Last Updated on June 4, 2022 by
You want to know how to clean Ikich ice maker if your ice develops a gross smell or taste, or comes out badly. Emptying multiple times with hot soapy water will not fix a dirty Ikich ice machine. So, how do you remedy the situation?
Clean Ikich ice maker with a mild cleaning solution. Disconnect the unit from the power source and start with the exterior. Remove and clean the ice storage and scoop. Wipe down the interior, fill the reservoir, unscrew and remove the water outlet cap to drain. You may use the self-clean mode for automatic cleaning.
An additional tip: consider using a light solution of sanitizer in a spray bottle after cleaning to spray throughout the unit. Allow the sanitizer to dry on every part. Bleach and vinegar can be quite harsh on the machine—avoid those.
Do you clean ice makers?
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) considers and regulates ice like any other food, irrespective of the shape or the source, so you want to give your ice machine the treatment you would give any other food unit like a dishwasher, etc.
Moreover, packaged ice is expected by the FDA’s regulation for Current Good Manufacturing Practices in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food to meet standards. This means that ice hygiene is a factor you must uphold.
Ice must be produced, held, and transported under clean, sanitary conditions. Even the ice machine operator, facility, and the water used must be safe and sanitary.
Meanwhile, FDA will not inspect small packaged ice producers, including retail stores, making and packaging ice directly for consumers. FDA does not inspect food service establishments responsible for ice for direct use for cooling food or drinks.
However, your food service establishment or retail food store is subject to regulation by state and local authorities.
How to clean Ikich ice maker
To clean an Ikich the manufacturer-recommended way, do the following:
Clean Ikich exterior
The trick is to begin with the exterior. When cleaning the exterior of your ikich ice machine, tick the following checklist:
- Unplug your ice maker from the power source to prevent possible electric shocks. If it was running, leave it to warm up to room temperature.
- Next, wipe the exterior of your Ikich ice machine using a mixture of mild soap and water. Avoid harsh chemicals/cleaning solutions or any abrasive cleaner to prevent corroding the parts.
- Rinse the exterior you just cleaned with water and use soft fabric to dry all surfaces.
Make sure you do not immerse this unit in water to avoid damaging the electrical components.
Clean the ice storage basket and scoop
The next components to clean are the ice storage basket and scoop. You would have to remove them for the cleaning. Note that these two components should be cleaned regularly to get rid of mineral deposits and spotting.
Do the following when cleaning the ice storage and scoop:
- First, take out the ice storage basket. Just pull it out and rinse using clean water. You will have to lift the basket a bit to be able to remove it.
- Get a mixture of mild soap and warm water for the cleaning. You can then add distilled vinegar or any of the recommended Ikich ice maker cleaning solutions recommended in this publication.
- Allow the vinegar or mild ice maker cleaning solution to soak until the mineral deposits loosen.
- Wash, rinse, and dry the ice storage basket.
- Finally, replace the ice storage basket by sliding it back into the reservoir.
- Repeat the steps above the ice scoop to have it cleaned properly.
Clean the interior of the Ikich ice maker
You would also be cleaning the water reservoir and interior of your Ikich ice maker in this step. However, make sure not to clean the metal fingers. We also assume that the unit is still unplugged and warmed up to room temperature. Do the following:
- Unscrew and take out the water outlet cap.
- Drain the water from the ice machine into a bucket or sink.
- Take out the ice storage basket, if you replaced it.
- Add clean water to the reservoir.
- Use a clean fabric to wipe down the reservoir sides.
- Allow the water to drain from the water outlet.
- Replace cap.
You would also use vinegar or a cleaning solution to remove tough deposits and minerals. If you spray the interior with a cleaning solution, allow some time for the dirt to loosen.
You also have to rinse the Ikich ice machine multiple times to get rid of the vinegar smell and taste. Just run a full ice cycle.
How do I use the self clean on my ice maker?
Ikich ice maker also has the self-clean mode, which is a convenient way to clean your Ikich ice machine.
You need to set the self-clean function in operation, especially when using your Ikich ice maker for the first time. If you have not used your Ikich ice maker in a while or you have seen signs that it is dirty, use this mode. You would typically find the
In most Ikich ice maker models, when the self clean mode is active, the “add water” and “power” indicator lights will stay on at the same time.
Do the following when running Ikich self clean mode to clean your ice unit:
Add water and cleaning solution
The first step is to add equal parts of water and vinegar (1:1) or a recommended cleaning solution to the reservoir of your Ikich ice machine.
Start self clean mode
Depending on your Ikich model, press the power button repeatedly for about 5 seconds to enable the self-clean mode. You should hear a beep sound when self-cleaning is activated.
When the self-clean mode is running, Ikich ice unit is filled and emptied. The pump will continue to feed water to the area of the unit making ice. This cycle should run 5 times.
After this cycle ends, Ikich’s self-clean mode will shut off on its own.
Drain the reservoir
After the cycle ends, drain the cleaning solution you added from the reservoir. Just remove the cap of the water cutlet for it to drain.
Run self clean again
After draining completely, add clean water to the maximum depth of the water level mark. Press the power button repeatedly for about 5 seconds to enable the self-clean mode again and rinse the unit.
This should eliminate the cleaning solution smell or taste from subsequent ice.
Drain the reservoir again
At the end of this self-cleaning process, the self clean will shut off automatically. Now, drain the water by removing the cap of the water outlet.
Finally, leave your Ikich ice maker open for some time for it to air dry at normal room temperature.
If the water is insufficient when self-clean is running, it will shut off. Simply, add more water and repeat to enable self clean again.
Meanwhile, you can also cancel self-clean mode by pressing and holding the power button for 5 seconds.
How often should you clean your ice maker?
It is recommended to clean your Ikich ice maker at least every 4-6 months to ensure efficient operation.
If using the Ikich ice machine for commercial purposes, Smart Care Equipment Solutions recommends cleaning it at least once every 6 months.
However, your cleaning frequency depends on your location, how often you make ice, the water you use, and even your Ikich model. As such, deep cleaning every 4 months is also advisable.
It is important to clean every area in the Ikich ice maker—from the interior, exterior, and compressor, to the storage bin and ice scoop. Make sure to always remove all the ice and turn off the machine before cleaning it.
It is advisable to use mild commercial ice maker cleaning solutions and sanitizer to clean and sanitize to get rid of mineral deposits.
The next section of this publication reviews specialized cleaners you should purchase to keep your ice machine cleaning. You also want to employ a significant maintenance culture to protect the unit, saving you time and money in the long run.
Best Ice maker cleaning solution
If you have difficulty deciding what cleaning solution to buy, this section spares you the stress. We have tested the following cleaning solutions on Ikich, and they work pretty well:
2 Pack Nu-Calgon 428734 Ice Machine Cleaner 16 oz bottles Nickel-safe
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Nu-Calgon is a nickel-safe ice maker cleaner formulated with citric/phosphoric food-grade products for removing limescale deposits from ice makers with nickel or tin-plated evaporators.
- Excellent for your nickel-plated/tin-plated Ikich ice maker
- USDA approved
- Made with the food-grade citric-phosphoric acid product to fight stubborn scale deposits in your ice maker.
Nu-Calgon does not leave harsh smells or tastes on the ice. All you have to do is rinse the ice maker a couple of times and get ready to enjoy clear ice.
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PurTru Store Ice Maker & Ice Machine Descaling & Cleaning Solution – All Natural and Nickel Safe Descaler & Cleaner For RCA, Scotsman, Manitowoc, Follet and All Countertop, Undercounter and Freestanding Machines
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We selected PurTru Store ice maker cleaning solution because:
It is green
A green cleaner with gentle results. It is 100% natural, so will not destroy your ice maker. It is also designed to protect against harmful toxic chemicals present in some ice machine cleaning and descaling solutions.
Nickel-safe
Safe on your nickel Ikich ice maker. It also has a mild odor and descales and cleans gently to preserve crucial mechanical parts.
Enhanced ice quality
This ice machine cleaner improves the taste of ice—gourmet, cube, nugget, flake, etc. used regularly.
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