How to Clean and Disinfect Ice Trays

Co-authored by Brandon Beckwith and Amber Crain

Last Updated: June 28, 2022

Over time, ice cube trays get dirty and harbor germs. If your ice cubes have started to taste a little funny, it’s because they’ve absorbed the odors of frozen food in your freezer. You can get rid of both germs and absorbed odors easily by using either a vinegar or baking soda solution. Placing an open box of baking soda in your freezer can help to reduce odors and keep your ice tasting clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Baking Soda

1
Hold your ice trays under warm water. Turn on the warm water tap and hold the ice trays under the stream. This will remove loose debris from the trays and melt any ice or frost residue.^{[1]
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2
Make a cleaning solution with baking soda and warm water. Measure out two teaspoons of baking soda and ½ cup (60 mL) warm water. Dump them in a medium-sized bowl. Use a spoon the mix them together.^{[2]
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3
Pour the cleaning solution into the trays. Fill up each little cube section in your trays with the baking soda solution. Allow the trays to soak in the solution for a few minutes. Set any remaining solution aside; you may need to use more of it.^{[3]
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- If there's some sort of grease stuck in the trays, you can also spray some degreaser and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
- Another option is to spray an all-purpose disinfectant.
4
Scrub the trays with a clean washcloth. With the trays still filled with the solution, use a washcloth to scrub each cube section. Be sure to get down into the nooks and crannies. Use the washcloth to go over the plastic between and around the cube sections, as well.^{[4]
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5
Rinse the trays with hot water. Turn on your warm water tap and hold the trays underneath it to rinse away the baking soda solution. Keep rinsing until you no longer see any baking soda residue and the water runs clear.^{[5]
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6
Dry the trays. You can put them on a dish rack to dry, or simply use a clean cloth to dry them. Once the trays are dry, refill them with water and place them in your freezer as you normally would to make ice.^{[6]
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7
Place an open box of baking soda in your freezer. Ice trays (and the ice inside them) absorb odors from other items in your freezer over time. This often results in bad-tasting ice cubes. An open box of baking soda will soak up odors in your freezer and drastically reduce what your ice trays absorb.
- Replace the backing soda with a new box every 30 days for best results.
- Make sure all of the food in your freezer is packaged tightly to reduce odors.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Vinegar

1
Wash the trays in warm soapy water. Fill your sink with warm water and your usual dish detergent. Place the ice trays in the water. Use a cloth or sponge to scrub the trays to remove loose debris and any lingering ice residue. Rinse them thoroughly with clean warm water.
2
Fill a large bowl with vinegar and water. Measure out 1 cup (120 mL) of white vinegar and pour it into a very large bowl or bucket. Add a gallon of water to the container. Mix the solution with a spoon.
3
Submerge the ice trays in the solution. Push the trays down several times so that they’re completely submerged in the solution. Some ice trays may stubbornly continue to float. If this is happening to you, put something on top of the trays to weigh them down.
4
Allow the trays to soak for two to six hours. Once they’re submerged in the vinegar solution, let the trays soak for a minimum of two hours. You may want to put the bowl or bucket in a safe place where small children or pets can’t get into them.
5
Rinse the trays with clean water. Remove the trays from the vinegar solution. Dump the solution down your sink drain. Hold the trays under your faucet and rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
6
Dry the ice trays. Place them on your dish-drying rack, or you can wipe them dry with a clean towel. Don’t forget to dry the underside of the trays, as well. Once completely dry, refill them with clean water and freeze them as you normally would.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I use apple cider vinegar?

LillianneStarr

Community Answer

It's not as acidic as its 'classic' counterpart, so it is not recommended.