It is evident that countertop ice makers offer ease of use, are convenient and contribute to yummy drinks. It not only allows you to make ice as per your convenience but also enables you to cater to the ice needs of your family and friends when you are hosting a party.
However, if you wait for a long period of time to consume it, you might end up consuming dirty ice. In the article that follows, we shall delve into the process of cleaning your countertop ice maker in some simple steps so that you are able to enjoy only fresh and clean ice. If you’re committed to getting rid of the dirt on your ice maker, continue reading this set that will elaborate upon the steps you need to follow to clean your ice maker.
Things You Should Know:
- Make the use of dish soap for cleaning the basket and the scoop.
- Now scrub the remaining parts of the machine using lemon juice or vinegar and water solution.
- Clean your portable countertop ice maker for a minimum of two times every month.
Contents
9 Steps To Clean A Portable Countertop Ice Maker
Cleaning a portable countertop ice maker involves detailed steps. Make sure you follow each and every step to ensure that your ice maker is properly cleaned.
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Unplug The Ice Maker And Drain The Reservoir
Prepare the ice maker for the cleaning process. Start by unplugging it and then dump the residual water. Position your portable ice maker over the sink. Remove the latch which is commonly white and can be found on the back of the appliance. Allow the water to empty out from the reservoir.
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Clean The Scoop And Basket With Dish Soap
Wash the basket and scoop of the ice maker separately. There is a strong likelihood that mold and debris will form all over your portable ice maker and not just on the main compartments. Use dish soap to provide the scoop and basket a nice wash just like you wash any other extremely dirty dish. Using a sponge, gently rub the surfaces of the basket and scoop.
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Mix Equal Parts Of Water And Vinegar In A Bowl
You can use vinegar to prepare an effective and safe cleaning solution. If you don’t have vinegar, lemon juice can work as an effective substitute. You should still follow the same 1:1 ratio. You can nicely mix this solution either in a cup or a bowl.
If you clean using any other chemicals apart from vinegar, they might end up in your ice. Therefore, vinegar is the safest option.
Vinegar has disinfectant properties. So, not only does it remove the bacteria but also removes chalky buildup which becomes evidently visible on metal appliances after some time.
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Scrub The Ice Maker With The Vinegar Solution
Start by spraying the vinegar solution in the interiors of your ice maker. Then scrub using a rag or a sponge. This step is the cleaning and descaling. You can fill the vinegar solution in a spray bottle. Then carefully clean both the sides and the bottom of the reservoir, the lower side of the ice maker, and the other left-out parts using either a soft scrub brush or a clean rag. Make sure you cover each and every part of the appliance.
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Remove Tough Stains With Undiluted Vinegar
If you experience a particularly stubborn stain or a rough, dark patch, you are not advised to use the DIY vinegar solution. Instead, simply dip your sponge or rag directly into the lemon juice or vinegar. Then simply scrub away.
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Clean Hard-to-reach Spots With A Toothbrush
By now, you have already cleaned both your reservoir and basket. However, reaching the inner parts of the portable ice maker can be relatively tough. Simply dip a q-tip or toothbrush in your solution. Then use it to scrub the spots that are difficult to reach simply.
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Make Ice With The Vinegar Solution
Now pour the vinegar solution into the ice maker. Close the lid of your ice maker and press the START button. Now once this ice is done, remove it from the machine.
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Rinse Out The Ice Maker With Water
Once you have completely coated the ice maker with a cleaning solution, rinse it off. Using a new clean rag and plain water, clean the ice machine once again. If, however, you find out that your new batch of ice still tastes like lemon or vinegar, give it another rinse.
Note that you should almost always filter the water you use in your ice. Not only will this lead to yummier ice but also ensure that it remains cleaner for a more extended period.
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Scrub Your Ice Maker 6 Times Per Year
The quality of your ice can be impacted by dust, mold, dirt, pests, and all other types of debris. If you find green or black patches on your ice, that’s an indication for you to clean your ice machine. Make sure you clean your ice maker every month to combat other dangers that might be difficult to spot. Norovirus and E-coli are the prominent dangers of consuming ice from a dirty ice maker. Therefore, make sure you take your cleaning seriously.
FAQs
Vinegar or lemon juice is the best way to clean an ice maker. The ice machine cleaning supplies include warm water, dish soap, baking soda, and distilled white vinegar. The ice machine cleaning tools that need to be used are soft cloths, a medium spoon, a toothbrush, or a cotton swab. Check your user guide before using any kind of cleaning material.
The amount of vinegar to be used for a portable ice maker is 2 tablespoons along with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a cup of water all poured into a spray bottle. In other words, mix one part vinegar with 10 parts warm water.
Yes, you can use vinegar to clean the countertop ice maker. Make sure you use a 10:1 ratio of warm water and vinegar.
Yes, you can use peroxide to clean your ice maker. Using 3 to 4 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide is generally recommended.
You can use bleach through your portable ice maker. It is generally recommended to use 5.25% chlorine bleach.
Conclusion
Therefore, cleaning your portable ice maker is extremely important to protect it from dust, dirt, and other types of debris. Given the risk of diseases such as E-Coli, it becomes extremely important to maintain the regular cleanliness of your ice machine especially if you tend to use it regularly. No matter if it’s a standard ice maker or a premium one, you must clean it both for your good health and your ice machine’s longevity.
Note that if you reside in an area that is prone to high humidity or hard water, you need to clean your ice machine on a more frequent basis. It is not a big deal to clean a portable ice maker. You just need to have the cleaning tools and the cleaning supplies. The supplies needed for cleaning your ice maker are very simple and, therefore, easily available. All you need to do is to make an effort to clean and voila, your ice maker is as new as ever!
