How to Clean the Ninja Coffee Bar and coffee maker, and how to turn off the clean light! There’s a special process to follow, that’s more than just running the clean cycle. Here’s how!
How to Clean the Ninja Coffee Bar
If you watched my “How to Use a Ninja Coffee Bar” video, then you know how much I LOVE the coffee maker.
But something that a lot of you Ninja Coffee Bar owners and I struggled with, was that the pesky “clean” light would stay off for a split second, but then it would come back on and stay on.
“How do I Clean this Coffee Maker?”
So after calling Ninja myself, asking what I was doing “wrong”, or if that there was a faulty part in my machine…
the sweet lady that I talked to, asked how I was cleaning it before.
When I explained that I would push the clean cycle button to run its 8-minute cycle (like I did in my “Ninja Coffee Bar Quick-Clean” video here) it was like a light-bulb went off and she responded,
“Ahhh… that’s what it is. So you’re just doing a quick-clean cycle. But that’s not all you need to do. Here’s how to really clean your Ninja Coffee Bar and make that clean light go off and stay off!”
Cleaning Ninja Coffee Bar with White Vinegar
The next question she asked was,
“What are you using to clean your Ninja Coffee Bar?”
And like a shy little girl, I responded with “um.. vinegar?” Hoping she wouldn’t reprimand me for using a household item instead of some fancy cleaner that they recommend.
But she didn’t! She just simply continued on with the instructions of how to clean the Ninja with white vinegar.
Friend, I’m proud to tell you today that this process actually worked and the clean light stays off MUCH longer than it was. Here’s what you need to do, and don’t forget to read my tip and feedback that I recommend after doing this with my very own Ninja Coffee Bar.
UPDATE: I’ve been on the hunt for a coffee machine descaler solution (cleaning solution) to use instead of vinegar and water, to see if it works better.
Well, I’m happy to say that I’ve found one that (based on the reviews) works SOOO much better than vinegar and water, to help keep that “clean” light off! I’ll be trying this myself so I can keep you posted on it too!
Get the Coffee Machine Descaler on Amazon HERE!
Get the descaler HERE!
How to Clean the Ninja Coffee Bar and Turn Off the Clean Light…
Note, this is the LONG-PROCESS for Cleaning Your Ninja Coffee Bar. If you’re pressed for time, don’t hesitate to run a clean cycle once, (or also sometimes called a “flush cycle”) but know that it probably won’t clean it thoroughly and that the clean light will pop back on after about one more use.
Ninja Coffee Bar Cleaning Video
I’ve recorded a quick 5-minute video of the recommended cleaning process, but you can find the instructions below the video for quick reference too…
BEFORE YOU WATCH: After recording this video, I learned a trick from a reader that has made SUCH a difference in helping my clean light say off even longer!
UPDATED TIP: Make sure to also wipe off the “plate” that is above where the coffee pot sits, where the coffee drips out of the machine, above the pitcher.
This was SOOOOOO dirty when I cleaned it the other day because I hadn’t thought about that area. I know… I know… why hadn’t I thought about it? I don’t know but I wanted to mention it in case you hadn’t either!
Ninja Coffee Bar Cleaning Instructions:
- Discard any water/coffee grounds from Ninja Coffee Bar
- Pour about a travel size mug of vinegar into the water reservoir, and fill the rest with water. (Filtered, Purified or Distilled)
- Press the “CLEAN” button and let it run for about 1 minute. Press the “CLEAN” button again to pause the machine.
- Let the machine sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Press the “CLEAN” button again, and let it finish the cleaning cycle. (About 5-8 minutes.)
- Pour vinegar/water mixture out of carafe and clean carafe, mesh basket and water reservoir with a scrub brush, lightly, if you have one.
- Fill the reservoir with water, and press the “CLEAN” button again and let it run the full cycle, without stopping it. (5-8 minutes)
- Discard water from the carafe and clean carafe, reservoir, and mesh basket once again.
- Make sure to also wipe off the “plate” that is above where the coffee pot sits, where the coffee drips out of the machine, above the pitcher.
The “CLEAN” light should stay off at this point, until it’s ready to be cleaned again of course. But it should not come back on after one or two uses, like it does with the quick-clean cycle.
My Tip for DEEP DEEP Cleaning Your Ninja:
If you have and use hard water, the Ninja’s clean light may come back on more often than others. If it has been a while or if you’ve never DEEP cleaned your Ninja with this long-process, it may not hurt to do the vinegar/water mixture and pausing process a couple of times to real combat those hard water deposits inside of the machine.
I would LOVE to hear how this worked for you!
Leave me a note in the comments so we can share with Ninja!
How to Use the Ninja Coffee Bar
If you’re just starting out with your Ninja Coffee maker, and you’re still unsure of how to really use it, don’t miss my “How to use a Ninja Coffee Bar” video that I created for you too!
Candace Salazar says
Mine is just not brewing. I have cleaned it 5 times and even used CLR. I got a lot of sediments out and now it is clean water. The only function that works is the clean cycle but no lights are on. It just won’t brew. I’m wondering if I should take it apart to see if there is something I can see?
Josh says
The coffee descale works well but there is a product called Nickel Safe that works the absolute best. I’ve cleaned many of ice machines professionally with this product and by far it’s been superior. You will see all calcium and other mineral deposits melt away. I believe that Ace Hardware carries this product now as well. Thanks for the great article!
Jessica says
Hi Josh! Thank you SO much for letting us know! Just in case someone is looking for it, I think this should be the Nickel Safe that you were talking about: https://amzn.to/3rCpYhD
Robin says
This was so helpful!!! THANK YOU
Jessica says
Oh good! I’m so glad it was helpful, thank you so much for letting me know!
Eric says
I got given a Ninja Coffee Bar with a recalcitrant Clean light. Tried all the vinegar procedures, but no change. Compressed air yielded a tiny bit more of the mineralization, which then gave me the impetus to try a solution of CLR. Boy did that work! The fluid that came out was grey; it’s possible I overdid it with my 1:4 mixture. Should probably use something more sensible, like 1:8 or 1:10 ratio. Anyway, problem solved 🙂
Chanelle says
I have the Santevia slim pitcher and I use that filtered water for EVERYTHING. None of my kitchen electronics have any scale buildup at all, ever. Simple fix!
Judy says
The clean light keeps beeping but nothing happens. The carafe is empty, the reservoir had the water/vinegar solution but nothing is happening except for the beeping
KMOLINA says
My clean light has never come on and I have cleaned my Ninja coffee maker 3 times since purchased in 2020. I figure,that I don’t have hard water where I live. Also,not sure what model of Ninja coffee maker the author of the video has, but my cleaning cycle on my Ninja is 1 hour,not 5 minutes. I went ahead and turned the cleaning button to pause for 30 minutes, but unless it’s super dirty ,I don’t think I will need to pause it and let it run through the whole cleaning cycle on its own.
Denise says
Hi Jessica
I have the same ninja model that you show in your video. My ninja clean light always comes on if I ignore it the brew cycle is really off. I had to hit large travel twice to get it to the correct amount. Also I never see clean or flush in the clock display. I cleaned it the way you said and it still comes on. Any ideas.
Jessica says
Hi Denise! Did you happen to wipe down the part where the coffee drips out of the machine, in to the coffee pot? I didn’t think to do this until someone mentioned it and my clean life RARELY comes on anymore! I’m not sure if that would help your situation or not but keep me posted! Aaaand, I just want to double-check that you push the clean button and let it run for about 30 seconds or a minute and then hit the “clean” button again and let it sit for a while before resuming?
Billy says
I tried your long cycle clean suggestion with descaler and with vinegar. Light came back on next day. I remembered a product called CLR. Using 1/4 cup CLR TO 8 parts filtered water, I ran the cleaning process with the normal clean cycle. I rinsed and cleaned twice. It has been a week and counting with no clean light! CLR is about 5 bucks. Its works! So ditch the white Vinegar and other pricy de scaler product for CLR.
Jessica says
That’s great! I love that CLR worked for you, thank you! Other readers, if you’re wondering what CLR is, you can get it HERE!
Kaela Maculan says
I did 1 cup clr to 10 cups of filtered water. After the clean cycle I ran 6 classic brews of just plain filtered water and voila no clean button.
Judy Small says
When I push clean on my Ninja machine, the process takes an hour to clean. I use vinegar as directed and the light comes on a day later. I use the descaler solution and the light stays off sometimes, a week, sometimes 2. When I do clean, I use just water 3-4 times with clean cycle afterward. I rinse out each part also. The light does not stay off for more than 2 weeks. If there’s a better descaler than others, I would love to hear. If there’s anything else I could be doing, also would love to hear. If theres no other suggestions, say so and I will buy new. My machine is only a year old.
Jnett says
I have the Ninja Coffee Bar that I just push the button once and it does all the pausing on its own..BUT it take approx. 3 hrs…ugh. AND you have to wait around until the end of the “clean” cycle when it indicates “FLSH” (flush) you have 15 mins to dump carafe, and rinse as well as the water reservoir and replace with fresh clean water. It will then run fresh water through once and the “Clean” light will turn off. Mine stays off approx 30 to 40 “brew cycles” before coming back on. CAUTION: if you don’t complete the 15 min flush cycle in the time allotted the machine turns off, the clean light is still illuminated and you have to start all over….yes that’s right …start the 3 hr process over..which is an epic FAIL!! Trust me in this because I have done it twice. Also I read somewhere that it will allow you to brew coffee a certain number of times with the “clean” illuminated but once it reaches that number the machine will not brew again until cleaned. I have not experienced that as of yet but usually if it comes on I confine myself to the house for 3 hrs and the kitchen area for the last 30 mins to make sure I don’t miss the flush cycle.
Brie says
And here’s the answer to my problems. I’ve literally been doing this for 12 hours! I guess I just kept missing the “flush” part until I just saw it and had to Google what the heck that meant…which led me here. Geez lol thanks!
Ann says
Thank you so much for this information. Like you, I never did a deep clean and have had the pot three years. Instead of vinegar I used a descaler today and followed your instructions. So far so good. If the light comes back on after two or three pots of coffee, I’ll be back.
Patty says
Frustrated by the ever-present blinking orange light, I tried this deep cleaning method. I ran the vinegar-water mixture through three times – the first time I let it sit for an hour. The second I let it sit for thirty minutes. Third time, I ran it straight through. I used a stronger mix, half vinegar, half water. I cleaned everything – water reservoir, basket, the platform below the reservoir. I have just run the (filtered) water-only through the clean cycle for the fourth time. That dang light is still blinking. I give up.
Jill says
Hey. So when I push the Clean button it does run for a minute and then has a timer that says 55mins. Is that all of these machines? I’m confused about this “quick cycle” as mine always takes an hour or more to “clean”
Would it hurt to use 100% vinegar? I feel like putting my sink water back in is not solving any problems. Haha
Jessica says
Hi Jill! Well, there are different models of Ninja Coffee Bars, so it’s possible that ours could be a bit different. I know what you mean about wanting to use all vinegar. I’m not sure if it will hurt it??? But it’s something that I definitely want to try!
Chris says
The clean light is on, nothing happens. Left on all night, nothing happens. Cannot get switch to turn off. Can not get clean light option to turn off.
Jessica says
Hi Chris! Well shoot. Did you do vinegar/water and run the clean cycle for one minute and pause it, and let it sit all night?
Laura Crawford says
Same I have done a. Lean cycle Luke 6 times and 2 four hour cleans . I talked to Ninja she ended up saying well as long as the machine works it’s fine . I use to clean it the light would go off but now it will not go off I’ve tried everything .
Ron davis says
My ninja starts clean cyccle hen stops. Also then indicates 4.00hrs andgcyles on. And then eventually sys flush. Flush twice ma have the lightback on again. Going by what you have said only 30 minutes should be all the time it says.
Jessica says
Hi Ron! Do you have the same model of the one I’m using? Sometimes I think the Ninja could operate differently based on the kind it is. (I have the CF091 model!)
Wendy says
Wondering why you recommend pressing clean to pause machine after 1 min, when the machine seems to pause itself after 1 min. Also after I did that and pressed clean to resume the clean cycle it did not take 5-8 min, ithe time on the clock was 30 min.
Jessica says
Hi Wendy! They told me to pause it after one minute, to allow the vinegar mixture to sit in there for a while. If I didn’t pause it, it wouldn’t sit in there long enough. Do you have the same model of coffee machine that I do? Or is it different one? I know they may clean a bit differently, depending on the models. 🙂
J. P. W. says
That’s exactly what ours did. And this lights been on for God only knows how long now. No matter what we do, or how many times we clean and flush. Clean and flush. Even if we use non-filtered water. Does not matter at all! The longest this annoying alarm-like thing has also stayed gone is idk, MAYBE 3 days?! There’s no way this system could be that dirty inside, since we clean it on a regular basis anyhow. I’m seriously about really over this machine. Every time we have to fight with this thing, the more it’s making me want to get the Keurig. Thank you for trying to help though. Really appreciate it.
J. P. W. says
That’s supposed to say *filtered. Sorry for the Auto correct jump. Device has some mind of it’s own to go and change things right as it’s being sent, for some reason lol
Lora New says
I’ve cleaned thoroughly with vinegar. I brewed 2 pots of coffee and its back on. This has been going on for 3 weeks now. I tried ignoring the light but it affects the brewing cycle some how. The coffee tastes horrible. I’m ready to buy a simple Mr. Coffee .
Jessica says
Aw, I’m sorry Lora. Thank you so much for letting us know!
Katie says
I have went through and cleaned my Ninja coffee maker three times today, with vinegar…. the light stays on. I’m starting to think there’s something wrong with my machine
C L says
I had the issue of the clean light coming on 10 days after I started using it. I did the quick clean and again in 5 days, clean light was on so I have been repeating the process for weeks now. I only use bottled water when brewing coffee so why is this happening so frequently? I am in the middle of the deep clean now using bottled water and white vinegar, which is what has been used from the beginning…..stay turned, will let you know when it comes back on again.
Jessica says
I hope it works for you this time!!
C L says
Nope. 3 days later it is back on, worthless coffee maker. Maybe ninja needs to stick with blenders only
C L says
today the clean light came back on which is 3 days after the last clean cycle. I only drink 1 or 2 single cups per day which means I had a max of 6 single cups before I have to clean it again. This is a brand new unit and a piece of crap coffee maker so now going to social media to spread the word.
Mark Bernard says
same
C L says
I think I found the remedy. Purified water, starting using it about a month ago after the clean light was on once again…….it has not come back on since.
Andrea ordodi says
Why is my clean cycle an hour as opposed to what you refer to is about 8 minutes? Also when I press the clean button to posit it actually stops. I will see when I press it again if it starts from the beginning or just continues.
Jessica says
Hi Andrea! We could have different models??
Dave Harris says
Clean water is priceless. I’ve got two water filter containers in my fridge. I don’t ever use tap water for anything. I use filtered water to make pasta noodles. My tap water has a 000 reading of Total Disolved Solids. Tap water in a lot places has too much calcium. Calcium is terrible for showering in, cooking with and using for laundry. You’ll find your water heater will last longer with a whole house water filter. They are only expensive if you buy them from a company that makes a fortune off of them with labor. I installed mine myself and bought it at Home Depot. Tap water has over 85,000 items that are NOT water. Remember water has to meet Govt requirement guidelines, how much do you trust them? I don’t.
Angela says
I have always used purified water in mine and that damn light still comes on a day or 2 after I clean it. A little piece of electrical tape does the trick though. 😉
Jj says
I have hard water and the clean light comes on for me every 3 days if I use the regular faucet water. I started buying water and it only comes on about once a month. I think its dumb to buy water, but if it is going to keep my Ninja at 100%, it’s worth it. Instead of using gallons and gallons on vinegar to clean it 2 x’s a week, I just buy water. It pretty much evens out.
Jeffrey Johnson says
People please. Purified water is tap water just filtered. If you plan to use this bottled tap water. I suggest the PUR water filtration jug it holds almost 2 gallons sits in your fridge has a 8 part filter and will save you tons of money. But when i press my clean button it starts the timer at 59.00 minutes runs for about 2 then stops until timer ends and re starts on Its own. And i use this water everyday 3 pots a day love my ninja
Zander Wyatt says
Bottled water still has minerals in it. Just minerals that taste good. You don’t want to use distilled water because it won’t have the flavor. Anyway, using bottled water will still clog up your machine over time. My problem is similar. I am filtering the water and using the fancy descaler. My machine automatically takes an hour to clean and it only lasts a week before the light comes on. I think the machine is just really sensitive. Moving forward I am just going to clean it once every 2 weeks and be done with the light
Glenda Flint says
I love this coffee maker…my problem..the clean light goes off after the first rinse. If I try to rinse a second time it starts the whole clean cycle all over again.??? I follow the exact cleaning instruction. Should I just be satisfied with one rinse?
Dave Harris says
We’ve had our Ninja coffee maker for a little over 3 years. We make about 28 cups a week. My clean button has come on twice in 3 years. I do believe that using clean water is the most important thing to avoid a clean light. I have a whole house water filter and I also filter all my tap water through a Turapur Water filter in the fridge as well as a Crystal Quest. The Crystal Quest filter only has to be changed yearly. So, the water for my coffee is filtered twice before it goes in the coffee maker. The other most important fact is if it says 1 hour, chill out and let it take one hour. I also flush it 3 times with clean water.
Sharla Belk-Adkins says
My daughter had a beta fish that bottled water disintegrated, so not all bottled water is good water. We thought that the fish had jumped out of the tank, we found it’s poor body had been basically eaten by the water.
Nancy Clary says
My “clean” light is on, but doesn’t work at all when pushed to start the process. I’m on my second cleaning with vinegar, using (pushing) one of the other coffee brewing buttons to get it to start. Clean light still on. I’ve unplugged the entire coffee pot and thought it would reboot. No luck. Very frustrating.
Jessica says
I’m sorry! I hope you were able to get it to work eventually? I’d love to hear what ended up happening if you tried it again. If it didn’t work, I’d give Ninja a call. They’re super helpful when I call in with questions!
Allie B says
Hi!
You won’t hear it start to work immediately. You have to push the clean button and wait just a bit before you hear any action.
Dave Harris says
Yes, on mine, it starts a 1 hour timer. It works slowly so if you want results please don’t rush it. Some things are just meant to take time. Kind of like my marriage of 42 years. I’m sorry I started the cleaning cycle right before my wife got home. She always wants coffee when she walks in the door. A good cup of joe is always better with a clean coffee machine.
Lauren says
Same