How to Clean Your Fridge's Water Dispenser

If you’ve been following along with our articles for a while, you’ll know that we often bring up the importance of ensuring you change your fridge water filter on a regular schedule. However, a related topic we haven’t touched on yet is cleaning the water dispenser in your fridge as well. If it’s just dispensing filtered water, it shouldn’t be dirty, right? Unfortunately, that’s incorrect, and the results will likely disgust you. In this article we’ll help you determine if your water dispenser is overdue for a cleaning and walk you through the steps to thoroughly clean your fridge water dispenser and ice maker assembly.

How Often Should You Clean Your Fridge Water Dispenser?

We suggest deep cleaning your fridge water dispenser system by flushing the water lines every 3-6 months. That is conveniently the same time frame we recommend for changing out your fridge water filter, so you may as well tackle both tasks at the same time! Components like the drip tray and the dispenser nozzle should be wiped down more often, as part of your weekly or monthly kitchen cleaning routine. Any areas of your home that are in constant contact with water (like your shower and tubs, sinks, and laundry machines) require regular cleaning to prevent mold, mildew, and other bacteria from growing. Your fridge water dispenser is no exception. While you may not be able to see if your water dispenser is dirty, there will be symptoms.

Signs It’s Time to Clean the Dispenser

• Water Taste is Off: Even with fresh filtered water, the dispenser will build up with minerals, mold, and bacteria, which will impact the taste of your water. Regularly cleaning the dispenser will help prevent this buildup and keep your water tasting fresh.
• Slow Flow from Dispenser: When deposits build up in your water dispenser, it can cause the water to flow slowly into your glass. This can also occur if your water filter is well past its change-by date. Changing the filter and cleaning the dispenser should restore regular water pressure.
• Water Filter Light is On: Your fridge display will likely have an icon that informs you when it’s time to change your water filter. Stay on top of this routine maintenance task by having an OEM water filter delivered to your door every six months. When your new filter arrives, you’ll know it’s also time to clean the water dispenser.

How to Clean Your Fridge Water Dispenser

Just like replacing the water filter, cleaning the water dispenser is an easy DIY task that only requires a few supplies. A deep cleaning, which includes flushing the water lines, should be done every 3-6 months to help ensure your water tastes fresh.

Supplies Needed to Clean a Fridge Water Dispenser:

• Kitchen sink filled with warm water and dish soap, for soaking parts
• White vinegar
• Funnel
• Bucket or bowl for catching water
• Soft bristle brush or old toothbrush
• Paper towel or lint-free cloths

Steps to Deep Clean Your Fridge Water Dispenser

The steps provided below will provide a general overview of how to clean your fridge water dispenser. As always when we provide general how-to guides, your fridge’s make and model may not match the steps exactly. Be sure to refer to your owner’s manual to check for specific instructions or guidelines when it comes to cleaning your fridge.

1. Start by disconnecting the water supply to your fridge. The valve is typically found either under your kitchen sink, or at the back of your fridge. This may be a two-person job if you need to maneuver the fridge out of a cabinet or tight space.
2. Once the water supply is shut off, disconnect the water line at the back of the fridge so that the line can be flushed with vinegar.
3. Use a funnel to pour the vinegar into the water line, while pressing the water dispenser button on the front of the fridge, using a bucket or bowl to catch the liquid. Again, this may be a two-person job, as one pours the vinegar and the other dispenses.
4. Once you can smell the vinegar coming through the dispenser, let it sit in the lines for around 15 minutes so that it can break down any buildup or tackle any mold.
5. While the vinegar sits in the lines, scrub down the nozzle of the dispenser with a soft bristle brush or toothbrush soaked in vinegar.
6. At this point, removeable components like the drip tray can be hand-washed with warm soapy water in the sink. A clean drip tray won’t impact the taste of your water, but it can be susceptible to mold and mineral buildup.
7. After at least 15 minutes have passed, dispense the vinegar into your bowl or bucket. It’s possible that you may see black gunk or other debris coming through.
8. Reconnect the water supply and turn the water back on, then flush through your lines with clean water until you no longer smell the vinegar.
9. Wipe down all the exterior surfaces with a soft cloth, replace the drip tray, and your water dispenser should be squeaky clean!

How to Clean Your Fridge Ice Maker

Typically if your fridge has a water dispenser, it also has an ice maker. Cleaning the ice maker can be done at the same time, with only a few extra steps from the water dispenser cleaning process. This will help ensure your ice maker components are clean and your ice cubes are fresh tasting. If while cleaning, you notice that any components are damaged or no longer working, we can help you find OEM icemaker parts for your fridge.

1. Cleaning the ice maker will require you to turn off the water supply, and disconnect the water line from the back of the fridge. You can typically find the water supply valve either under your kitchen sink, or on the back of your fridge.
2. Once you’ve disconnected the water supply, turn off the ice maker, typically with a latch or switch. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine the exact method for turning off your ice maker.
3. Remove the ice bucket and discard the ice. The ice bucket can be hand-washed in the kitchen sink with warm soapy water, and then thoroughly dried before reinstalling. We suggest washing the drip tray at the same time.
4. Since the ice maker uses the same water supply line as the water dispenser, flushing the water lines with vinegar will help clean the ice maker too. This can be done by using a funnel to pour vinegar into the fridge water line, while pushing on the "dispense" button in order to run vinegar through the system to clear build up and bacteria. You will want to hold a bucket under the dispenser to catch the liquid.
5. Reconnect the water supply and turn the water back on, then flush through your lines with clean water until you no longer smell the vinegar. You will want to discard the first couple trays of ice in case they still contain vinegar.
6. When wiping down the exterior of your fridge, be sure to include the ice chute.

Weekly Maintenance for Your Fridge

When taking care of your regular kitchen cleaning, be sure to include these components of your fridge's water dispenser and ice maker. Keeping on top of these cleaning tasks will make the seasonal deep cleaning of the water dispenser much easier!

• Discard of expired food: Old, smelly food in the fridge can impact the taste of your water and ice, as the odors are absorbed. Clean out these items prior to your weekly grocery shop to make room for new products.
• Wipe out the drip tray: Carefully remove the drip tray from the water dispenser, and dump any water in the reservoir. Give it a wipe down and dry off with some paper towel, or if it has gotten slimy thoroughly clean it in the sink with warm soapy water before reinstalling it on your fridge.
• Wipe down the dispenser nozzle: A bit of paper towel soaked in vinegar or a disinfecting wipe can be used to quickly and effectively clean the water dispenser nozzle, and prevent mold or mildew from developing.
• Wipe down the dispenser touchpad: Using a lightly damp cloth, gently wipe down the touchpad for the water dispenser. You may want to place a glass under the dispenser in case any water or ice comes out in the process. Keeping the touchpad clean will help prevent any issues or buttons from sticking.

Keeping your water dispenser clean is essential for maintaining water quality, preventing buildup, and helping to extend the life of your fridge. With regular cleaning, you can reduce the risk of bacteria and mineral deposits while ensuring every glass tastes fresh. Best of all, the process is simple, affordable, and can be done at home with basic supplies. Making dispenser cleaning part of your fridge maintenance routine (along with changing water filters), will help ensure your water is always fresh and clean.