How To Clean Portable Ice Maker with Lemon Juice
Things going south in your otherwise cool ice maker? Wipe away any bad smells and molds from your portable ice maker with lemon juice with this easy guide.
If you’re searching for how to clean portable ice maker with lemon juice, chances are your ice tastes funny. Portable ice makers need regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure they’re free from mold and mineral deposits and produce clean ice.
You don’t want you, your family or guests tasting unwanted flavors in their drinks (or getting sick), do you?
Luckily, portable ice makers can be cleaned in a number of ways. If you’re willing to go down the convenient, natural, and eco-friendly route, lemon juice is your best fit! We’ve probably all used lemon juice for cleaning one way or another… portable ice makers are no different.
So you can just follow our step by step guide on how to clean portable ice maker with lemon juice (click the link to take you right there) or let’s first look at this powerful citrus cleaner to keep your portable ice maker clean.
How Often Should I Clean My Portable Ice Maker With Lemon Juice?
Portable ice makers require frequent care because they’re holding still water for longer durations. If you want ice that tastes nothing less than fresh, it’s recommended to follow our step by step guide on how to clean portable ice maker with lemon juice.
I also want to point out that visible inspection can help you identify frequent cleaning needs more easily than any other way. So whenever you use your ice maker, keep an eye out for any buildup or changes within the reservoir or ice basket.
Personally, I clean my ice making machine at least monthly if used regularly and before putting the machine away if it will be stored.
Is Lemon Juice Safe for Cleaning Portable Ice Makers?
Yes, the good news is that you can safely use lemon juice to clean your portable ice maker. As a natural acid, lemon juice can break down mineral deposits and impurities that can accumulate inside the ice maker.
Lemon juice has been used as a cleaning agent since 90 BC. In fact, lemon juice is known for being a natural and environment-friendly cleaning agent.
It also has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that can easily kill bacteria, remove mold and mildew without destroying your appliance in the process.
It’s still important to understand the ratio of lemon juice you need to safely clean your portable ice maker, which we touch on further down.
How to Use Lemon Juice for Cleaning?
If you’re not willing to destroy the inside of your portable ice maker just yet, ensure you’re using the right ratio of lemon juice when cleaning it. The safest bet in this situation is diluting the lemon juice with water.
The recommended ratio is 1 part lemon juice to 3 parts water. This dilutes the lemon juice enough to prevent it from damaging the ice maker’s interior while still providing enough acidity to dissolve any mineral buildup.
For example, if you use half a cup of lemon juice, you need to add 1.5 cups of water. Alternatively, you can use store-bought lemon juice, but make sure it’s 100% natural and not diluted with other ingredients.
Step by Step: How to Clean Portable Ice Maker With Lemon Juice
Cleaning with lemon juice is easy, especially when it’s a portable ice maker! Here are the five easy steps on how to clean portable ice maker with lemon juice:
Step 1: Empty Your Portable Ice Maker
Before you start cleaning your portable ice maker with lemon juice, it’s important to unplug the machine and empty any remaining ice.
It’s best to place your portable ice maker in an open spot so you can access all sides clearly. This will prevent any electrical shocks or water damage to the machine.
Many portable ice makers come with removable ice baskets. So, you should also remove the ice basket and wash it separately with warm soapy water in the sink. Make sure not to use any harsh chemicals on the basket or scrub it with anything tough.
Step 2: Mix Lemon Juice With Water
Before you get started with actually cleaning the portable ice maker, it’s time to create the magic elixir. In a bowl, mix 1 part lemon juice with 3 parts of water to dilute the solution.
This ensures your solution isn’t too harsh on the ice maker and still acidic enough to clean any molds and mineral deposits.
Step 3: Pour the mixture into the Water Reservoir
With the diluted lemon juice mix in hand, pour it into the water reservoir of your ice maker. This is the same container that you pour water in for your regular ice-making.
Make sure your reservoir is filled to the brim, so don’t be shy about making more of the citrus cleaner if needed. This will allow the lemon juice mixture to circulate through the machine and clean all the internal parts.
Step 4: Run the Ice Maker
Now that you’ve filled the water reservoir with the lemon juice mixture, plug in the ice maker and turn it on. Allow it to run through one full cycle, which typically takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on your machine.
The entire process takes the lemon juice through all sections of the ice maker and ensures to clear any deposits that you can’t see or reach.
Plus, it doesn’t take too long to clean!
Keep in mind that some ice makers have their own cleaning cycles so double-check the instruction pamphlets for any extra instructions.
Step 5: Drain the Reservoir and Rinse
Once the ice maker completes a full cycle, unplug it and drain the water reservoir. After draining, you want to rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining lemon juice residue.
I highly recommend running 1 or 2 cycles of clean water to clean up any residue left. It saves you from tasting lemon juice in your ice batch.
Once you’re done with the interior cleaning, you should focus on wiping the exterior down as well. Use a clean and damp cloth to wipe the exterior gently so you don’t leave any scratches.
Bonus Step: Repeat if Necessary
After this entire cleaning process is complete, closely inspect your ice maker. You shouldn’t have any deposits or odor anymore but in case you do, repeat the entire process once more.
Typically, no ice maker would need more than 2 cleaning cycles since it’s already acidic enough to clear everything. Make a new batch of diluted lemon juice and run a cleaning cycle once more to ensure everything is clean as can be!
And with that, you now have a like-brand-new and clean ice maker, ready to make some lovely batches of ice.
Alternatives to Lemon Juice for Cleaning Ice Makers
While lemon juice is a popular and effective cleaning agent, you may want to explore other alternatives that are equally effective and readily available in your kitchen. Maybe you used all the lemons in those beautiful drinks your prepared earlier?
Here are some find-in-the-pantry natural alternatives to lemon juice for cleaning portable ice makers:
Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural and acidic cleaning agent that can remove mineral buildup and sanitize your portable ice maker.
Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and pour the solution into the water reservoir.
Run a cleaning cycle, and then rinse the machine with clean water.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a versatile cleaning agent that can remove stubborn stains and odors from your portable ice maker.
Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with warm water to form a paste. Use a soft cloth to apply the paste to the machine’s interior and scrub gently.
Rinse the machine with clean water.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural and effective disinfectant that can sanitize your portable ice maker.
Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and water and pour the solution into the water reservoir.
Run a cleaning cycle, and then rinse the machine with clean water.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is a natural cleaning agent that can remove mineral buildup and sanitize your portable ice maker.
Dissolve a tablespoon of citric acid in warm water and pour the solution into the water reservoir.
Run a cleaning cycle, and then rinse the machine with clean water.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your portable ice maker with lemon juice is an effective and natural way to remove mineral deposits, eliminate odors, and sanitize the machine. Having mineral deposits and mold can fester harmful bacteria and microorganisms, leading to gastric discomfort!
Thankfully, lemon juice comes to the rescue when it comes to cleaning appliances with ease. It’s conveniently available, has strong acidity to be a super cleaner, and can be done without a lot of preparation.
We hope that our guide on how to clean portable ice maker with lemon juice has been useful. Please let us know if you used lemon juice or one of the other alternatives, and how it went, in the comments below.