Refrigerator Water Line Cleaning

Dispensers and ice makers are among the notable features of modern-day refrigerators. They are instrumental in ensuring we access cold water or ice and hydrate easily, improving our quality of life. But to make sure you are hydrating safely, we need to use the right refrigerator filter for water. Choosing the best water filter for lead removal is essential for ensuring your drinking water is free from harmful contaminants. A high-quality filter designed specifically for lead removal can significantly improve the safety and taste of your water. Aside from that, refrigerator water line cleaning is vital. In fact, manufacturers often recommend regular cleaning to ensure the refrigerator remains in optimal functioning capabilities. To ensure the drinking water stays clean, you should clean your fridge water dispenser every three to six months.

This article focuses on how to clean refrigerator water lines, sharing why you should do it and the tools you need.

Why Do You Need to Clean Water Lines in a Fridge?

Just like any other appliance, leaving the lines uncleaned for prolonged periods may encourage the growth of bacteria and molds. Additionally, water that flows through our refrigerator’s line may be hard, meaning it has dissolved an excessive amount of minerals, especially magnesium and calcium. When hard water goes through the system, it leaves behind mineral deposits causing limescale. After some time, there will be a build-up, which hinders the flow rate and causes the contents in our glass to have an unpleasant taste.

Furthermore, maintaining clean fridge water lines positively impacts the longevity of your fridge, as you eliminate excess minerals that are notorious for damaging home appliances.

Tools You Need to Clean Your Refrigerator's Water Lines

Before we learn how to clean your refrigerator water line, there are a couple of tools you must have. They include:

• Cleaning cloth or rug
• Distilled white vinegar
• Bucket
• Funnel
• Screwdriver
• Small wrench
• Two clamps

How to Clean Your Refrigerator Water Line

Now that you have gathered all the tools you need, we're going to explain in depth how to flush refrigerator water line. Distilled white vinegar is an effective cleaning agent, and is safe for consumption if any remains in the line after flushing, making it the best solution for cleaning your fridge water dispenser.

Let’s delve into the specifics:

Shut off water

Before commencing the cleaning process, locate the shut-off valve. You will mostly find this valve behind the fridge. If you cannot, look for it in your basement or sometimes, under the kitchen sink. Also, remember to unplug your fridge from the socket. Since this is not a complex process and doesn’t take a long time, don’t worry about your stored food or other perishables.

Disconnect the water line

The water line disconnection process depends on the model and type of fridge you have. For some models, you will only need to twist and pull the line to detach it. However, in most cases, you will need a screwdriver as it involves removing the fridge’s lower screen and disengaging it from the components attached to it. You might also need a wrench for this. To avoid spillage, the line needs to be placed inside a bucket. Depress the dispenser’s lever just to make sure that all the water drains into the bucket.

Clean the dispenser and reservoir

If you also want to get rid of the dirt in the dispenser reservoir, this is when to do so. You will find it behind the crisper, and you might need to disassemble your fridge’s compartment - but this will depend on the model. Drain all the water and then sanitize it. To do this, you will need to rinse the reservoir with the vinegar solution. You can also soak a cloth in vinegar, wipe the dispenser, and allow both to dry. After drying, use soapy water to wash the reservoir and dispenser. You will then need to run clean water through them multiple times to ensure you completely get rid of the vinegar taste that may affect the water’s quality.

Note that the reason why we use vinegar in the cleansing process is that it contains acid that will eliminate bacteria and mold. It is also well known for its efficacy in breaking down mineral deposits, leaving the line clean and fresh.

Flush the refrigerator line

To ensure you achieve clean water lines in the fridge, you must flush them. Using a small funnel, slowly pour two to three cups of distilled white vinegar into the tube that leads to the water dispenser. Let the vinegar sit in the reservoir for five to ten minutes to thoroughly clean the system.

Rinse the lines

After the vinegar has sat for those minutes, it’s time to drain it. Remove the clamps, let the vinegar drain into a bucket, and turn on the valve. Once water flow is restored, allow it to flow through the system for a couple of minutes or until you are certain that all the vinegar had drained out. To be extra sure, hook the lines back to their rightful places and pour a few other glasses of water to flush the lines. After completing the cleaning and flushing process, ensure you thoroughly rinse the lines with water to remove all vinegar residues and avoid any lingering taste in your water.

Clean Other Surfaces

Now that you've cleaned the water line and dispenser nozzle, you'll want to ensure the rest of the area is also sanitary. Clean all surfaces surrounding the dispenser with a clean cloth that's been dipped in a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. Most in-door refrigerator water dispensers have a removable tray below to catch any water that may drip. Remove that tray and clean it in the sink. If there is extra build-up on it, you can leave it to soak in a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. Using the toothbrush or soft sponge, scrub it clean and allow it to fully dry before putting it back in place.

Once everything is clean and reinstalled, you'll be able to enjoy fresh, crisp water from your fridge again.

Additional Tips

Water dispensers can get hard water deposits that drip down the front of the refrigerator. There can be a temptation to scrub at these deposits, but you should refrain from doing this if you have a stainless steel refrigerator as it is likely to cause scratching. Instead, soak a paper towel in vinegar and plaster it onto the offending stains to dissolve them. Then, gently scrub them off with a microfiber towel or the scrubby back of a non-scratch kitchen sponge, rubbing with the direction of the metal grain.

Conclusion

We hope that you understood in depth how to clean fridge water lines. As part of routine maintenance, also make sure you switch refrigerator filters twice every year or more, depending on your usage and pollutants in your water. This will make sure you hydrate with pure contents throughout, protecting your family from avoidable illnesses.

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