the ice tastes weird or like plastic, even after running the clean cycle

Diagnosis

The "plastic" or chemical taste in the EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker is typically caused by off-gassing from the food-grade plastics and silicone tubing used in the internal water routing system. Because nugget ice machines use a flash-freezing process where water is frozen in a cylinder and then extruded, the water spends more time in contact with the internal plumbing than in a standard cube tray, allowing residual manufacturing oils or "new machine" odors to leach into the ice. Even after a standard self-cleaning cycle, these odors persist because the default cycle uses plain water, which is not an effective solvent for breaking down chemical residues. The taste is often concentrated in the first 5-10 batches of ice. You can confirm this is the issue if the water tastes fine coming out of your tap but the ice tastes distinctively like plastic or rubber. If the taste is "musty" rather than "plastic," it may be a biofilm buildup in the reservoir, but a chemical taste on a new unit is almost always material off-gassing.

How to Fix It

To neutralize the plastic taste, you must perform a chemical flush and a series of "purge batches" to clear the internal lines.

1. Empty the ice basket and drain all remaining water from the reservoir using the drain plug located at the bottom rear of the unit.
2. Fill the water reservoir to the "Max" line with warm water (approximately 100-110°F).
3. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the water. Stir gently with a clean spoon to ensure it is fully dissolved; undissolved granules can clog the small intake valves.
4. Press the "Clean" button to initiate the self-cleaning cycle. Let the machine run the full duration of the cycle.
5. Once the cycle finishes, drain the baking soda solution completely.
6. Refill the reservoir with fresh, filtered cold water.
7. Run the "Clean" cycle again using only fresh water to rinse out any remaining baking soda residue.
8. Set the machine to "Ice" mode and produce 4 full baskets of nugget ice. Do not consume this ice; discard it entirely. This process flushes the silicone tubing and the freezing cylinder.

If That Didn't Work

• White Vinegar Flush: If baking soda fails, use a solution of 1 part white distilled vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Fill the reservoir and run the self-clean cycle. The acetic acid in the vinegar breaks down manufacturing residues more aggressively than baking soda. Follow this with two fresh-water rinse cycles to remove the vinegar scent.
• Filter Upgrade: If you are using tap water, the plastic taste may be an interaction between your local chlorine levels and the machine's plastic components. Switch to bottled distilled water or a high-quality filtered pitcher for one week to see if the taste disappears.
• Air Dry Method: Unplug the machine and leave the lid open for 24-48 hours. This allows any remaining volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the plastic housing to dissipate into the air rather than leaching into the water.
• Deep Scrub: Use a soft brush and a mild dish soap solution to scrub the interior walls of the water reservoir and the ice basket. Sometimes a thin film of manufacturing lubricant remains on the surface of the plastic and must be physically scrubbed away.

Heads Up

• Avoid using harsh chemicals, bleach, or abrasive scouring pads inside the reservoir, as these can scratch the plastic and create microscopic grooves where bacteria and odors can hide.
• Always use filtered water. Hard water minerals can bond with the plastic residues, making the "chemical" taste more pronounced and leading to scale buildup on the cooling pins.
• Run the self-clean cycle once every two weeks regardless of taste; this prevents the buildup of biofilm which can mimic a "plastic" or "sour" flavor.
• Ensure the machine is placed in a well-ventilated area. If the unit overheats, the plastic components can warm up, increasing the rate of off-gassing into the ice.