Medfield Blogs!

Dispensing ice cubes into full cups of dark brown liquid is the most fool-proof way of making a mess around the water and ice dispenser on the refrigerator. When the point is reached where some cleaning is due, one quickly realizes that this is harder than it looks. The area with the most splatters is not very accessible. Time to take the thing apart …

Tools needed: 1 flat-head screwdriver

Time needed: 45 minutes

Make sure to disconnect the power cord before you start. If you get electrocuted, don’t blame this blog post.

Not made for easy cleaning

1. Remove the light bulb

Carefully unscrew the light bulb and put it in a safe place.

1: Remove the light bulb

2. Remove front panel cover

The first step is to remove the front panel that surrounds the dispenser opening. The front panel is snapped on a frame that is screwed onto the freezer door. In order to remove it, push down the bottom of the panel from inside the opening, while pulling one side away from the door. Do not use excessive force. If pushed down far enough, it will come off without breaking.

Push down the bottom while pulling on the side

3. Disconnect the front panel cover

The panel is connected to a wiring harness with a single plug. Use the screwdriver to unlock the connector and while gently pulling both ends apart. Hand the panel to your helper for cleaning.

Unlatch the plug with the screwdriver

4. Remove switch assembly

By removing the panel cover, we have not gained much in terms of access to the upper section of the dispenser compartment. We need to also remove the part that holds the switch for the water dispenser and the wiring harness. It is held in place by two screws that need to be removed in the next step.

Unscrew the switch assembly

5. Unscrew spring and nozzle

The part that is now loose could be disconnected from the wiring harness, but this would require that we damage the tape that holds the wires in place, and it is not really necessary. The inside can be cleaned by holding it up as shown in the next picture. In order to remove the levers that trigger the water and the ice dispenser, there are two more screws to take off.

Unscrew spring and nozzle

6. Remove water lever

Now that the spring leaf is removed that holds both levers in place, start with the water dispenser lever by tilting it out and downwards, and sliding it around the water nozzle.

Remove water lever

7. Remove door damper

Next, unclip the clear-plastic ice funnel from the ice lever. In order to remove the ice lever, the rubber boot of the ice door damper must be disconnected.

Remove the door damper

8. Remove ice lever

Now, open the ice door and carefully feed the ice lever around the door and the damper. This is as far as we need to go. Everything is now accessible and ready for cleaning.

: Ready for cleaning

Soak the plastic parts in a water-vinegar solution (1:1) to remove any lime that has built up. Clean the refrigerator with a wet sponge. Make sure to open the ice door and clean around the opening. When everything is clean, start reassembling the parts in reverse order.

9. Reinstall switch assembly

Make sure the top is aligned with the notches before fastening the screws, as shown below. Reconnect the wire to the panel cover, and press the cover firmly into place. Make sure that no wires are pinched.

Make sure the top sits correctly

10. Enjoy water from a clean refrigerator

Plug in the power cord, test the water and ice dispensers, and enjoy the sparkling new look of your refrigerator.

As good as new ...

How to clean the ice and water dispenser of a Whirlpool refrigerator (without braking it)