wall. Safety is very important. You do not want to touch any buttons or water while it’s still plugged in. Once it’s unplugged, let it cool down for a few minutes if you used it earlier. This helps prevent any accidents.

Now, remove all the parts that can be taken out. These usually include the water reservoir, the filter basket, and the carafe. Rinse these parts under running water to get rid of any leftover coffee or grounds. This does not fully clean them, but it helps remove easy dirt before we go deeper.

Next, wipe the outside of your coffee maker with a damp cloth. Don’t use too much water — just enough to clean the dust and small coffee splashes. This keeps the machine looking nice and ready for a full inside clean.

Make sure the water reservoir is empty now. You don’t want leftover water mixing with the cleaning solution. Also check if the “clean” light on your coffee maker is on. If it is, that means the machine is telling you it’s time to clean. Even if it’s not on, you can still clean it if you notice bad smells or poor taste.

Another thing to do is make sure the clean button works. Sometimes if there’s a problem with the machine, the button may not respond. So tap it lightly first before starting the deep clean. If it clicks or lights up, then it’s working fine.

Get your cleaning solution ready too. You can use white vinegar and water, or you can use a special descaling cleaner made for coffee makers. I personally prefer vinegar because it’s cheap and always works for me. If you use vinegar, mix it with water — about 1 part vinegar to 1 part water.

Put the solution into the water reservoir. Don’t fill to the top, just enough to go past the minimum fill line. Then, place the empty carafe back in its place so it can catch all the dirty water during the cleaning.

Finally, plug the coffee maker back in. You are now ready to start using the clean button.

Unplug the coffee maker and let it cool
Remove the parts like carafe and water tank
Rinse the parts with clean water
Wipe outside with a damp cloth
Check if clean button is working
Fill tank with vinegar and water
Place carafe back in place
Plug the machine back in

Start the Cleaning Cycle Using the Clean Button

Now that your Ninja coffee maker is ready, it’s time to use the clean button. This button is very useful. It tells the machine to do a special clean cycle. It takes longer than a normal brew, but it goes deep into the parts you cannot reach by hand.

To begin, find the ‘Clean’ button on your coffee maker. It is usually on the control panel where all other buttons are. Once the machine is plugged in and filled with your vinegar-water mix, press the clean button one time. You should see it light up, and the machine will begin its special cleaning cycle.

This cycle will take some time. Usually it runs for about 45 to 60 minutes. Do not stop it or turn off the machine while it’s working. Let it go through the full cycle. During this time, you may hear the machine turning on and off. That is normal. It is breaking down the mineral build-up inside.

What is this build-up? It’s mostly calcium and other stuff from your tap water. After many uses, these minerals start to clog the inside of your coffee maker. This causes slower brewing, bad taste, and sometimes even weird noises. The clean button helps remove all that.

When the cleaning cycle is finished, the machine will stop on its own. The water inside the carafe will be dirty. It may smell strong because of the vinegar, but that means it’s working. Let the machine cool down again before moving to the next part.

Now, remove the carafe and dump out the dirty water. Rinse the carafe well. Also remove the water reservoir and rinse that too. This step is very important because you don’t want any vinegar left inside the machine.

After that, fill the water reservoir with clean water only. No vinegar this time. Place the carafe back. Press the clean button again or just run a normal brew cycle to rinse the inside of the machine. This step removes leftover vinegar from deep inside the parts.

You may need to do this clean water rinse 1 or 2 times to make sure there’s no smell or taste left. Smell the carafe water after each rinse. If it smells fresh, you’re good to go.

Press the clean button once to start the cleaning cycle
Let it run fully for 45 to 60 minutes
Do not stop or unplug during cleaning
Empty dirty water from carafe
Rinse carafe and water tank well
Fill with fresh water and run rinse cycle
Repeat rinse if vinegar smell is still there

Wash and Dry All Removable Parts

Once your coffee maker has finished the clean cycle and rinse, now it’s time to wash all the parts that you took out earlier. These include the water reservoir, filter basket, and the carafe. Even though they were rinsed before, now they need a full wash with soap.

Use warm water and dish soap. A soft sponge works best for cleaning. Do not use anything sharp that could scratch the plastic or glass parts. Scratches can trap old coffee or dirt and may lead to bad smells later.

Scrub the inside of the water reservoir carefully. Some areas inside may have stains or scale build-up from the minerals. If your fingers can’t reach deep, use a long bottle brush. That helps clean the bottom and edges well.

The carafe also needs special care. If you see any coffee stains, let it soak in warm soapy water for a few minutes. After soaking, gently scrub with the sponge. If stains are still hard to remove, add a bit of baking soda and scrub again. It works like magic.

For the filter basket, remove any leftover coffee grounds. Then clean it well with soap. If it has a reusable mesh filter, clean that too. A toothbrush can help reach the small holes in the mesh.

After washing, rinse all parts with clean water. Make sure no soap is left. Then, dry all parts with a clean towel or let them air dry fully before putting them back. Wet parts can create mold if you store them back while still damp.

Also check under the lid and other hidden parts of the machine. Sometimes coffee splashes hide there. Use a small cloth or a cotton swab to wipe those tight areas.

Once all the parts are dry, reassemble your coffee maker. Put the reservoir back in place, the filter basket inside, and the carafe under. Your Ninja coffee maker is now fully clean inside and out.

Wash reservoir, carafe, and filter with soap and water
Use sponge or brush for tough stains
Soak carafe if stains are hard to remove
Scrub mesh filter with toothbrush
Rinse all parts well
Dry everything before reassembling
Check under the lid for hidden dirt

Keep It Clean for the Future

Now that your Ninja coffee maker is fresh and clean, you want to keep it that way. Regular cleaning will help your machine last longer and make better-tasting coffee every time. So how do you keep it clean going forward?

First, make a habit of emptying the filter basket and carafe after every use. Don’t leave old coffee sitting in the machine for hours. It dries up, stains, and causes bad smells.

Next, rinse the water reservoir every couple of days, even if you don’t use the machine daily. Water sitting too long can grow bacteria. Rinsing with clean water helps stop that.

Once a week, remove and wash all removable parts like you did today. You don’t have to use vinegar every week — just regular soap and water is fine for weekly care.

Watch for signs like the “clean” light turning on, weird smells, longer brew time, or strange noises. All of these are signs that it’s time to do another deep clean using the clean button.

Use filtered water if you can. This lowers the chance of mineral build-up. If you use hard tap water, you may need to clean more often.

Also, after every use, leave the lid open so air can get inside. This helps the inside dry fully and stops mold from growing.

You can set a reminder on your phone to do a deep clean every month. That way, you won’t forget, and your coffee maker will stay in great shape.

Empty old coffee after each use
Rinse water tank every few days
Wash removable parts weekly
Use clean or filtered water
Keep lid open after use to air dry
Deep clean once a month with clean button

What to Do If the Clean Button Doesn’t Work

Sometimes, the clean button on the Ninja coffee maker might not work. Don’t panic. There are ways to fix it. First, check if the machine is plugged in and turned on. Sometimes the button won’t work if the power is off.

If the machine is on, press the clean button firmly once. Don’t press too many times. Wait a few seconds. If the light comes on, the machine will start cleaning.

If the button still doesn’t respond, unplug the coffee maker. Wait a minute, then plug it back in. This resets the system and can fix simple problems.

Still not working? Check if the water tank is filled to the correct level. If it’s too low, the clean cycle won’t start. Also, check that the carafe is in place. The machine needs all parts to be set correctly to work.

If everything is in place and the button won’t work, you may need to clean the machine manually. Just run a brew cycle with the vinegar-water mix, then run 1 or 2 rinse cycles with clean water. It won’t be as deep, but it still helps.

Sometimes the clean button is broken or the machine has an error. If nothing works, check the user manual or contact Ninja support. They might help you fix or replace it.

Make sure power is on and machine is plugged
Press clean button once and wait
Reboot machine by unplugging and plugging back
Fill water tank properly and place carafe
Try manual cleaning if button won’t work
Contact Ninja if nothing helps

Final Thoughts

Keeping your Ninja coffee maker clean makes a big difference in how your coffee tastes and how long your machine lasts. Using the clean button is one of the easiest ways to deep clean it. Make this part of your regular care, and you’ll always have fresh, great-tasting coffee every day. A clean coffee maker is a happy one.

Action	Details
Unplug and prep	Cool down and remove parts
Add solution	Fill reservoir with vinegar and water
Press clean button	Starts deep cleaning for 45–60 minutes
Empty and rinse	Dump dirty water, rinse carafe and reservoir
Run rinse cycle	Use fresh water and repeat rinse 1–2 times
Wash parts	Clean carafe, filter, reservoir with soap and sponge
Dry and reassemble	Let all parts dry before putting back
Monthly cleaning	Repeat full clean every 1 month

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is it safe to use vinegar in my Ninja coffee maker?

Yes, it is safe to use white vinegar in your Ninja coffee maker for cleaning. Vinegar is a natural acid that breaks down mineral build-up and kills bacteria. Just make sure to mix it with water (usually 1:1 ratio) and run at least one or two rinse cycles with clean water afterward to remove the smell. Many people use vinegar because it’s cheap, easy, and effective.

Can I clean my Ninja coffee maker without the clean button?

Yes, you can clean your Ninja coffee maker without using the clean button. Just run a normal brew cycle with a vinegar-water solution, then follow with 1 or 2 more cycles using only clean water to rinse. It might not go as deep as the clean button cycle, but it still removes dirt and mineral build-up. It’s a good backup method if the button doesn’t work.

Do I need to clean my coffee maker if the clean light is not on?

Yes, even if the clean light is not on, you should still clean your coffee maker at least once a month. The light only comes on when sensors detect heavy build-up, but small dirt and germs can still collect inside. Cleaning once a month keeps it fresh and working well. You’ll also notice better coffee taste when you clean often.

Is it okay to use dish soap inside the machine?

No, you should not use dish soap inside the machine’s water tank or during the brew cycle. Dish soap can create foam that damages the machine. You can use dish soap only to wash the removable parts like the carafe, filter, and reservoir by hand. Always rinse well to remove all soap before using again.

Can I use baking soda instead of vinegar?

Baking soda is not a good replacement for vinegar in deep cleaning the inside of the machine. It’s better for removing stains in the carafe but not for cleaning inside the tubes and parts. Vinegar or a coffee maker descaling solution is much more effective for removing mineral build-up inside the machine.

Do I need to remove the filter before cleaning?

Yes, it is best to remove any paper filter or reusable filter before you start the clean cycle. Filters can catch dirt, but during a deep clean they are not needed. Leaving them in may block water flow or trap cleaning solution. Clean the filter separately by hand with soap and water.

Is it okay to leave vinegar in the water tank overnight?

No, it’s not a good idea to leave vinegar sitting inside the coffee maker overnight. It can damage rubber parts or leave a very strong smell. It’s better to do the full clean and rinse in one sitting. If you forget and leave it overnight, rinse it very well the next day before using the machine again.

Can I clean my Ninja coffee maker more than once a month?

Yes, you can clean it more often if needed. If you use your coffee maker daily or use hard water, cleaning every two weeks is a good idea. Some people even clean weekly. More frequent cleaning keeps it fresh and helps prevent any problems with taste or machine errors.