If you're lucky enough to have long, hot summers where your ice maker's getting a lot of use, it's a smart idea to clean it regularly.
Even the best refrigerators require maintenance. We spoke to Lisa Yakas who oversees the home product certification program at the NSF, and she explained that: 'according to NSF’s Germ Study, the refrigerator ice maker is among the top 10 germiest places in the kitchen.'
In addition to knowing how to clean a refrigerator, it's essential to give the ice maker a deep clean every once in a while. Read on for our step-by-step guide.
How to clean the ice maker on your fridge
For a lighter clean, you can avoid steps 2 and 3. If you're after a deep clean and want to clean the water line and waterspout, run a few cycles before using the ice maker, dumping the first 3 or so batches of ice produced.
1. Turn off fridge and remove parts
Before getting started, check your refrigerator's manual, as it may have more detailed instructions for your specific model. However, the steps are generally similar across most fridges.
'Turn off the water and power supply to the refrigerator,' explains Lisa. This is important to avoid any accidents when handling the components.
'Then follow it up by removing any removable parts from it, along with the ice bin, says Jess Farinha, professional cleaner and Founder of London House Cleaner.
2. Clean the water line (if necessary)
You can clean the water line if you're looking to be as thorough as possible. As you're dealing with the water supply directly, we recommend being cautious in handling these parts to avoid any damage.
After turning off the water and power supply to the fridge, 'loosen the screw connecting the water supply line to the refrigerator,' explains Lisa. Then, 'use a small funnel to pour 3-4 cups of distilled white vinegar into the tube,' she adds.
Wait 5 to 10 minutes, then reconnect the power and water lines. 'Turn the dispenser on to allow the vinegar solution to flow through the dispenser’s system and spill out through the waterspout,' Lisa recommends.
3. Clean the waterspout (if necessary)
To clean the inside of the waterspout, you can use a thin brush like from this set of bottle and straw cleaners at Amazon.
'Brush the inner side of the spout, then open the waterspout and allow it to run to clear off any dirt and excess vinegar solution,' Lisa recommends.
Run a few cycles and throw away the first few batches of ice to ensure all components are free of vinegar, bleach, or cleaning solution.
4. Clean the parts
'Clean the ice bin by emptying it and washing it with warm water and dish soap,' advises Lisa. Dry it thoroughly before returning it to the freezer.
If you want to deep clean it, Jess suggests using a homemade solution of bleach and water: 'Just mix 1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 gallon of water and dip the bin into it. It will effectively clean the bin from every corner and remove any mildew buildup.'
Then, wipe the ice maker and surrounding areas clean with a washcloth dipped in warm water and dish soap, making sure to remove any and all cleaning solutions from every component.
Now that you've tackled the ice maker, it's a good idea to ensure you're keeping the rest of your fridge in top shape as well. How often you should clean a fridge will depend on your household, but generally speaking, it's a good idea to give it a quick clean once a week and deep clean it every two to four months. Beyond cleaning, knowing how to make a fridge look better will have you stocking your groceries in aesthetically comforting ways.
