OK, this works. You will need perhaps 1.5 hours+. I have the 1-cup version, so I pour one coffee cup of water in for each cup of coffee. This cleaning process is very frustrating at first. If you have a short fuse or limited patience, plan to do this process once per hour over a day, or an evening. My version - --paperclip opened up 2 joints - 2 inches+- --with paperclip, ream out the three valves which puncture the top of the K-cup (be careful - this tip is VERY sharp - check your aim) - if major resistance, you have probably missed the path and are hitting the gasket; the back valve is most difficult to reach accurately --2 16-oz measuring cups - you can do this with coffee cups, but the measuring cups allow clearance for the funnel and filter; a coffee cup will not --one funnel, large enough that it sits - mostly - outside the measuring cup mouth --1 coffee filter, paper-clipped inside the funnel, funnel inside empty measuring cup, empty measuring cup placed to receive the hot liquid, just like a coffee...