It is essential to clean your ice cubes maker machine regularly not only for your health but also for increasing the lifespan of the machine and for maintaining its efficiency and performance. Now, don’t fret, cleaning it is not at all a headache if you use vinegar to do so. Here is a guide to help you clean your ice cubes maker machine the appropriate way with vinegar. The best part is that you can do all this by yourself without seeking assistance. All you need to do is read through every single step that we have penned down in this guide. But, before we proceed to the steps, let’s take a look at a section which will tell you why vinegar is a better alternative than soap or detergent.
Why is Vinegar a Better Cleaning Agent than Soap or Detergent?
As a matter of fact, it is safer to use vinegar than soap or detergent to clean the ice cubes maker machine. The reason is that it is a food-grade ingredient and doesn’t involve chemical solutions. Therefore, it will eliminate all the toxins in your ice and won’t harm you. Neither will it harm the ice maker machine. Besides these, vinegar washes away more easily compared to soap. Soap tends to create lather or suds in the ice maker machine which can damage your machine permanently. Also, soap is much harder compared to vinegar which is why it is difficult to rinse out of the machine. And, if you are not careful, this can lead to soapy ice. Lastly, vinegar is a cheaper alternative compared to bleach and soap.Â
Related: Best Ice Cubes Maker Machine in UAE
Now, let us go step-by-step to see how to clean the ice cubes maker machine appropriately. You will be amazed to see how easily and how effectively you can clean the machine using vinegar. Ensure you go through all the steps mindfully and follow them for appropriate cleaning.
Step 1: Arrange All the Things
In order to clean your portable/countertop ice maker, the first thing that you need to do is gather all your supplies i.e. the things you require for cleaning it. Of course, you might be doing the same thing while cooking. You would gather all the ingredients on the kitchen platform or a table and possibly even chop and grind them so that you can add everything without delay. This makes it easier to fetch the things rather than running about later to get them or search for them. The same thing implies the cleaning process of your ice cubes maker machine.
Without further ado, let’s move to the things you need to clean the ice machine. Firstly, you need some warm water, vinegar, a soft cloth, a measuring cup, a pitcher, and a spoon. Note that if your ice maker is very dirty, you may also need a soft toothbrush, paper towels and some baking soda to get off all that extra dirt and grease. Do check out the following table as we have selected all the good-quality products that you need for cleaning your machine. If you have all these things already at home then well and good, else you can purchase these online. Take a look now.
Multi-purpose Soft Cleaning Cloth (25 pieces) | Price on Amazon.ae |
Distilled White Vinegar | Price on Amazon.ae |
Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons | Price on Amazon.ae |
Pure Baking Soda | Price on Amazon.ae |
Super Absorbent Kitchen Paper Towels | Price on Amazon.ae |
Step 2: Keeping Your Ice Maker Machine Ready
Now that you have gathered everything you will need, you are ready to begin cleaning it. However, before you proceed with the cleaning process, ensure you unplug your ice maker. Don’t forget to do so because electricity and water can lead to a shock. Next, you need to drain your ice maker machine completely of any fluid. Ensure you drain it totally, be mindful while doing so. Then, fill up your sink with water. Further, take the interior parts out of the ice storage bin. This may include a scoop, an ice pick or an ice basket.
You also need to remove the water filters (if any) from the ice machine. Keep them aside. Finally, if you notice and find old ice attached to the coils in your ice maker, then run hot water over them to force them out and remove them.
Step 3: Create a Cleaning Solution
Utilizing the proper cleaning solution is essential while cleaning your ice cubes maker machine with vinegar. Using an appropriate and ideal solution would be the best thing you can do. This will not only disinfect the ice bin but will also cut right through the buildup of scale. It is important to use food-safe ingredients, hence, vinegar is the best cleaning solution. Luckily, you can easily create your own cleaning solution for your ice maker machine. Mix 10 parts of warm water with 1 part of vinegar and then fill up the ice cubes maker machine.
You should do this in the normal manner how you would make ordinary ice. Also, you can add some of this solution to a spray bottle if you want to use it to aid the cleaning process. As a matter of fact, white vinegar is neutral. Although vinegar smells strong, the smell won’t linger when the entire cleaning process is over. Amazing right?
Step 4: Clean All the Ice Maker Accessories
Simply take a soft cloth and dip it into your cleaning solution. Next, run this solution over all the accessories of your ice maker machine. An alternate solution would be to use a spray bottle to spray them clean. Next, you need to wipe down all the accessories thoroughly. This will help you get rid of all the rough spots (if any) and scale build-up. Just in case there are hard water lines or stubborn stains, you will have to get rid of them by using some baking soda and a toothbrush of course.
Baking soda accompanied with a toothbrush is a perfect combination to tackle tough stains. However, if you utilize baking soda, ensure you rinse it off properly all the way. If your ice maker machine is equipped with water filters, you will have to clear out any buildup using a toothbrush or Q-tip. And, if the water filters are clogged, you may need to soak the pieces in your vinegar cleaning solution.
Step 5: Clean the Interior
In order to clean the interior of your ice cubes maker machine, dip the cloth in your vinegar cleaning solution and wipe down the inside of the machine. Ensure this cloth is soft enough so that you are comfortable while wiping the interiors as it will help you clean the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Additionally, you can also make use of pure vinegar to get rid of scale buildup and also to disinfect stubborn lime deposits. As mentioned in the above section that you can use baking soda and a toothbrush. You can use the same thing for cleaning the interiors for that extra powerful cleaning.
Step 6: Make some “Wash Ice”
If your ice cubes maker machine has water filters, then put them back on. Also, replace the plug and drain cap on your ice cubes maker machine. Next, plug the ice maker in and switch it ON. There you go. Note that you need to keep the accessories at the side for now since you need to run the machine first before replacing them. Therefore, don’t attach the accessories for now. Further, to ensure that the machine’s working parts are thoroughly disinfected, you need to make little ice by using the rest of the cleaning solution.
By making ice in this manner will allow you to clean all of the washing machine’s parts with the vinegar solution that you made. Simply pour the remaining portion of the cleaner into the reservoir and then power up the machine. Now, you need to allow the ice cubes maker machine to process the liquid until the water reservoir is empty. Fill up the ice maker machine with the vinegar ice and then discard it. Additionally, drain out all the extra liquid and throw away anything extra.
Step 7: Run the Ice Cubes Maker Machine
Making vinegar ice is just a part of the process. You need to repeat few more steps till your machine is finally clean. Hence, what you need to do next is to ensure that you’ve got rid of all the cleaning solution from your ice maker machine. To do this, fill the reservoir up with clean water and then run the machine again. This will help to clean the coils as well as the water lines in the ice maker machine. Again, throw the ice that is formed away. Finally, drain your reservoir one more time to ensure that all the cleaning solution is gone.
Step 8: Replace the Accessories
Now, you have reached the final step of the cleaning process. This step involves replacing the accessories on your ice maker machine and also to get it back in working order. To prevent unpleasant water spots, simply use a paper towel or a dry cloth and run it over the access water on the accessories. Apart from this, you can also run the paper towel or rag over the ice cube maker machines interior. Your ice cubes maker machine is now ready to use. If you don’t want to use the ice cubes maker machine at the moment you can even unplug it and put it away. And then use it later.
Fresh and Tasty Ice Anytime!
Finally, you know how to clean your ice cubes maker machine with vinegar. DIY, give it a try and the next time you are going to finding it easier to clean. So, now, you are all set to invite your friends and guests over to your place and offer them beverages containing fresh, tasty and clean ice. That too, an unlimited quantity. Additonally, you may also want to carry your ice maker machine along with you to a camping trip, picnic, or a match. If you are interested in upgrading your ice cubes maker machine, consider taking a look at the latest ice makers.