To descale a GE Profile Opal nugget ice maker, add descaler to the empty reservoir, fill it to the MAX line with hot water at 100 to 120 °F, switch the machine to Clean and run the cycle. Drain the solution, then rinse three times with plain water before you make ice again. Do it monthly if your water is hard and quarterly if it's soft.
Hard water leaves calcium carbonate in the Opal's water lines and on the evaporator. You notice it as slower ice: cycles that took 6 to 8 minutes stretch to 15 or 20, the nuggets go cloudy, and the ice can taste metallic. Harsh descalers clear the scale but bring their own problem, because they corrode the Opal's sensors and set off false Add Water errors. A buffered citric acid dissolves the scale without that damage.
What you need
- A descaler. We make two, and both are made in the USA. The Opal Ice Maker Descaler (6 oz) is built around the Opal's Clean mode and gives up to 15 light cleans, about 6 standard cleans or 3 deep cleans per bottle.
- Or the Ice Maker Cleaner for GE Opal and Frigidaire (16 oz): 44% citric acid buffered with sodium citrate, 12 to 16 treatments per bottle, for countertop ice makers from 2 to 4 liters, including the Opal 1.0 and 2.0.
- Hot tap water at 100 to 120 °F. Warm, not boiling.
- A sink or bucket to drain into.
Steps
- Empty it. Throw out the ice in the bin and drain the reservoir completely. Your manual shows where your model drains.
- Measure the dose. With the 6 oz descaler, use the dose printed on the label for a light, standard or deep clean. (The bottle holds 12 tablespoons and is rated for about 6 standard cleans, so a standard clean works out to roughly 2 tablespoons.)
- Add descaler and hot water. Pour it into the empty reservoir and fill to MAX with hot water at 100 to 120 °F.
- Run the Clean cycle. Switch the Opal to Clean mode (the control is on the back) and start the cycle. Let it finish.
- Drain. Drain the solution completely. It may come out cloudy if there was a lot of scale.
- Rinse three times. Fill to MAX with plain water, run it through on Clean and drain. Do that three times in all. Skipped rinses are why some people get a sour first batch.
- Back to ice. Switch back to Ice, fill with fresh water and throw out the first batch.
For stubborn white spots, the 6 oz bottle's label includes soak directions.
Using the 16 oz cleaner instead? Its label is written for countertop ice makers in general. Use 2 tablespoons for a small reservoir, 3 for medium or 4 for large, fill to MAX with cold water, run the machine for 15 to 20 minutes and don't use that ice, then drain and rinse three times with fresh water.
How often to descale an Opal
Monthly on hard water, quarterly on soft or filtered water. Don't wait for the calendar if you see the signs: slower ice, cloudy nuggets or a metallic taste. At one descale a month, the 6 oz bottle lasts about six months of standard cleans and the 16 oz bottle lasts about a year.
What not to use
- Bleach or anything with chlorine. It doesn't remove scale, and it must never be mixed with an acid.
- Unbuffered strong acids. They corrode the Opal's sensors and trigger false Add Water errors. Our 16 oz cleaner uses a sodium citrate buffer to hold its working pH at 2.4 to 2.6, strong enough for scale and gentle on the electronics.
- Vinegar. It's weaker than citric acid on scale, and the taste carries into the ice for several batches.
Frequently asked questions
Which should I buy, the 6 oz or the 16 oz?
Both work in the Opal. The 6 oz is made around the Opal's Clean mode. The 16 oz goes further, at 12 to 16 treatments, and also fits other countertop ice makers from 2 to 4 liters, such as the Frigidaire EFIC, hOmeLabs, EUHOMY, Newair, Silonn, Crownful, Igloo and Magic Chef.
Does it work on the Opal 2.0?
Our 16 oz cleaner lists the Opal 1.0 and 2.0. The 6 oz descaler works with Opal models that have the rear Clean mode.
Why is my Opal ice cloudy?
Minerals. Scale in the water path and on the evaporator dulls the ice. Descaling clears it, and filtered water slows it from coming back.
What's in the descaler?
The 16 oz cleaner is 44% USP citric acid, 1% sodium citrate as a pH buffer and 55% distilled water, all FDA GRAS-listed. The 6 oz is a citric-based blend with no bleach, dyes, fragrance or ammonia. Both are made in the USA.
Will it void my GE warranty?
GE sets its own warranty terms. Our descalers are compatible products, not GE products, and GE's warranty doesn't cover them. Check your terms before you decide.
Products used in this guide
- Think Crucial Opal Ice Maker Descaler, up to 15 cleans, 6 oz
- Think Crucial Ice Maker Cleaner for GE Opal and Frigidaire, 16 oz
More guides: descaling guides by appliance.
GE®, GE Profile®, Opal®, Frigidaire® and the other brand names above are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe compatibility. Think Crucial is an independent manufacturer and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. Our descalers are compatible products, not OEM products, and are not covered by those manufacturers' warranties; using a non-OEM product may affect your warranty. Always follow your ice maker manufacturer's own cleaning instructions.