The Insignia ice maker is a budgeted option for portable ice makers that can serve as a handy appliance in your kitchen. The ice maker has a stainless steel body and is equipped with various features designed to produce quality ice in around eight minutes.
While the Insignia ice maker is designed for use year-round with minimal maintenance and cleaning, it must be cleaned periodically to maintain a consistent quality of the ice and ensure that the ice maker stays in fine working condition for a long time. If you have not yet gotten around to cleaning your Insignia ice maker, it may be helpful to learn the cleaning process to do a thorough and effective job while ensuring that no harm is caused to the machine.
Continue reading this article for useful tips and tricks for cleaning your Insignia ice maker correctly and easily.
How to Clean Insignia Ice Maker?
If your ice maker has stopped working, is not producing enough ice, or the ice has an unpleasant appearance, odor, or taste, it is a sign that the ice maker needs to be cleaned right away. Even if you do not see any telltale signs of the machine being dirty, you must clean it every few months or sooner if you use it frequently or if there is a problem with the appliance or the ice it makes.
When you first receive the ice maker, wipe the exterior with a mild dish soap, detergent, or vinegar mixed in warm water and then wipe it dry with a cloth. Cleaning the exterior regularly will help make the machine look new and pristine. However, when it comes to the interior, the cleaning should be done in a thorough and detailed manner to ensure you get all the gunk and debris out. Here are some easy steps you can follow systematically to clean your Insignia ice maker.
Get your supplies
Firstly, get everything you need to clean the ice maker. You will need water, a bowl or bucket, a dishcloth or sponge, and a cleaning agent like dish soap, mild detergent, vinegar, or lemon juice.
Prep your ice maker
To thoroughly clean the interior, you must first prep the ice maker. Turn the machine off and unplug it from the socket to remove any electrical current in the circuitry and prevent the risk of electrocution. If any water gets inside the electrical components, it may cause short-circuiting and damage the machine. Now take out and empty the ice bucket. If there is ice frozen inside, give it time to defrost and remove the water through the drain plug at the back of the appliance.
Clean the ice maker tray and bucket
Next, take the ice maker’s ice tray out and clean it along with the ice bucket. You can use water and mild dish soap to clean the tray and the bucket. It is recommended to avoid using harsh chemicals as they are not good for your health and may also cause damage to the ice maker.
At the same time, you must also take out the drip tray and clean it. Remove the tray from its spot and give it a good rinse with mild dish soap and warm water. Rinse with clean water once cleaned and leave it aside to dry. You may also want to check the underside of the drip tray for any mildew or mold buildup and clean thoroughly with a sponge or cloth if required.
If there are stubborn buildups, prepare a vinegar solution by mixing one part vinegar with five parts water and spray on these areas. Leave for a while, and use a sponge or soft-bristle brush to scrub off dirt, grime, or any other residue on these parts. Rinse with water once done and leave them to dry.
Clean the exterior and interior
Using the same vinegar solution, spray on the ice maker’s accessible surfaces in the exterior and interior parts. Let sit for a few minutes, and then use a soft cloth or paper towel to clean the interior and exterior of the Insignia ice maker. Make sure that you clean all the nooks and crannies, and use a brush if required. Also, pay attention to the control panel and the buttons to remove dirt or grime.
If the condenser coil of the ice maker is exposed, clean that as well. You may also need to use a vacuum cleaner to reach the area between the fins of the condenser. Use a soft brush attachment and be gentle when cleaning.
Once all the visible surfaces in the exterior and interior parts of the ice maker have been cleaned, dry your machine with a clean, soft cloth. If the ice maker is very dirty, you may need to use a mild detergent or an all-purpose cleaner, particularly on stubborn spots, and clean them with warm water, followed by drying.
Replace everything and start your machine
Once the interior and exterior have been thoroughly cleaned and dried, and the trays and ice bucket are dried, put them back in their designated slots and plug your ice maker back into its power source. Make sure that the power source is in fine working condition and has not been damaged. Once you plug in your Insignia ice maker, wait a few minutes for it to start. Once the appliance is up and running, you can start making fresh batches of refreshing and clean ice.
Make ice maker cleaning a regular maintenance protocol
It is recommended to clean the Insignia ice maker regularly, depending on the frequency of use and other conditions. Ideally, you should clean the machine once every three months. You can make a maintenance and cleaning schedule according to the requirement and stick to it to ensure the machine continues to work smoothly.
For instance, if you use hard water from your area to make ice, you may need to clean it more often to prevent lime or scale buildup. Similarly, if you use the machine frequently, like in the summer, you may have to clean it sooner than the prescribed period.
If you use distilled or filtered water, you can avoid frequently cleaning the machine. Moreover, you must change its water regularly, and if you have to put the ice maker away for some time, you must drain all the water and dry it completely before storing it.
Regularly cleaning the Insignia ice maker and following a few tips for preventive maintenance can keep your appliance running smoothly, allowing you to enjoy quality ice.