How to Clean a Fridge Water Dispenser

Co-authored by Melanie Garcia and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: December 8, 2022 References

If you enjoy fresh, cold water dispensed straight from your fridge, you probably don’t think much about where it’s coming from. However, the dispenser itself has the potential to get dirty, building up an abundance of yeast, mold, and bacteria over time. Fortunately, there’s a super easy way to clean out the dispenser itself and the tray underneath it. Keep reading to learn how you can give your fridge a deep clean using products you probably already have on-hand.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Nozzle

1
Mix together water and dish soap in a glass. Pour about 2 drops of a grease-fighting dish soap into a bowl or a glass, then mix it with a splash of water. It might not seem like a lot, but your water dispenser is tiny, so you don’t need a ton of soap.^{[1]
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- If you don’t want to use dish soap, you can also mix equal parts warm water and white vinegar for a natural cleaner.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Melanie Garcia
  Professional House Cleaner
  Expert Interview. 10 October 2019.}
2
Dip a straw brush into the mixture. Straw brushes are small, metal brushes with a brush on the very end. Grab one of these and splash it into your water and soap mixture to really suds it up.^{[3]
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- You can find straw brushes at most home goods stores.
- If you don’t have a straw brush, use a clean pipe cleaner instead.
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3
Push the brush into the dispenser. Bring the straw brush over to your water dispenser and aim it at the dispensing hole. Gently push it into the dispenser, then work it up and down for about 10 to 15 seconds.^{[4]
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- You might see some grime on the straw brush, which is a good sign! If you take your straw brush out and it’s dirty, rinse it off and then use your soap mixture to give it a good scrubbing.
4
Let the water run until it turns clear. Turn your water dispenser on and let the soap run out into a glass. Keep running it for about 1 minute, or until the water turns clear, to flush out all the soap.^{[5]
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- If the outside of your water dispenser is dirty, wipe it down with a soapy paper towel.
5
Clean your dispenser once a month. A monthly cleaning keeps your dispenser in tip top shape, and it stops grimy buildup before it happens. Try to get on a schedule to clean your dispenser every 30 days or so.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Tray

1
Mix together equal parts of water and white vinegar. White vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that’s tough on germs.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Melanie Garcia
Professional House Cleaner
Expert Interview. 10 October 2019.} In a small bowl, mix together a 1:1 ratio of warm water and white vinegar.^{[8]
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Consumer Reports
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- For example, if you use 1 c (240 mL) of water, add 1 c (240 mL) of white vinegar.
2
Wipe down the tray with a paper towel. Dip the paper towel in your water-vinegar mixture until it’s damp. Use the mixture to wipe down the tray and the sides of your water dispenser to remove mineral buildup and residue.^{[9]
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- Vinegar has a strong smell, but it will disappear as it dries.
3
Soak the tray in water and vinegar if you need to. If wiping it down isn’t quite cutting it, remove the tray and fill up a large bowl with equal parts water and white vinegar. Let the tray soak for about 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water. Dry the tray with a towel before putting it back into the dispenser to reduce the chance of mold or mildew.^{[10]
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- If there’s any stuck-on grime that really won’t come off your tray, use a new toothbrush to scrub any hard-to-reach areas.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Water Line

1
Turn off your fridge and shut off the water supply. Unplug your fridge to turn off the power. Pull the fridge away from the wall and find the valve on the bottom of the fridge that controls the water supply. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water so it doesn’t leak out as you clean.^{[12]
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- The valve is usually near the bottom of the fridge on the right hand side.
2
Pour a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water down the water line. Pop the back of the fridge off to expose the wiring inside. Disconnect the water line, or the white tube, from the valve, but leave it connected to the water dispenser. Carefully pour a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar down the water line.^{[13]
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3
Wait for 10 minutes, then pour clean water into the water lines. The vinegar needs time to break down the lime deposits in the water line. After about 10 minutes, flush the system with a few cups of clean water.^{[14]
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- Vinegar also helps break down mold and mildew without using harsh chemicals.
4
Reconnect the water line and turn the fridge on. Screw the water line back onto the main valve to reconnect it to water. Plug your fridge back in and push it back into place before moving on.
- If you need to replace the filter in your water dispenser, now’s the time!
5
Run the water dispenser for about 5 minutes. There might still be a little bit of vinegar left in the water line. Keep running the water dispenser until the water runs clear or you no longer smell any vinegar.
- If you have an ice maker too, let the ice maker fill up with new ice, then discard that batch since it might be tainted with vinegar. After that, your ice should be clean and ready to use.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I get hard water off of a fridge dispenser?

Melanie Garcia
Professional House Cleaner
Melanie Garcia is the Co-Owner of Oranges & Lemons, a small, family cleaning business based in Downtown Los Angeles, California (DTLA) in operation for over 40 years. Oranges & Lemons operates while partnering with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Hand in Hand: Domestic Employers Network.

Melanie Garcia

Professional House Cleaner

Expert Answer

Fill a bag with vinegar and tie it to the end of the spout so it's submerged. Leave the bag there until the hard water stains break down.