If you use one of the modern refrigerator models, then it is very likely that you also have a water line connected to the fridge. However, water lines may get dirty after a while and will need some cleaning. So, knowing how to clean a refrigerator water line is important.
Just in case you didn’t know much about water lines before now, water lines are connected to fridges so that features like dispensers and ice makers that come with the fridge can be used effectively.
In this article, we will let you in on the essential materials required to clean a water line. We will also guide you through the actual process of cleaning one.
Table of Contents
Items Required to Clean Refrigerator Water Line
Here are some of the items you need to clean a refrigerator water line successfully:
- Clamps
- Distilled White Vinegar (cleaning solution)
- Screwdriver
- Towel(s)
- Bucket
- Funnel
How to Clean Refrigerator Water Line – Step by Step Process
To get your water line free of dirt, here are the steps to follow:
- Disconnect your refrigerator from the power source
Before you begin the cleaning procedure, unplug your refrigerator from the AC outlet.
Then, turn the water valve off to stop water flow to the refrigerator. The water valve is usually located behind your fridge. But you can shut off the main valve if you don’t find it there.
With the screwdriver, unscrew the ice maker line. The dispenser line should be left attached to the door nozzle while you do this.
- Clean the reservoir
First, remove the reservoir behind the crisper and pour out the water in it.
Make a cleaning solution of 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water.
Use this solution to flush the reservoir multiple times.
Then, push the tubes together to reconnect them.
- Clean the lines
You would be cleaning both the ice maker and dispenser lines with the distilled white vinegar.
So, pour 3 cups of the distilled vinegar into both lines.
Leave the vinegar to sit in the lines for about 10 minutes.
To prevent the vinegar from leaking out, use your clamps to block the open ends.
Pour the vinegar out of the ice-maker line and flush with clean water.
Then, reattach the line.
Run the vinegar solution through the water dispenser with a bucket under the dispenser to collect the solution.
- Rinse the lines
With 8 to 10 glasses of water, flush both the ice-maker and dispenser lines. This is to remove any vinegar or contaminants still present in the lines.
- Clean the ice maker bin
The ice maker bin should then be cleaned with warm vinegar water.
Rinse this bin and dry it before returning it back into your refrigerator.
- Reconnect the lines
Once the cleaning exercise is done, reconnect the water line to the ice machine and enjoy your fresh batch of ice and clean flow of water.
You can also watch this video for a visual guide on how to clean your refrigerator water line with vinegar.
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A Quick Recap!
The water that passes your refrigerator water lines is the tap water that contains several minerals.
If you don’t clean these water lines regularly, there would be clogging and build-up of these minerals. This can lead to bad odor in the water and ice and white stains.
Flushing your refrigerator water line involves more than just passing water through it.
To clean your refrigerator water line, you need a vinegar solution and a generous quantity of water.
The vinegar serves as a natural cleaning agent that removes all contaminants from your refrigerator water line.
Meanwhile, ensure that you dispose of the old batch of water and ice before starting a new batch with your clean water line.
You can also take advantage of our post on how to change the water filter in a refrigerator if you need help with changing the one in yours.
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