A frigidaire ice maker is a great tool to have in your kitchen if you prefer chill drinks for hot beverages. But to ensure the maker delivers perfectly shaped and good smelling ice cubes you have to clean it regularly. In case you pay little attention to your ice maker’s maintenance, you will get smelly and disgustingly tasting ice over time that spoils your drinks. Continue reading for a step-by-step guideline on how to clean frigidaire ice maker.
Signs your ice maker needs cleaning
The rule of thumb is to clean the ice maker twice a month. In this way, you prevent bacteria growth and get rid of residual material that affects the quality of ice and reduces the efficiency of ice maker. Keep in mind that sometimes you may have to clean your ice maker at shorter intervals in time.
There are a few signs that alarm you that your ice making gadget needs to be cleaned. They include: long preparation time, soft and smelly ice, wrongly shaped ice cubes, hard water deposits on the machine interior. If you notice any of these signs, jump straightly into cleaning the ice maker, even if the maintenance day hasn’t come yet.
How to clean frigidaire ice maker?
Step 1. Unplug the ice maker
Safety must be the first priority when cleaning an ice making machine. Even if you are in a rush, it costs you nothing to unplug the device. By unpluging it, you make it completely safe to work with. You exclude the risk of getting seriously injured by a potential electrical shock. Keep in mind that pressing the turn off button on the machine while keeping it pluged is not enough. Since you will work with liquid cleaners, your best bet is to unplug the device.
Step 2. Remove the interior parts
For starters, remove the ice container and drain out all the water left inside. Wipe down the container and the ice maker interior to make them dry. Remove the remaining parts that are detachable and may contain dust, hard water deposits and bacteria. This will make their cleaning much easier.
Step 3. Give your ice maker a deep clean
It’s time to clean your ice maker. For that, use a soft cloth and a solution of dish detergent and warm water. Go with warm water rather than cold, as it makes it easier for you to remove the hard water deposits and tough spots. Dampen the cloth with the cleaning solution and wipe down the ice machine’s interior and exterior as well as the removeable parts.
It is crucial that you clean the hard-to-reach areas of the ice maker too. Most of the time they are a hub of mold, dirt and bacteria, because they have been so many times avoided during previous cleans. If you can’t reach inside the narrow nooks with the cloth, consider using a spray bottle or a small brush.
If some stubborn spot refuses to get out, you can indulge in a bit of scrubbing. After a thorough wiping job, moisturize a new cloth with clear water and rinse the machine’s parts. Make the cloth slightly wet, not soaking wet. You don’t want much water to get inside the ice maker, as it will take longer to dry out.
Step 4. Bring vinegar into play
Actually, using vinegar is not a necessary part of cleaning an ice maker. You put it into use only when your machine produces bad-smelling ice. The nasty scent can be caused by germs, mold or grime that have set on the walls and parts of the ice maker. To fight them off, mix one part vinegar and 10 parts water. Dip a cloth in the mixture and carefully treat the machine’s interior with it. Pay attention to each nook and cranny to make sure you leave no germ the chance to survive and continue spoiling your ice.
When it comes to the ice container, you are better off making ice cubes with the vinegary solution. Dry off the machine with a cloth or towel and plug it in. Once the cubes are ready, drain them out into the kitchen sink and check whether the unpleasant smell has fully gone. If you still feel some nasty undertones when keeping your nose close to the ice container, make another batch of sour ice cubes. This one should be enough to eradicate the odor and make your machine prepare a high quality ice to chill your beverages.
After getting rid of the funky smell, you will have to get rid of the vinegar smell. This can be done by just making 1-2 cycles of ice cubes with clear water to rinse the sour taste and smell off. Once the ice container has finally gained a neutral smell, you can start making ice for your drinks.
How to avoid mold growth inside ice maker?
While removing the mold is not a big deal, you are much better if you prevent it from growing. Mold mostly appears when you leave the ice maker unnecessarily on for a few days. The moist environment created by the fully or partially melted ice is a favorable ground for mold growth. What you have to do is to turn the ice making machine off and drain out the ice left inside before you leave the house for a long period of time. After draining all water, wipe down the container to create a dry environment that keeps mold development at bay.
To sum up
If you are wondering how to clean Frigidaire ice maker, there is nothing difficult in it. You just have to stick to the recommended cleaning schedule to prevent dirt from getting tougher and bacteria from growing and spreading. Every skipped cleaning session will have you put more elbow grease and spend more time on bringing the ice maker to impeccable condition. That’s why, try to be as disciplined as possible with providing your gadget with the regular maintenance on time. In this way, you prolong its lifespan, improve the quality of ice, and keep nasty stuff at bay.
