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Additionally, here are some tips for keeping your ice maker in top condition
Regular maintenance of your GE Profile Opal Ice Maker is crucial to ensure it produces delicious nugget ice and remains free from bacteria, mineral buildup, and other residues. GE advises sanitizing the ice maker with a bleach solution weekly, and descaling it using vinegar every few weeks to remove mineral deposits. Keep reading to discover how to sanitize, descale, and maintain a clean ice maker!
The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your GE Ice Maker
To sanitize your ice maker, fill the water reservoir with water and add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of bleach. Run the cleaning cycle afterward. For descaling, fill the reservoir with white vinegar and run the cleaning cycle three times. If you live in an area with hard water, descale your machine every 2-3 weeks.
Instructions
How to Sanitize Your GE Opal Ice Maker
Turn off the machine and install the water filter with the reservoir screen. Power off your ice maker, unplug it from the wall, and remove the ice bin to access the water reservoir. If you're using a water filter, take it out. Next, attach the screened intake cap to the water reservoir.
- If your ice maker has a side tank, just remove it while cleaning.
- If there's ice in the bin, transfer it to a bowl and place it in the freezer while you clean.
Disconnect the drain hoses and empty any water from the machine. Move the ice maker to the sink and locate the two drain hoses at the back. Detach the top of both hoses and lay them in the sink. Remove the plugs at the ends of the hoses to let any remaining water drain out.
- Alternatively, place a bowl or bucket underneath the machine and position the hoses inside to drain the water.
- Make sure the drain hoses are below the machine to use gravity to your advantage in draining the water.
Reconnect the hoses and fill the reservoir with water and 1 tsp of bleach. After draining the water, reattach the plugs and reconnect the drain hoses to the machine. Fill the water reservoir to the maximum line with water (approximately 5 cups or 1.2 liters). Then, add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of bleach.
- During the cleaning cycle, the bleach solution circulates through the machine to sanitize the components and remove any debris.
- You can either slide the ice bin back over the water reservoir or leave it off during cleaning.
- Note: You can use either regular tap water or distilled water for the cleaning process.
Power on the machine and start the cleaning cycle for your model. Plug the ice maker back in and switch it on. Then:
- If your model has a circular button on the front: Slide the switch on the back to “Cleaning.” When the button lights up yellow and begins pulsing, press it to initiate the cleaning cycle.
- If your model lacks a circular button on the front: Hold down the “Clean” button for 3 seconds. The cleaning cycle will start, and the “Cleaning” indicator will light up.
Drain the machine once the cleaning cycle has finished. For models with a front button, the light around the button will pulse to signal the end of the cycle. For models without a front button, the “Cleaning” indicator will turn off. Unhook the hoses, place them in your sink, remove the plugs, and let the bleach solution drain. Afterward, reattach the hoses.
- The cleaning cycle typically takes about 3 minutes for both models.
Fill the water reservoir with clean water and run the cleaning cycle again. To rinse out the bleach solution, fill the water reservoir with fresh water. Then, start the cleaning cycle once more by either pressing the circular button on the front or holding down the “Clean” button, depending on your model.
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If you have the model with a circular button on the front: The button’s light will divide into 4 quarters, and as the rinse cycle progresses, each quarter will get brighter.
Drain the machine and perform two more cleaning cycles with fresh water. Once the rinse cycle is complete, disconnect the hoses to drain the water, then reconnect them. Repeat the cleaning process twice more using fresh water each time to ensure the bleach solution is fully flushed out.
- You can rinse the machine more than 3 times if you feel it’s necessary.
- Be sure to drain the water from the machine after the final rinse cycle.
- If you have the model with a circular button on the front: Slide the switch at the back of your machine to “Ice” after the last rinse cycle.
How to Descale Your GE Opal Ice Maker
Turn off the ice maker and swap out the water filter for the reservoir screen. Power off the machine, unplug it, and remove the ice bin. If your machine uses a water filter, take it out and replace it with the screened intake cap in the water reservoir.
Disconnect the drain hoses and remove the water from your machine. Turn the ice maker around and locate the two drain hoses at the back. Disconnect them and place them in your sink or a bowl. Then, remove the cap to allow any excess water in the machine to drain out.
Reattach the hoses and fill the water reservoir with white vinegar. Replace the cap on the drain hoses and reconnect them to the machine. Next, fill the water reservoir up to the maximum line with white vinegar.
- Vinegar, made from acetic acid, is effective at breaking down limescale and other mineral deposits that build up in your machine. It also kills bacteria and mold.
- Alternatively, you can use GE’s cleaning solution to descale your machine.
Plug in your ice maker and begin the cleaning cycle for your model. Reconnect your machine to power and turn it on. Then, initiate the cleaning process depending on your model:
- If you have the model with a circular button on the front: Slide the switch on the back to “Cleaning.” Once the button glows yellow and starts pulsing, press it to start the cleaning cycle.
- If you have the model without a circular button on the front: Press and hold the “Clean” button on the front for 3 seconds. The “Cleaning” indicator will light up when the cycle begins.
Run the cleaning cycle two more times, then let the vinegar sit for 18 hours. The cleaning cycle takes about 3 minutes for both ice maker models. After it finishes, repeat the cleaning cycle two more times. Once the third cycle is complete, let the vinegar sit in the water reservoir for 18 hours.
- Allowing the vinegar to run through the machine and drain back into the reservoir helps to dissolve any mineral buildup. Repeating the process ensures thorough descaling.
- On models with the circular button, the light pulses to indicate the cycle is done. On other models, the “Cleaning” indicator will turn off.
Place a vinegar-soaked sponge in the ice chute overnight. While the vinegar is soaking in the machine, moisten a sponge or cloth with white vinegar and place it in the ice chute—the area where ice dispenses into the bin. Leave the sponge there overnight.
- This will help loosen and dissolve any mineral deposits in the ice chute.
Clean the sensors and walls with vinegar. While waiting, take a cloth dampened with white vinegar and wipe away any mineral deposits or grime from the water reservoir and ice bin. Start by gently cleaning the sensors on both sides of the ice chute, then proceed to wipe the walls of the reservoir.
- To remove any leftover vinegar, wipe the sensors and walls with a clean, damp cloth.
Remove the sponge and let the vinegar drain from your machine. Take out the vinegar-soaked sponge from the ice chute. Then, detach the drain hoses, place them in your sink, remove the plugs, and let the vinegar drain from the reservoir.
- Once the vinegar has drained, reattach the hoses to your machine.
Fill the water reservoir with water and initiate the cleaning cycle. To flush out the vinegar and any loosened debris, fill the water reservoir to the maximum fill line with fresh water. Then, start the cleaning cycle again by either pressing the circular button or holding down the “Clean” button on your machine.
Drain the machine and perform two more cleaning cycles with clean water. Once the cleaning cycle is finished, disconnect the hoses to drain the water, then reconnect them. Run the cleaning cycle two more times, using fresh water each time, to ensure that all vinegar is removed from the machine.
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If you have the model with a circular button on the front: Move the rear switch back to “Ice.”
How Frequently Should You Sanitize and Descale Your GE Opal Ice Maker?
Sanitize your ice maker every week. GE suggests sanitizing your machine with a bleach solution once a week. This helps eliminate bacteria and ensures that your ice remains fresh. Regular sanitizing also extends the life of your ice maker.
Descale your ice maker periodically, depending on water hardness. Water hardness refers to the mineral content in your local tap water, which can affect how quickly mineral buildup occurs inside your machine. Based on your water’s hardness, you may need to descale every few weeks or months.
- If your water is very hard (>10 grains per gallon (gpg)): Descale every 2 to 3 weeks.
- If your water is moderately hard (4-10 gpg): Descale every 1 to 2 months.
- If your water is soft (0-4 gpg): Descale every 2 to 4 months.
- Check your water’s hardness if you’re unsure whether your tap water is hard or soft.
- Tip: If you have hard water or prefer to descale less frequently, consider using distilled water in your ice maker. Distilled water has no minerals, making it gentler on your machine.
How to Keep Your GE Opal Ice Maker in Top Shape
Clean the ice bin with soapy water every week. Remove the ice bin, transfer any ice to a bowl, and place it in the freezer. Fill the sink with warm, soapy water and thoroughly clean both the inside and outside of the bin. Rinse well and dry with a clean cloth.
Wipe the drip tray daily. Water can build up in the drip tray beneath the machine, leading to mineral deposits. To prevent this, wipe down the tray with a dry cloth each day to remove excess water.
Clean the drip tray weekly with soapy water. Remove the drip tray from beneath your ice maker. Prepare a mixture of warm water and dish soap, then dip a cloth into the soapy solution. Wipe down both sides of the tray and rinse with clean water. Dry it off with a cloth when finished.
Wipe down the exterior of your ice maker weekly. Mix warm water with a little dish soap in a bowl. Dampen a soft cloth in the soapy solution, squeezing out any excess moisture, and use it to wipe the exterior of your machine. Finish by drying the surface with a dry cloth.
- If your ice maker features stainless steel parts, you can use a stainless steel cleaner and a soft cloth for a gleaming finish.
Clean the side tank with soapy water weekly. If your machine has a side tank, fill it with warm water and a little dish soap. Use a cloth or sponge to scrub both the interior and exterior of the tank. Don’t forget to clean the cap and valve using the same soapy solution. Rinse thoroughly once you’re done.
- If you spot mineral buildup inside the tank, mix 2 quarts (1.9 L) of water with 2 quarts (1.9 L) of vinegar and wipe the inside of the tank. Drain the solution through the tank’s drain hoses.
