Your ice maker needs a bath every six months

Clean your ice maker every six months if it’s a fridge unit, and every two to four weeks if it’s a countertop model with a standing reservoir.

The difference is water. A fridge ice maker stays cold enough that mold and slime grow slowly — six months is a reasonable interval. A countertop icemaker holds water in a reservoir at room temperature, which is basically a spa day for bacteria. If you use one of those daily, monthly cleaning is about right.

Don’t wait