The freezer is one of the most important appliances in a kitchen. And guess what? You’ll probably be using it at least once.
It’s part of cooking, wherein food is stored as it waits to be cooked, or afterward to be eaten later on. But now that you’re done with cooking and eating, it’s time to clean up.
This article will cover 7 things that you should know about cleaning your freezer’s built-in ice maker.
So you’ve finished cooking and now it’s time to clean? You know that your freezer is a maze of unused space, so you decide to clean it up.
You take out the food, then you put clean utensils inside, and then you take that out too. All of the utensils have been cleaned, but the freezer still hasn’t been cleaned.
You have no idea why the inside is dirty, so you decide to check what’s wrong with it. You find out that there’s a leak and you ask yourself, “How did I not notice this before?”
You’re probably thinking, “Oh no! Now I have to clean the freezer again!” As if the mess that was already in your freezer wasn’t enough.
But wait It doesn’t have to be that way. You can learn how to clean it up properly so that it won’t be as messy after the next cleaning.
Read on and find out more about the things you should know about cleaning your freezer’s built-in ice maker.
Things To Know About Cleaning Freezer's Built-In Ice Maker
The following few points should be known in case you decide on cleaning your freezer’s built-in ice maker-
Turn Off The Power
Make sure your freezer is unplugged or turned off at the wall before you begin.
The ice maker is connected to the main power supply of the home it’s in, so it’s important to make sure that it’s not on before you start cleaning.
If the power is turned on, it becomes a health hazard for you and your family. You never know when your unaware child or spouse decides to use it. If they touch the ice maker while it’s on, they will get a shock.
Clean The Inside Of The Freezer
The inside of the freezer will typically be kept very clean because it’s out of the reach of most people.
However, if you have been storing potatoes or onions in your freezer, then their juices will spill over onto your ice maker and cause them to become dirty if you don’t clean them at least once a month.
These areas can be cleaned easily with some warm water and dish soap. You can use soft bristle brushes to clean off any bits and pieces that may have gotten stuck in these nooks and crannies during your last cleaning session.
Check The Ice Maker Brackets And Screws
The ice maker is attached to the bottom of your freezer by a bracket. These brackets can sometimes come loose, so check them before you begin your cleaning process.
The screws that secure these brackets can also come loose, requiring you to remove them to access the ice maker unit.
It may be handy to remove both of the screws at once so that you don’t have two screws in each of your hands when removing the unit.
Also, look on top of your freezer for any missing or damaged screw sizes, and make sure they are completely removed as well.
Clean Out The Water Lines
The lines that supply water to the ice maker will usually be located in the back of your freezer and can be reached with a tube and pliers.
If they are clogged, it will result in numerous parts getting jammed as well as ice not being made.
Some people will soak a toothbrush in warm water and insert it into the line to loosen up any tangles or dirt buildup.
You may also have to use a pair of vice grips to twist plastic clips off of your pipes until you can place your tube into place.
Make sure you always wear insulated gloves and slippers before doing any of the above-mentioned and the following methods.
Clean The Ice Maker And Add Water
Once you begin cleaning your ice maker, it’s important to put some water into it so that you can see how well your machine works before it gets turned back on.
You’ll want to clean the excess food off of the piece that holds the ice, making sure it is completely dry before beginning this process.
You can also use warm running water and a soft bristle brush to give extra time in making sure everything is clean.
Once all of this is done, double-check to make sure everything is secure in place and functional, being careful not to damage any parts.
Turn It On
If you followed all the above steps, then you should have no problem turning your ice maker back on. If not, make sure that everything is in place and secured with no issues at all.
Check the water lines one last time to see if they are clear and if your ice maker is taking in cold water. Then turn it on and wait around 30 minutes before using it.
If there are any problems, unplug the appliance right away so that nobody gets hurt if something goes wrong.
Clean The Rest Of Your Freezer
You should have no problems sharing the ice with your family, but if you have some, you can use them to cool off.
If you’re cleaning this appliance to make sure everything is working, and it’s not, then try replacing it.
If it’s frozen food in your freezer and you’re trying to clean the ice maker so that everything is functional again and there are no issues with the appliance itself, then ask a professional to come to clean it for you.
Refrigerators also need regular cleaning. Regular cleaning will keep your appliances running as they should. Most companies provide cleaning services to help you with this process.
Some Bonus Tips
While cleaning the in-built ice maker could be easily done by following the steps, these added tips should also be taken into consideration-
- If there are leaks, do not attempt to fix them yourself. Call a professional to open the lines and fix your leak.
- Always use insulated gloves when cleaning. You never know when it may be hot!
- Use only warm water and a soft bristle brush for this process.
- No soap is needed, except for the specific parts you have a hard time getting to.
- Do not use hot water in your ice maker or on any coolant parts. Hot water can cause the parts to become cooked or physically damaged over time due to the high temperatures.
- To make sure the ice maker is functioning, it may be wise to put a container of water inside and let it sit. If the water is running down the drain and you hear ice hitting the side of your freezer, then you know that everything is working fine.
- Do not remove any screws from your ice maker until it has been completely cleaned out! If you have to remove one to access some other part, then tighten it back up after you finish cleaning so that your ice maker does not become damaged.
Professional services that might help you out if you are in a pickle-
- A/C repair
- Appliance Repair
- Carpet Cleaning
- Gutter Cleaning
- Handyman Services
Conclusion
Generally, people who use their ice machines have a higher chance of becoming injured due to improper use.
For example, if someone were to stick their finger in one and get some of that water on it, they could easily get an infection by touching the common areas.
Although this may not be dangerous in itself, be aware that there could be bacteria and germs from the machine itself.
This is where having a certified technician come in handy and could clean your ice machine with ease.
Also, if for some reason you do not have one of these machines, then you should use a thermometer to make sure that it is set properly.
If it is too hot inside the ice machine, then your ice will be melting quickly because of the heat.
If you find your ice maker is not making any at all…you may need to fix whatever is slowing down or cutting off any water flow in the machine.
Some things that could be causing this include a leaky pipe, both liquid and gas lines clogged up with kinks, and other foreign objects or debris.
These could prevent ice from coming out and freezing in the machine enough to provide cold water to your freezer or refrigerator.
