There is nothing better than a drink on the rocks. Whether it be alcoholic, or simply a soft drink, adding ice is guaranteed to make it taste better.
Ice can be difficult to get your hands on or something that you prefer not to buy seen as it is just frozen water.
You can make ice in your home freezer but it can take up a lot of room, which is why a lot of people instead choose to buy an ice maker.
A home ice maker is a great investment as it will last you for years to come and give you an endless supply of ice, but there is one machine that is even better.
That is, of course, the portable ice maker. It does all of the excellent things that a regular ice maker does but can be taken on the go, allowing you to add ice to your drink wherever you are.
One thing that puts people off of buying these devices is the cleaning process, so with that in mind let’s take a look at how to clean a portable ice maker.
Why You Should Clean Your Ice Maker
Before we take a look at how to clean your portable ice maker, let’s quickly establish why you should clean your ice maker.
Cleaning kitchen appliances can often be a time-consuming and exhausting process which is why a lot of people delay cleaning their portable ice makers.
But cleaning your ice maker is very important so let’s take a look at some of the reasons why.
The main reason why you should clean your portable ice maker is health and safety. Kitchen appliances can develop bacteria incredibly quickly because of the cupboards that they are stored in.
The areas in which kitchen appliances are stored are often either prone to dampness or incredibly cold which is a breeding ground for bacteria.
This bacteria could grow and result in food poisoning when you consume something that has been produced in the machine.
Regular cleaning prevents this bacteria from growing and makes your ice maker safe to use.
Regular cleaning is also vital to ensure that your ice maker remains able to function properly and that no damage occurs to the device throughout its lifetime.
Now that you know why you need to clean your ice maker, let’s take a look at the signs that your ice maker requires cleaning.
Signs Your Ice Maker Needs a Clean
As well as completing regular maintenance on your portable ice maker, there are some other signs to watch out for that will notify you that your ice maker requires cleaning.
So if your ice maker starts displaying any of these signs you should give the machine a thorough clean.
The first sign is that the ice cubes that are being produced are significantly smaller than what you normally expect from the machine.
As well as this, you may also notice that the ice is melting quicker than usual. Alternatively, you might begin to notice a strange taste coming from the ice in the machine.
This strange taste might begin to grow more unpleasant the longer that you put off cleaning the ice machine.
Finally, you might notice that the walls or the sides of the ice maker begin to appear dirty or discolored. In most machines, the sides will be transparent so when they begin to turn cloudy, you should wash your ice maker.
These are the signs that your ice maker needs a clean, however, you should still regularly clean the machine. So let’s take a look at what you need to clean your portable ice maker.
What You Need
To help you clean your portable ice maker, we’ve put together this quick list of everything that you will need.
Thankfully, the majority of things you will need to clean your ice maker you will already have in your home which makes the process even more simple.
To clean your ice maker, you will need:
- Lemon Juice or White Vinegar
- Warm Water
- A soft cloth
- A spray bottle
- A jug
- Cotton buds or a toothbrush
- Spare towels
Once you have gathered everything that you need, you are then ready to move on to cleaning your portable ice maker.
How to Clean Your Portable Ice Maker
After you have gathered all of the materials you need, you can then begin cleaning your portable ice maker.
The first thing you need to do is remove the contents of the ice maker, this might include leftover ice cubes and could also include water or other liquids at the bottom of the machine.
Following that, you can then begin to disassemble the ice maker, you should follow the instructions for your specific machine to ensure that you are doing it properly.
After you have taken apart the ice maker, you should then mix your cleaning solution. Mix the lemon juice or white vinegar with warm water then add to the spray bottle.
We recommend beginning with any attachments, so you should spray these with the solution and wipe them down with the cloth.
Following that, you should then rinse the accessories with clean warm water to ensure no vinegar or lemon juice remains.
Once the accessories have been cleaned, you should then move onto the interior of the ice maker. Spray the insides with the cleaning solution you prepared, then wipe it down with the cloth.
You should then take the jug and fill it with warm water. Pour the warm water into the interior of the machine and swill it around until all of the cleaning solution is gone.
Finally, you should wipe down the exterior of the ice maker with a cloth before reassembling the machine.
Once you have put it back together, you should prepare a batch of ice cubes as this will clear any leftover cleaning solution from the interior of the machine.
Following that, your ice maker will be ready to be used as normal once again.
Summary
In short, cleaning your portable ice maker is easy and vital if you want your ice maker to continue to make ice like normal.
Regular cleaning is also important for the longevity of your machine and your own safety, so you mustn’t delay cleaning your ice maker.