You may not know it but your ice maker is actually dirty. This guide details steps on how to clean an ice maker in a GE refrigerator if you have one like that.
Table of Contents
How to Clean an Ice Maker in a GE Refrigerator – Guiding Steps
If you are on the lookout for how to clean an ice maker in a GE refrigerator, do the following:
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
First, you need to gather the items you will need to clean the ice maker. You will need:
- Bleach or vinegar
- Dish-washing detergent
- A clean rag
- A knife or an ice pick
Be sure to keep them close to you when cleaning. Doing this keeps you from going back and forth when you have already started cleaning the ice maker.
Step 2: Turn the Ice Maker Off
To turn the ice maker off, locate its power switch. For some GE refrigerator models, the switch is readily visible on the front of the machine. You may have to push it from right to left or press the switch in order to turn it off.
However, older models tend to use the feeler arm to power down the ice maker. So if you have this type, push the arm to the up position to stop the ice maker from working. Consult your user manual if you are in doubt about using the arm.
And if you are not sure where the power switch of the ice maker is, check the manual or disconnect the refrigerator from power.
Step 3: Take the Ice Bucket Out
Remove the bucket from the refrigerator. It should slide right out. But if you encounter any problem taking it out, consult the user manual for directions.
Look inside the bucket to see if there is any ice in it. If there is, dump it out into a sink. However, if the ice has formed clumps and you can’t dump it easily, use an ice pick or a knife to break it for easy dumping.
Step 4: Clean the Ice Bucket and Ice Maker
Fill a large container or the kitchen sink with water, preferably warm. Add some dish-washing soap. Now, take the clean rag and dip it into the soapy water. Squeeze out the excess water and take the rag to the ice maker in the refrigerator.
Clean the ice maker with the rag, making sure to wipe any dirt you see. If you want, you can uninstall the ice maker before cleaning it, though this is a long process.
Afterward, put the ice bucket into the water with soap and wash it thoroughly. Make sure you scrub off every trace of dirt in it. Once you are done, rinse it thoroughly, preferably under running water.
Then, dry the ice maker and bucket to remove every trace of moisture. Use a dry towel or rag for this.
Step 5: Sanitize the Ice Maker
Measure out half a cup of bleach in your home and mix it in one gallon of water. Like before, put the rag in this mixture and clean the ice maker while it is still inside the unit. The bleach removes every germ attached to the ice maker.
When you are done with this, clean the ice bucket in the bleach/water mixture. Wash it and rinse thoroughly to remove the smell and every trace of bleach.
Check the ice bucket to see if it is safe to put in a dishwasher. If it is, use the sanitizing cycle to further clean it. But if it is not safe to be cleaned in a dishwasher, don’t take this step. Otherwise, you will damage the bucket.
Note: Use vinegar instead of bleach if you don’t feel comfortable using bleach on items that fit in your refrigerator. While vinegar may be less potent, it does not kill germs as well as bleach does.
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Step 6: Finish Up
Take a dry towel or rag and wipe away every trace of moisture from the ice maker and bucket. Make sure none is left so that the water does not freeze. If it does, the ice maker may not work well and the ice bucket is at risk of damage.
Turn the ice maker on before replacing the ice bucket. This is for models that have the power switch hidden by the bucket. And if you disconnected the refrigerator, reconnect it now.
Cleaning an ice maker does not have to be a chore. And if you learn how to clean an ice maker in a GE refrigerator, you are learning how to maintain the machine.
When to Clean the Ice Maker…
Knowing when to clean the ice maker is part of knowing how to clean an ice maker in a GE refrigerator. You will know your ice maker is dirty and needs a thorough cleaning if the ice it makes smells and tastes bad.
And if the ice cubes come out looking sloshy, cloudy, oddly shaped, or oddly colored, it is time to clean your ice maker.
Every refrigerator ice maker should be given a cleaning every 6 months, at least. This is especially needed if your area has hard water. In fact, you should clean the ice maker more than twice every year if you have a hard water supply.
However, cleaning the ice maker is one thing; cleaning out old and spoiled food items is another.
The smell and taste of food, both good and bad, find their way into the water that flows into the refrigerator and ice maker. Over time, they adhere and cause the water to smell and taste different.
Therefore, it is important to clean the refrigerator regularly. Don’t leave food in it for too long; if it bad or expired, dispose of it. A clean refrigerator makes for the best water and ice.
Clean Under GE Refrigerator – Steps to Take
If you are looking for how to clean under your GE refrigerator, take the following steps:
Step 1
Unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet. This works if the unit is not an inbuilt type. If it is, you won’t be able to reach the outlet or even move it.
Step 2
Move the refrigerator away from the wall behind it. If you cannot move it yourself, find a helper. This way, you will keep yourself safe from any injury and will be able to move the unit a good distance.
Step 3
Sweep the dust left in the space where the unit was sitting. Be sure to everything. Afterward, clean the square space with water and a little soap.
Step 4
Allow the space to dry before moving the unit back into position. Otherwise, you run the risk of messing it up again.
Step 5
Move the unit back and plug it into the outlet.
Cleaning the Coils
However, if you are looking for how to clean the coils at the bottom of the refrigerator, do the following:
Step 1
Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power. That is if you can reach the outlet. If you can’t, power down the circuit breaker.
Step 2
Find the coils at the bottom back of the unit. Some models have a grille or a panel with openings covering the coils. If yours does, remove the grille.
With a condenser brush or the brush head of a vacuum cleaner, wipe the dust off the coils. Be sure to get all of them.
Inspect the coils for grease. If you cannot tell by just looking, feel them. If they are sticky, use a damp soapy cloth to clean them.
Step 3
Take a broom and sweep the floor around the coils. This is to remove the dust and other debris so they don’t easily find their way onto the coils again.
Step 4
If you removed a grille earlier, replace it. If not, move the unit back into position.
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Here is a video showing how to clean condenser coils…
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How to Clean Under Glass in a GE Fridge
To clean under the glass of a GE fridge, do the following:
Step 1
Take the items on top of the glass out and remove the drawers. This type of glass is usually a shelf on top of the vegetable drawers. It acts as a cover as well as a shelf.
Step 2
Place your hand under the glass and push it upwards from the rear. While doing this, push it about half an inch to loosen it from the white frame.
Step 3
Once it is loose, carefully and gently lift it out of the frame. Place it on a flat surface so you can safely secure the frame.
Step 4
Lay the glass in a sink and run cold water over it. You can also use warm or tepid water to clean it. Wash it with mild dish-washing soap and avoid scrubbing it.
Don’t wash the glass with hot water, especially when it is cold. Hot water is likely to cause cracks on it or even break it. And this can cause you injuries, not counting the cost of having to replace the glass.
Step 5
Rinse the glass under running water after washing it. Running water is best at removing soap and residue.
Next, dry it with a soft and lint-free towel. Then, place it on a safe flat surface to air -dry completely.
You can take this opportunity to clean other shelves, racks, and bins in the refrigerator. You can even clean the refrigerator, inside and out.
Step 6
Reinstall the glass into the frame by placing it in the groove in front of the frame. While doing this, make sure the back of the glass is raised. Now, lower it gently into the frame from the back.
Replace the shelf on top of the drawer and put it into the refrigerator.
Note: Tread with caution while handling the glass. This is because the edges are usually sharp and may cut your hands. If you have gloves, use them when handling the glass.
How to Clean GE Ice Maker UNC15NJII
This is an undercounter ice maker, as well as the UCC15NJII. When the ice maker is dirty, you will get an automatic alert.
There is an indicator labeled Time to Clean. The light will come on, usually every 6 months, to let you know you should clean the machine. It won’t go off until you clean it.
Mix 3 ounces of scale remover into a gallon of water into the ice maker as it is making ice. This is to reach every crevice and clean it.
Turn the ice maker off and drain the water after the cleaning cycle. Dry it so that there is no moisture left. You can leave it open so it can air dry.
Consult the user manual for the ice maker to see further instructions on how to clean the interior of the machine.
To clean the condenser fins of the ice maker:
Step 1
Disconnect the machine from electric power.
Step 2
Unmount the kickplate and the service panel which is in front of the ice maker.
For the kickplate, unthread the two screws holding it in place, close to the leveling legs.
For the panel, remove the plug button with a flat-head screwdriver. You will find a Phillips screw behind the button. Remove it.
Step 3
Now, the condenser is visible to you. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean it, removing the dust, debris, and lint. It is especially necessary if you have pets that shed hair.
Step 4
Replace the kickplate and service panel to their positions, securing them with the screws you removed earlier.
To clean the exterior of the ice maker:
Take a soft sponge, dampen it and clean it, going in the direction of the lines on it. Make sure you use a liquid cleaner that has no grit or granules.
If the exterior is of steel, use a cleaner that is made strictly for stainless steel. A cleaner that contains oxalic acid is great at removing dirt, tarnish, and even rust. Don’t scrub the surface.
Here is a video showing how to clean an undercounter ice maker…
How to Clean GE Opal Ice Maker
To clean a GE Opal ice maker, take the following steps:
Step 1
Find the switch at the machine’s back and move it to the position marked ‘Clean’. The display ring in front of the ice maker will light up in yellow and begin to pulse.
Step 2
Mix a teaspoon of bleach into 5 cups of water. Mix them thoroughly. Once you are sure you have mixed them well, pour the mixture into the machine.
Note: Don’t use soap for cleaning it, even if it is mild dishwashing detergent.
Step 3
Press the display button so the machine can start cleaning. The yellow light will start turning and if you listen, you will be able to hear the water spinning.
Step 4
At the end of 3 minutes, the cleaning process will end. The yellow light will stop turning and begin pulsing again.
This is the time to drain the water in the machine. Unhook the drain hoses’ top and lay the hoses down so the water can drain. Make sure you put them into a sink, bucket, or gutter so you don’t make a mess.
Detach the drain plugs so that all the water will drain. This is because the hoses won’t be able to let all the water out. Put the drain plugs as soon as the water stops pouring out.
Step 5
Pour about 5 cups of clean water into the ice maker and press the button again to clean it. You will notice the display ring has 4 parts.
As you progress in the cleaning process, the light will move from one part to the next, with each stage becoming bright. This is to show that you are moving successfully.
Step 6
Rinse the ice maker 3 times using clean water. You are free to rinse as much as you will. Now, go through steps 3 through 5 twice to thoroughly clean the ice maker. Make sure to use clean each time.
Afterward, put the drain hoses back in place. Then, move the switch at the back to the position marked ‘Ice’.
To sanitize the ice maker:
Pour vinegar into the reservoir until it gets to the max line. Next, run 3 cleaning cycles. Alternatively, you can use the cleaning for Opal ice makers. Follow the steps laid out in it.
If you are going to use vinegar, allow it to sit in the ice maker for about 18 hours. While this is happening, take a towel, soak it in vinegar and set it on the ice chute. Leave it there overnight so that it will dissolve mineral deposits and buildups.
Using vinegar, clean the ice maker’s sensors and wipe them thoroughly with clean water. Then, drain the vinegar from the ice maker and run at least 3 rinse cycles. Use clean water each time you rinse it.
These are steps to properly clean a GE Opal ice maker. Be sure to use the right cleaning agents.
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Recap
Unplug the refrigerator, remove the ice bucket and wash with clean water and dishwashing soap. Clean the ice maker with a soapy rag and wipe it with another clean rag.
Remember to dry it thoroughly, as with the ice bucket, to remove moisture.
Knowing how to clean an ice maker in a GE refrigerator, as well as an undercounter or nugget ice maker, is important. It is also important to clean out the refrigerator to remove old and rotten food items.
Doing this keeps the water and ice clean and free of foul tastes and smells.
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