How to Clean an Ice Maker and Keep Your Drinks Fresh

It's helpful to read your owner’s manual to ensure you’re cleaning your ice maker correctly since there are thousands of freezer and ice maker models. If the manual is long gone, look for your refrigerator or freezer’s model number (usually inside the door edges) and search for the model number online. If you can’t find it, these general cleaning instructions will help.

Before you start cleaning the ice maker, unplug the freezer. Then, move the frozen food you want to keep into the fridge so you can make space in the freezer. Don’t worry about your food going bad since you have about 4 hours or more to keep your food fresh without power if you leave the refrigerator door shut.

Throw away all old frozen food, which could solve your smelly ice problem because food odors transfer to ice. Also, discard the old ice. You can do this by pulling out the bin in your ice maker since it’s designed for regular washing. The specifics depend on the model, but in general, look for a metal arm to lift for bin removal.

Let the ice maker bin and freezer accessories warm to room temperature to avoid cracking under hot water. Next, wash the entire interior freezer with hot, soapy water and a clean sponge. Or, fill a spray bottle with a homemade cleaning supply of a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. Rinse and dry everything with a microfiber cloth or let air-dry.

Remove ice formed on the ice maker with a warm towel. If needed, use a plastic scraper tool to help chip the ice, but be careful not to damage the ice maker. Clean the ice maker's exterior casing with soap and water or vinegar and water, then rinse and dry.

If you’re worried about freezer and refrigerator smells transferring to your ice cubes or want a more powerful clean, use a bleach-water solution to sanitize after washing and rinsing. Add 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach to a gallon of water and wipe down the entire freezer, ice maker, and bin. Let them dry for 15 minutes. Then, rinse the bleach solution off, ensuring you clean and dry thoroughly.

Sometimes, the ice tastes and smells funny because the filter isn’t filtering the water well. Change the filter and keep up with the manufacturer’s recommended change schedule to keep your ice clean and refreshing.

Now that everything is spick and span, replace the bin and turn on the freezer. Run a few ice cycles to clean the system, and then throw the ice cubes in the sink to drain or save them to water your plants later.

Once the bin is tucked back in and the freezer reaches 0 degrees Fahrenheit, you can reload your food back into the freezer. After your hard work, you’ll now have clean, sparkling ice for your impromptu happy hour. Don’t forget to schedule the next ice maker cleaning in six months, whether you DIY it or hire a home cleaning pro near you to take care of your fridge, freezer, and the rest of your home.