Hard water means descale monthly, minimum

If you’re on hard water, descale your countertop ice maker about once a month — every two weeks if the water is really hard or you run it daily.

Hard water is rough on these machines. Calcium and minerals build up fast inside the water lines and evaporation tray, and that scale kills performance, makes the ice cloudy, and eventually breaks the machine. If you wait until you see white crust, you’ve waited too long.

Use a citric acid solution or the manufacturer’s descaling product. A diluted vinegar rinse works in a pinch, but citric acid is cleaner and easier on the internal parts. Also, consider using filtered water to slow the buildup in the first place.

And here’s a good sign it’s time: the ice gets smaller, the cycle gets slower, or the ice smells faintly metallic.

Future ice shouldn’t taste like the inside of a kettle.