How to Clean and Maintain Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker?

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It was a ‘Not So Nice’ day of summer, and I could’ve probably given half of the world for a nice, cold drink.

So, I picked up a glass, poured some juice into it, and pushed the button of my ice maker for some cold crystal cubes.

But nothing came out of it but some sound. It was like my ice maker was constipating.

Sounds funny? Well, it wasn’t for me at that time.

So, I called a professional to look into the matter. The first thing he asked me after coming over was, do you regularly clean it?

No, I said. And guess what came next – A CHARGE OF $100!

Damn! My pocket is still hurting.

Now you understand why I had to learn to clean and maintain Samsung refrigerator ice maker in the first place.

Yes! To save my money. And if you want to do the same, keep reading.

Key Takeaways:
✅ Your ice maker needs cleaning when it starts to go down on ice production and produces discolored and smelly ice.
✅ Most effective supplies to clean an ice maker are dish soap, vinegar, a soft cloth, a sponge, a towel, freezer-safe disinfectant, and so on.
✅ The easiest way to clean an ice maker is to disassemble the ice bin and maker after unplugging the freezer and cleaning with vinegar and warm, soapy water.

Which Supplies Do You Need?

Before the mission starts, you need to bring your weapons together. Yes, I’m asking you to gather all the necessary supplies.

Wait, you don’t know what they are yet, do you? Okay, here’s the list and why you need them:

• Warm Water and Dish Soap: The cleaning process becomes more effective with these two, as they are good at removing food debris, grime, and spills.
• Vinegar: This one helps a ton with disinfecting the ice maker and removing mineral deposits. Plus, it can easily handle hard water stains, which can mess with ice production.
• Soft Cloth: If you’re asking for something that can help you clean up your ice maker components without scratching them, this is your catch. You can use a sponge too if you like.
• Soft-bristle Brush: When it comes to reaching into nooks and crannies to clean up the most stubborn dirt, this one comes in handy.
• Small Container: This one will help submerge dirty ice bins, especially those with visible mold or mildew.
• Disinfectant: If you really want to get rid of all the lingering bacteria in your ice maker, just vinegar and water might not always be enough. You’re going to need something stronger, like a refrigerator-safe disinfectant, such as bleach solution. Make sure to check the user manual for any specific solutions.
• Towel: This one is not a must. But when you’re not counting air drying as an option, it will surely help you out in drying the components. Before you turn your ice maker back on, make this one useful.

Step-by-Step Process to Clean and Maintain Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker

I don’t know if you’ve still got the manufacturer’s instructions on this or not. So, let’s start with the steps, one by one:

Unplug From the Power Outlet

Start by turning off and unplugging the refrigerator. It’s a must, as you don’t want to put yourself in danger here.

And don’t just turn off the power line of the fridge; get the plug out. Otherwise, there’s still a chance of getting shocked if it’s connected to a faulty power outlet.

Detach the Ice Bin

It’s time to liberate the ice bin. This is where the ice maker in your Samsung refrigerator keeps the ice right before dispensing.

Based on the model, it can be at your fridge’s bottom or the door. There might be a release button there somewhere to unlock it. A latch can be there instead of a button.

After unlocking, slide out the bin from the freezer compartment. Make sure you’re not causing any spills.

Now inspect and try to find out if there’s any mold buildup or damage. If you’re spotting cracks or mold, it’s better to replace the bin.

Clean Up the Ice Bin

After removing the ice bin, if you haven’t emptied it yet, do it. But if you’re putting them in a cooler, make sure you’re getting rid of discolored or old ice cubes.

Now fill up your sink with warm water and add mild dish soap in there. Mix it well, and leave the ice bin in that mixture of warm water, fully submerged.

After a few minutes, get a soft cloth and start cleaning the bin thoroughly. You can also use a sponge if you want. Make sure you remove all the dirt and residue in the corners.

In case there’s a stubborn stain, grab that soft-bristle brush of yours and scrub it. Do it gently, as you don’t want to leave any scratches.

If that part is done, rinse it properly and check if any soap residue is left in there. Now grab a towel and wipe it dry. You can air-dry it as well, if you like.

A Gentle Reminder:
Avoid using any harsh chemicals or cleaners that can leave the plastic damaged.

Dissemble the Ice Maker

Let’s just call it removing the ice maker. This should let you have access to and clean up all the components that can potentially prevent ice buildup.

So, how do you get this done?

Well, depending on the model of your refrigerator, the ice maker is supposed to be fastened to the freezer’s back or side wall.

Once you locate it, grab your screwdriver or wrench and remove the screws and mounting brackets that are holding the ice maker.

Now check which cables or connectors are attached to it. Detach each of them carefully, as you don’t want to damage any of them.

When you’re done with that, carefully remove the ice maker from there. Keep your eyes open for any component that might come in the way when you’re getting it out.

Put the ice maker on a clean surface. Now go back to that freezer section and check if there’s any mold, filth, or residue. Also, don’t forget to check the condition of the components for signs of damage.

Clean Up the Components

The performance of your Samsung refrigerator ice maker is as good as its components. So, the first thing you need to do is use a solution of equal parts water and vinegar on the components.

I’m suggesting vinegar because it’s great at fighting bacteria and getting rid of mineral deposits.

Now dip a clean, soft cloth in the solution. Then use the cloth to wipe each of the bigger components. You can use a sponge here as well.

While wiping, check closely where the ice is made and dispensed from, including the chute.

Once you’re done with the bigger components, focus on the smaller ones. And if you have a removable ice mold there, then make sure to soak it in a mixture of water and vinegar. Leave it there for 10–15 minutes. By this time, any dirt that may have accumulated should be loose.

Now use a soft bristle brush to scrub off all the mineral deposits on it. Don’t forget to be gentle. And when it comes to the water reservoir and other parts, use a mixture of warm water and mild detergent to clean them up.

Vinegar will also do the trick here if you don’t have soap.

When all of their parts are perfectly clean and fresh again, rinse them thoroughly with clean water. Make sure you’re leaving no traces of vinegar behind. Otherwise, you might get ice cubes with a weird taste and quality. 

Done? Now let them air dry and make that towel useful again.

Reassemble the Components

It’s time to put things back together. So, start reassembling. But make sure you’re keeping these things on top of your mind:

• All the parts must fit back into their places securely and precisely. This is also important for ensuring no parts are misaligned, even a bit. Otherwise, the newly cleaned ice maker might not work at all.
• Connect all the wires or connectors in the same order you detached them. Double-check the connection if needed. Because if you miss even one, you might have to disassemble it again to find the problem.
• Tighten up the screws properly. Put all the screws and mounting brackets in the right order. But don’t over-tighten it, as that can damage the ice maker’s components.
• Double-check everything and make sure there are no leaks.

Plug and Play

Finally, the last phase of the step-by-step process of cleaning your ice maker.

Grab the plug and put it back in the power outlet. After a while, turn the ice maker on and check the quality of the ice.

Clean and smell-free ice cubes indicate the ice maker is functioning properly. So, if you have cleaned it properly, the ice maker will be at its optimal performance for a while, at least.

Wrapping Up

I hope all your questions about how to clean and maintain Samsung refrigerator ice maker are finally answered.

It’s no rocket science. As outlined in this guide, all you have to do is disassemble the ice maker, use water and vinegar to clean it, use a soft-bristle brush for stubborn deposits, and put it back in the same place.

But you have to be careful on certain parts; I’ve mentioned it all above already. Feel free to go through them again anytime you want. But remember one last thing: how you keep your appliance is totally up to you.

If you’re taking care of them, they’ll take care of you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)