Cleaning Your Freezer's Automatic Icemaker

Stop and think for a minute, when was the last time you cleaned the automatic icemaker in your freezer? For some reason, many (if not most) people forget to clean this part of their refrigerator on a regular basis. Just because it is near the freezer doesn't mean that it doesn't need to be cleaned. Luckily it is a task that just about everyone can do, as long as you follow these directions.

1. Clean out the unit. Before you can actually begin cleaning the automatic icemaker, you will need to clean out the freezer and the fridge. This will allow you to have the space to work, as well as ensure that you don't ruin any food you may want to eat later. Simply store your food in a separate unit, and you will be able to reuse it later on. Make sure that you take the opportunity to examine all the expiration dates to ensure that you don't hold onto something that you shouldn't.
2. Defrost. When you have all the food out of the refrigerator and freezer, go ahead and begin defrosting the unit. While each unit will have their own unique procedures, a great rule of thumb is to simply unplug the unit, and leave the doors open for about three hours. Be sure that you lift up the arm on your icemaker (if it has one) so that it will stop making ice while you are defrosting.
3. Clean the ice tray. After you have finished defrosting the unit, go ahead and remove the ice tray from the refrigerator (if you haven't already). With the ice tray out of the freezer, go ahead and dump out the water, and completely clean the tray. While the tray is drying from being washed turn it upside down so that you can ensure that it will get completely dry.
4. Clean the icemaker. If you haven't already obtained some, now is the time to go and get some commercially made icemaker cleaner. Follow the manufacturer's directions and add the cleaning solution to the icemaker.
5. Plug it in and run a few cycles. Once you have added the cleaning agent to the icemaker, go ahead and plug the refrigerator back in. Turn the icemaker on, and allow it to run for three or four cycles. This will allow the cleaner to work through the system and ensure that everything is getting as clean as possible.

Once you have finished running the cycles, throw out all the ice that was made. You really don't want to use ice that has any of the cleaner in it. Once again clean your ice tray, and then replace it. Congratulations, you have now finished cleaning your freezer's automatic icemaker.