Why Its Important To Clean An Ice Machine
June 17, 2021 by Dave Steck
Ice is used in almost every food service setting, from restaurants, bars, cafeterias, and coffee shops, to nursing homes, hospitals, and healthcare facilities. Since ice is such an important part of food service, its important for professionals to know how to clean an ice machine. In fact, these machines are often some of the dirtiest pieces of equipment in the kitchen. While every ice machine has its own special maintenance requirements, most follow a basic overall process. This article will take you through a detailed, step-by-step explanation of the ice machine cleaning process.
Clean Your Ice Cube Bin
Your ice cube maker bin might pull out like a kitchen drawer, or you might have to lift it up before you can remove it. Dump the ice in the sink . If theres anything else you can easily remove without hardware, such as a drip tray, go ahead and do that now.
One important note: Plastic pieces from your freezer should be hand washednever put them in your dishwasher. Use a washcloth and warm soapy water, or a couple tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in a gallon of warm water, to wash and wipe any of the removed parts. Rinse well and set aside to air dry they will need to be completely dry before theyre returned to the unit.
What Are Ways In Which People Have Gotten Sick From Dirty Ice Makers
Mold in the ice maker is one of the bigger risks that have caused people to get sick from dirty ice makers.
The contaminated ice can be affected with salmonella, E. coli, and shigella.
Mold lets bacteria and fungus grow into germs that may make people ill. That is why cleaning the inside and outside of an ice maker needs to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid mold and bacteria growing in your ice maker.
Case Study:
- University of Texas performed a study found that ice cubes can contain salmonella, E. coli, and shillelagh even when mixed with hard liquor, soda, and water.
- So no matter the drink or substance inside of the cup, these bacteria can be living in the ice and then get a person sick from drinking one of these bacteria.
- At one point over 5,000 people became ill because they had contaminated ice in their drinks. The ice maker had not been cleaned properly or often enough, causing thousands of people being sick.
- While this is an extreme case, it is important to keep in mind next time someone if trying to postpone or avoid cleaning their ice maker.
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How To Clean An Ice Maker
Cleaning a dirty ice maker is typically very straightforward. Simply remove the ice bin and dispose of any old ice. Wipe down the bin with warm water and a mild dish detergent before drying completely and replacing. We suggest cleaning an ice maker every 3-4 months. However, if your ice smells or tastes bad, consider doing so more frequently or replacing the refrigerator water filter.
How To Clean A Refrigerator Water Dispenser In 11 Easy Steps
Nobody likes a dirty refrigerator water dispenser. In fact, it can be quite disgusting! Not to mention, it can also be a breeding ground for bacteria. If youre like most people, you probably dont clean your refrigerator water dispenser very often . But dont worry, were here to show you how to do it in just 11 easy steps!
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How To Deep Clean And Sanitize A Portable Ice Maker
A quick clean is alright for weekly or fortnightly cleans. But once a month, you should do a deep clean that includes the ice-making system. You should also sanitize the ice maker to get rid of any mold, mildew, or bacteria that may be developing.
Thats it youve deep cleaned and sanitized your portable ice maker.
How Do You Clean The Inside Of A Portable Ice Maker
Contents
To clean the inside of a portable ice maker, first remove any ice from the ice maker. Next, unplug the ice maker and remove any removable parts. Clean all removable parts with warm, soapy water. Rinse all parts with clean water and dry thoroughly. Finally, clean the interior of the ice maker with a damp cloth.
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How To Clean Your Ice Maker To Prevent Mold
You can try to prevent the spread of mold by cleaning the affected areas as soon as you notice signs of it, but if its developing at a quick rate, youll wind up wasting a lot of time and effort. Mold growth can be thwarted if you clean your ice machine thoroughly on a regular basis.
Air filters should be cleaned on a weekly basis, as Easy Ice recommends.
Mold and slime can build if your air filters arent cleaned regularly. They ingest many of the particles that air filters catch. As a precaution, Easy Ice advises its personnel to clean the air filters every week. Cleaning an air filter is a cinch. To clean them, all you need to do is spritz them with some warm water and then rinse them. Allow the filters to air dry after theyve been cleaned.
Ozone generators are another method of preventing development. In the presence of sunshine and lightning, ozone is formed. It works 3000 times faster than chlorine and disperses into the air as pure oxygen, so there is no need for rinsing with it..
Mold, slime, and other potentially dangerous pathogens are all slowed down by ozone, a powerful sanitizer.
What Kills Mold Better Than Bleach Or Vinegar
Answer: There are several products that we can use to remove mold from the refrigerator. Among them, bleach and vinegar are the most popular. But a question may arise what kills mold better, bleach or vinegar? Scientists prove that vinegar is the most effective way to remove mold from refrigerators.
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A Clean Ice Maker Can Reduce Health Violations
Health violations are something no restaurant owner wants to get. Even small infractions can lead to a bad health score if an inspector finds enough of them.
The FDA defines ice as food, so health inspectors dont take kindly to slime and mold in an ice machine. In fact, ice makers and storage bins are one of the first places health inspectors look because of how challenging it can be to maintain them.
Depending on the health inspector or your citys health laws, the presence of mold or slime could lead to a critical violation. Citations are extremely bad for business. If your sanitation score is posted publicly, as it is in most cities, you could face a severe loss of customers.
For many locations, cleaning your ice machine every six months will keep mold and slime at acceptable levels but every work environment is different. Challenging environments need more professional cleanings and many require employees to perform light cleaning every couple of weeks. In addition to knowing how to clean an ice machine, there are steps you can take to reduce contamination in your ice maker. We work with all of our customers to limit mold proliferation through increased cleanings and preventive measures .
Restaurant owners, check out this list of tips for acing health inspections!
How A Clean Ice Maker Can Reduce Health Violations
The last thing any restaurant owner wants is a health infraction. Even the tiniest of violations can have a negative impact on a health score if enough are found.
There are health inspectors who arent happy about slime and mold in an ice maker because the FDA considers ice to be a food item. In fact, since they may be so difficult to maintain, ice makers and storage bins are often the first things health inspectors review.
The presence of mold or slime could be a serious health violation, depending on the health inspector or the health legislation in your city. Citations are tremendously detrimental to a companys bottom line. Public disclosure of your sanitation rating could result in a significant drop in business.
Every workplace is unique, and cleaning your ice machine every six months may not be enough to keep mold and slime at appropriate levels. The more challenging the environment, the more frequently it needs to be cleaned by an expert. Cleaning an ice machine isnt the only way to keep your ice maker free of contaminants. Through enhanced cleanings and preventative measures, we strive with all of our customers to keep mold at bay .
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Spray The Dispenser With Vinegar And Water
Before you begin, click the lock button on your dispenser. If you do not click this button it will spray water on you and try to dispense ice.
Now using a spray bottle with half and half vinegar and water solution inside and spray all around the unit. Make sure to spray those areas that have mold and calcium real good.
If your unit has really bad calcium you can use a cleaner that dissolves lime deposits but keeps in mind you will need to rinse it many times with a wet clean rag or paper towels to make sure you get all the chemicals off.
Use a paper towel or rag to wipe up any excess that is dripping down the side of the unit.
How Do I Clean My Frigidaire Ice Dispenser Chute
The ice chute can be cleaned with mild soap and water and a soft cloth. Make sure the chute is dried after cleaning to prevent ice from building up and blocking the ice flow down the chute. The area behind the glass cradle or pad can be wiped clean with vinegar and water or a mild soap and water solution.
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Bad Habits With Your Portable Ice Maker
When it comes to portable ice makers, people have some bad habits. There are two bad habits in particular that can lead to mold forming in your ice maker.
The first bad habit is if their unit is working, they dont take the time to clean it. This is bad news! You must make sure that your portable ice maker is always clean. I recommend that you take some time once a month to wash the sides with soap and water and then rinse it thoroughly.
The second bad habit people have is grabbing ice with their hands without using a scoop. There is a reason portable ice makers come with an ice scoop. Using your hands to grab ice or putting back ice if its not used is a way for bacteria to grow.
Important: Use an ice scoop to get your ice and never put the ice back into the basket. If some ice accidentally falls on the ground, throw it away.
What happens if you begin to notice mold growing in your portable ice maker? Well, lets take care of that problem now.
How Is Mcdonalds Ice So Clear
Usually, manufacturers that make perfectly clear ice cubes usually use something like a decanting process. The cloudiness is caused by impurities in the ice, and those impurities increase in concentration as the cube begins to form. If youve ever interrupted an ice-cube freezing, you know what Im talking about.
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How Do You Clean Mold Out Of A Refrigerator Water Dispenser
The best way to clean mold out of a refrigerator water dispenser is by using a bleach and water solution. Simply mix one part bleach with three parts water, then pour it into the reservoir and let it sit for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes have passed, use a cloth or sponge to wipe away any remaining mold. Make sure you rinse out the reservoir thoroughly before using it again.
What Are The Risks
Mold and slime arent typically harmful to healthy people, but those that are immuno-suppressed should avoid them. Regardless, youll need to know how to clean an ice maker so these contaminants dont threaten the success of your business.
The main issue with ice maker mold and slime is that its not appealing to customers. These contaminants tend to grow where ice drops from the evaporator compartment into the storage bin. If any of that growth ends up in the ice and into a customers drink, you could be looking at a bad review, a loss of business, or a report to the Health Department.
Speaking of the health department
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Unplug Your Machine And Empty Its Contents
Be sure to switch off your computer and remove it from the power supply before you begin working. Youll avoid any unnecessary risk of electrocution while doing this, and the dispensers parts will be protected from short circuits if they get wet.
Drain the ice dispenser of all water and save the ice cubes youve already formed after unplugging. If you think theyre safe to eat, you can repurpose them.
Remove all the parts that can be removed to see if there are any mold colonies that cant be seen. These screwed-on sections are easy to access, therefore you should open them as well for cleaning.
If youre not sure, have them serviced by a professional if youre not sure. When they arrive, heres how to write a mold report.
How To Clean Your Water Dispenser
Water dispensers can get pretty nasty if you let them. Theres a lot of hidden, moist areas perfect for mold and bacteria. If youre reading this, it likely means youre about to clean your water dispenser. Good for you! But before you do, identify the spots of your dispenser you dont normally look at. Are they clean? Are they dirty? This is something to keep in mind as you clean, and in the future as you maintain your water dispenser.
Here is what you need to clean your refrigerators water dispenser:
- Two cloths: one for wiping, one for drying
- Vinegar solution: 5 parts white vinegar to 5 parts water
- Undiluted white vinegar
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Create A Homemade Cleaning Solution Or Purchase One On Amazon
Take a little bleach diluted in some warm water and thoroughly clean your ice maker. Its important to focus on where the ice is frozen, the water reservoir, and the inside walls of the unit.
Make sure that all the mold is gone, and that the inside of your ice maker is thoroughly cleaned and rinsed. You could also use this product: Complete Mold Killer & Remover DIY Bundle to clean your ice maker if you wish.
This product is designed to clean, kill and prevent mold from growing in your ice machine. Its also the fastest stain remover on the market today.
Can I Use Vinegar To Clean My Ice Machine
Yes, vinegar can be used to clean your ice machine. It is an effective natural disinfectant and can help remove build-up from your machine. To clean your ice machine with vinegar, simply mix equal parts vinegar and water and run it through your machines cycle. You may need to do this a few times to remove all the build-up.
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Tips For Maintaining A Portable Ice Maker
Keeping your portable ice maker clean at all times is the best way youll never have to deal with mold.
I hope that this article has helped you. Please leave your comments or questions below, and I hope you enjoy cold, mold-free ice.
Mix A Vinegar Solution And Wipe Down The Dispenser
The mold colony mess that you need to clean up is likely mushy and damp since your ice dispenser is moist when its making ice. You should vacuum the molds before wiping them off if you dont want to risk inhaling the spores that may fly if you dont.
However, if the molds are wet, you can proceed with the preparation of your mold-killing solution. You can use vinegar mixed into an 80% solution if its acetic acid.
Lemon, on the other hand, can be used up to 60% of the time because it has a higher acidity level.
Wipe down the dispenser with a sponge that has been soaked in your solution. Because wiping off the molds serves as both a removal and a killing action, keep a plentiful supply of solution on hand at all times.
If you dont see any mold, you should nevertheless clean all of your surfaces. Fresh spores that havent germinated wont be able to create a new colony once you wipe them up.
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