after cleaning, my ice tastes like plastic or chemicals, how do i get the taste out?

Diagnosis

The plastic or chemical taste following a cleaning cycle in the Igloo Premium Self-Cleaning Ice Maker is typically caused by residual surfactants or acidic compounds trapped in the internal plumbing and the evaporator pins. Because this machine uses a closed-loop water circulation system, cleaning agents—especially commercial descalers or high-concentration white vinegar—can cling to the narrow diameter of the internal tubing and the crevices of the cooling coils. When the machine resumes the freezing cycle, these concentrated residues are sucked into the water flow, concentrating the chemical taste directly into the ice cubes. Furthermore, the "plastic" taste is often a result of "off-gassing" from the internal plastic components that occurs when the machine is run with hot water or strong chemicals during a cleaning cycle. This process can temporarily leach plasticizers from the seals and tubing, which then contaminate the first few batches of ice. To confirm this is the issue, smell the water remaining in the reservoir; if it smells neutral but the ice tastes chemical, the residue is trapped in the evaporator assembly rather than the tank.

How to Fix It

To fully purge the system and eliminate the chemical taste, you must perform a deep-flush sequence. A single rinse is rarely sufficient to clear the internal lines.

1. Empty the ice basket completely and wipe down the interior walls with a clean, damp microfiber cloth to remove any splashed cleaning solution.
2. Fill the water reservoir to the "MAX" line using filtered water. Avoid using distilled water for this specific process, as the minerals in filtered water help "push" the residues out of the tubing more effectively.
3. Turn the machine on and allow it to complete a full freeze cycle. Once the ice drops into the basket, discard the entire batch immediately. Do not use any of these cubes.
4. Repeat this process for a minimum of three full batches. This ensures that the water has circulated through the pump, through the evaporator pins, and back into the reservoir multiple times, scrubbing the interior walls of the plumbing.
5. Between the second and third batch, leave the water sitting in the reservoir for 30 minutes before starting the cycle. This allows any remaining chemical films to hydrate and loosen.
6. After the third batch, fill the reservoir one last time and run a "Self-Cleaning" cycle using only plain, filtered water to ensure the internal pump is flushed at a higher flow rate.
7. Discard the final batch of ice and perform a taste test on the fourth batch produced.

If That Didn't Work

• Baking Soda Neutralization: If you used a highly acidic descaler or vinegar, the taste may persist due to pH imbalance. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda into a full reservoir of warm water. Run the machine for one cycle, then perform two additional rinses with fresh water. The alkaline nature of the baking soda neutralizes the acidic residues.
• Deep-Clean the Water Inlet: Use a small, soft-bristled brush (like a pipe cleaner) to scrub the area where the water enters the cooling assembly. Sometimes a film of cleaning agent settles at the junction of the reservoir and the pump, continuously leaching into the water.
• Air-Dry Reset: Unplug the machine and leave the lid open for 24 hours. This allows any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) caused by the cleaning process to off-gas naturally from the plastic components, which often eliminates the "plastic" flavor.
• Filter Replacement: If you are using an external water filtration pitcher to fill the machine, replace the filter in that pitcher. Sometimes the chemical taste is actually a reaction between the cleaning agent and the minerals in your specific water source, which a fresh filter can mitigate.

Heads Up

• Never use bleach or harsh detergents in the Igloo Premium Ice Maker; these can degrade the silicone seals and permanently impart a chemical taste that cannot be rinsed out.
• Always use filtered water to prevent calcium buildup, which creates "pockets" where cleaning chemicals can hide and linger.
• Run a "maintenance rinse" once a month even if you aren't doing a full deep clean to prevent biofilm and chemical buildup.
• Ensure the machine is sitting on a level surface during the rinse cycles to ensure the pump is pulling water evenly from all corners of the reservoir.