Are you curious as to how you should go about cleaning your Frigidaire ice maker? Did you even know that you have to clean it in the first place? Well, you do, and I’ll tell you how to clean it in 5 easy steps.
The steps to cleaning a Frigidaire ice maker are:
- Turn off the ice maker.
- Remove the contents in its water reservoir, ice tray, and ice bucket.
- Use a cleaner to wipe down the ice maker’s interior.
- Rinse the machine with fresh water.
- Handwash the ice bucket with soapy water.
In this guide, I’ll go explain in more detail how to clean a Frigidaire ice maker, how to deep-clean it, and why you should periodically clean the ice maker.
Step by Step to Clean a Frigidaire Ice Maker
As indicated earlier, you only need to follow five steps to clean your Frigidaire ice maker. Before we get started, make sure you have the following supplies on hand:
- Clean rags
- An ice machine cleaner
- A bucket or a sink
- A bamboo skewer or a pipe cleaner
- A sponge or a scrub brush
- At least 1 gallon of water
Do you have all the necessary supplies? Good, let’s begin.
1. Turn off the ice maker
Before doing anything else, make sure that the ice maker is unplugged. Carefully pull on the plug until it releases from a wall receptacle, and wrap the cord around the hooks in the back of the machine. If the ice maker doesn’t have hooks for the cord, simply place the plug as far away from the machine as possible since we’re going to use lots and lots of water.
You’ll know that your Frigidaire ice maker is off when its pump doesn’t make any droning noises. Also, the lights in the control board should be off.
2. Remove the contents in its water reservoir, ice tray, and ice bucket
Now that the machine is off, it’s time to get rid of the remaining water and ice. First, detach the ice bucket by lifting the ice maker’s lid and pulling the bucket out. Feel free to use any remaining cubes to chill a drink, or you can toss the cubes away. Place the bucket aside for the time being.
To drain the machine, place the machine next to a sink or have a bucket on the ready. Now, simply remove the plug blocking the drain port. You can find the plug on the side of the machine. Feel free to tilt the machine to the side to get rid of every last droplet of water in the reservoir and the ice tray.
When there’s no more ice in the bucket and water in the reservoir and tray, stand the ice maker upright and proceed to the next step.
3. Use a cleaner to wipe down the ice maker’s interior
If you have a commercial cleaner on hand, carefully read the instructions to learn how to use it. Some commercial cleaners need to be diluted in water, while others can be used straight-up.
Moisten a rag with the cleaner and carefully wipe down the entire inside of the machine, including the underside of the lid. If you have trouble fitting the rag between the prongs and ice tray, use a bamboo skewer or pipe cleaner to get in there. Make sure not to leave any nook and cranny unwiped.
It’s best to give the ice maker a second or third wipe down, just to be extra certain that the device is completely clean.
4. Rinse the machine with fresh water
Now that the machine is coated in the commercial cleaner, it’s time to rinse the cleaner away. With the drain port’s plug removed, spray fresh water into the machine and allow the water to drain. Keep doing this until you’re absolutely certain the machine has been rinsed thoroughly. It’s safer to use more water to rinse the machine than you think is necessary.
5. Handwash the ice bucket in soapy water
Dunk the bucket in soapy water and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Use a soft-bristle scrub brush or a sponge and carefully scrub the bucket from top to bottom. Submerge the ice bucket in soapy water again and give it a second scrubbing.
When the ice bucket is as clean as possible, rinse it in fresh water and set it aside to dry. After the bucket is dry, you can transfer it to your ice maker and begin making ice cubes.
How to Deep-Clean Frigidaire Ice Maker
Earlier, I described the steps needed to clean a Frigidaire ice maker. However, if you want to deep-clean the machine, which involves cleaning the inside of the prongs, you will need the following:
Water
Distilled white vinegar
1. Clean the ice maker and detach the ice bucket
Follow the instructions above to clean the ice maker. It should take you just around 30 minutes to clean the inside of your ice maker. After this, it’s safe to begin a new ice cycle but keep reading if you want to get rid of germs and odors from inside the machine. Remember to detach the ice bucket from the ice maker before moving on.
2. Create a 1:2 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar
You only need about 1 quart of the solution to deep-clean your ice maker. However, you should consider making a larger batch, just in case you want to deep-clean the machine more thoroughly.
3. Pour the vinegar solution into the water reservoir, turn the machine on, and run an ice cycle
The vinegar mixture will enter the machine, pass through the water line, submerge the prongs, and clean everything it touches. It can also descale the machine to get rid of calcified residue. After every 2 cycles, turn the machine off and pour more of the vinegar solution. You will need to constantly change the solution for maximum cleaning effectiveness.
4. Rinse the machine in fresh water
After introducing the machine’s inner workings to the vinegar mixture (multiple times, hopefully), it’s time to rinse it. Drain the vinegar mixture from the ice maker and pour in freshwater before turning on the ice maker. You should think about rinsing the machine at least twice by disposing of the old water and adding more water.
Why Should You Clean a Frigidaire Ice Maker?
It should come as no surprise that ice makers, even those made by reputable brands like Frigidaire, can get dirty. It’s no fault of the machine, but rather, constantly opening the lid, adding water (usually from the tap), and leaving the machine out in the open will eventually let dust and icky microorganisms to seek refuge inside the ice maker’s warm interior.
In addition, you should know that portable ice makers, like those made by Frigidaire, do not have built-in filters. It does not screen the water that you pour into the water reservoir, so any minerals, solids, and germs you put into the machine, you’re also consuming in the form of ice cubes. Not a pretty thought, isn’t it?
How Frequently Should You Clean a Frigidaire Ice Maker?
It depends on how frequently you use the machine. On average, a Frigidaire ice maker will require a good cleaning once every few weeks. A good rule to follow is that you should wash the machine after each usage, especially if you take it outdoors.
If you notice dark particles in your ice cubes, try replacing the water. If that doesn’t get rid of the particles, then you should clean (or even deep-clean) the ice maker.
Should You Use Hot Water to Sanitize a Frigidaire Ice Maker?
No, you shouldn’t. Although hot water may kill germs on contact, it can also wreak havoc on your ice maker. Remember: many of the parts of an ice maker are made of plastic, which may melt or become warped when exposed to heat. If any of the components get bent out of shape, the ice maker may fail to make ice in the future.
How Come Ice Melts in a Frigidaire Ice Maker?
Something many people don’t realize about portable ice makers is that they are not freezers. The prongs are filled with a refrigerant that chills water on contact, and the ice is ejected into the ice bucket. However, the ice bucket is not exposed to chilled air, so the cubes will eventually melt.
The good thing is that it only takes around 9 minutes for a Frigidaire ice maker to complete a batch of ice. However, it takes considerably less time for the pellet-shaped cubes to turn back into water and drip into the water reservoir. So, use the ice cubes as soon as they’re finished.
How Much Ice Does a Frigidaire Ice Maker Make?
Depending on the model, your Frigidaire ice maker will make 10 to 12 cubes per cycle. On average, the ice maker produces up to 3 pounds of ice every 24 hours. The ice bucket is designed to hold up to 4 pounds of ice, but when the fourth pound is ready, the first pound of ice would have already melted.
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