How do you clean the fridge's water/ice dispenser?

Question

I noticed on the water/ ice maker.....way up inside where the ice comes out.....it is what I consider 'dirty'.  I went up as far as I could with cleaning rag, but there is still black where I can't get to.  And who knows what else is further up there?  We just bought this house, I like having ice, but not if this thing is dirty and I can't clean it.  What do you think?

Constance G · Answer

Can you access the ice maker from inside the door? Fridge I had for years had a ice maker in the door, similiar to yours, I cleaned it from the inside by pushing my cleaning rag through the slot. I olny used vinegar in a tub of hot water and clean cloth.

Marie DeSalvo · Answer

same problem for me.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Try taking the ice cube try out. Fill with baking soda and hot water allowing to sit ling enough for the odor to dissipate. You should be able to access the rest of this since the tray will be out.

None · Answer

I can just put a hand sized towel that I soaked in vinegar down my ice chute. Bunch it up a bit and you can get it in really well. This isn't something that really requires regular cleaning though. I clean it when something falls in the chute from the shelf door above it.

Rose Boehl Michl · Answer

You might try using diluted bleach and water in a spray bottle. Remove the ice bin and spray into the shoot from both the inside and outside. Let is sit for several minutes. Bleach will kill the mold. Then you could proceed to wipe it out with a rag, or try using a small brush if you can find one that would fit into the openings.

William · Answer

Cleaning Your Refrigerator's Water Dispenser

You can do this with a white vinegar and water solution and a clean cloth. DO NOT MIX VINEGAR WITH BLEACH PRODUCTS! If a clean cloth is too large to fit into the area where the water is dispensed, you may need to use ‘q-tips’ dipped in water and vinegar to clean the small areas. Be careful when working in your freezer to not leave the door open too long and cause food to spoil or melt. Also be sure to take precautions not to get off balance or cut yourself on potentially sharp parts or contents in the freezer. Good gloves and long sleeves can help to prevent injury.

Now, the exterior of your refrigerator may have a dispenser for the water and ice. Take a flashlight and look up where the water is dispensed. This is an area that may collect debris or grow mold or mildew. Use the same technique as you did on the water dispenser for the ice in the freezer, using a mixture of water and vinegar with clean cloths and q-tips to remove any unwanted buildup.

To help prevent future buildups, it is suggested that you follow the suggested maintenance schedule for all filters on your refrigerator. Properly filtered water can minimize the contaminants in the water, reducing the chances of buildup in the first place.

Linda Stroud Huggins · Answer

Make a paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, smear on, leave about 15 minutes. Hope it helps?

Bernice H · Answer

THANK you all, very helpful!

Capernius · Answer

#1) bleach is poisonous in any form or mixture. 
I advise you never use bleach for anything. not even laundry.
#2) Vinegar is, in my opinion, one of the most fantastic things on earth.
it cleans better than anything else I have ever tried; it has anti bacterial properties; it is safe to use around any & all foods(ice included); and it can even be used in the laundry to remove stains & soften fabrics.

if you can not access where the mold & mildew is(the black stuff), find a brush that fits, dip it in vinegar & run the brush S-L-O-W-L-Y up in there to remove any & all black, dirty mildew or whatever. I can not emphasize enough to go slowly & never force your way in. that is how things get broken....especially expensive things.
It may take a while to get this clean enough to your liking, but when it is done, I advise doing this 1x a month to keep it clean. The very first cleaning will be a pain in the posterior at maximum level, but after that, it will not be quite so bad.
Mold & mildew will not usually stop a brush from doing what it is you wish to do, but intricate parts will...hence why I advize going slow.

hope this helps. :-)

Pat Zagami · Answer

If you go to Lowe's or Home Depot in the appliance department you will find some  ice maker cleaners.

Pat Ruge · Answer

The black you are looking at is probably mold. Getting to the tiny crevices can be a problem, however if you are fortunate enough to have a steamer, it will not only clean but sanitize areas that are otherwise unreachable. My steamer has paid for itself many times over and I've always considered it a great investment. I own a Eureka similiar to this one on ebay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eureka-R370A-Enviro-Multi-Surface-Steamer-Steam-Cleaner-Complete-Kit-/262392452479?hash=item3d17cf157f:g:~koAAOSwiYFXFBR7

Capernius · Answer

there are too many 'tools' you can buy that will filter the dirtiest of water without breaking the bank. many of them cost under $10. one of my favorite things to use for purifying water is Iodine tablets. drop one or 2 tablets into a Quart of water, shake to dissolve & mix, wait about 20 minutes, then drink away! there are water purifiers that look like straws which are ok, but the size, shape, functionality, & costs of these purifiers can be as cheap as $5, or as high as $300+ . it all depends on what you can afford, what you need to do the job, & how portable you need it to be. 
Most of the purifiers are easy to use, but there are a few that take a rocket scientist to operate.

For tea stained containers, I will either use vinegar straight up or I will fill the container with water as hot as I can get it; plop 1 denture tablet for a drinking glass/mug/cup, 2 tablets for a 1/2 gallon container & 3 for anything over 1/2 gallon.

because there are so many options to use besides Bleach, 'tis why I refuse to use it for anything. 
Lemon juice is also good for cleaning tea stained containers.

Linda · Answer

I recently wrote a post on How To Clean Fridge Water Dispenser and Ice Maker. I hope this helps.

Lisa · Answer

The tray can be cleaned very easy with lemon juice. Pour in tray or use a lemon, rub the lemon everywhere, let sit for about 1 minute. Wipe the tray, if needed use scrubbing motion and the tray will look brand new .

How do you clean the fridge's water/ice dispenser?

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How do you clean the fridge's water/ice dispenser?

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