So last week my ice machine started making these weird clicking sounds. Figured it was time to clean the darn thing. I’ve used generic cleaner tablets before, but they felt kinda weak. Started searching online for something heavier duty and stumbled on Manitowoc's Ice 9405803 gallon cleaner.

The Skepticism Phase

First thing? Total sticker shock. I mean, a whole GALLON? Felt pricey upfront. Stared at my cart online for like five minutes, wondering if I’d regret this. "Is this gonna be just fancy water in a jug?" Thought maybe just buying more cheap tablets was smarter. But kept seeing people swear by the concentrate stuff being better value long-term. Fine, clicked buy. Held my breath.

The Unboxing & Mixing

Box arrives. It's HEAVY. Seriously felt like I ordered bricks. Opened it up - just this solid blue gallon jug. Directions are simple enough: mix with water. Found an old milk jug I saved (don’t judge, useful!). Poured some concentrate in. Smell hit me right away – strong, chemical-ish, but not awful. Cleaner smell, you know? Like it means business. Label says 1:12 ratio. Poured a cup of this blue juice into the jug, topped it off with water. Bam, got myself a cleaning solution.

Putting It to Work

Turned off the ice machine. Scooped out the ice bin. Followed the manual’s cleaning cycle steps. Poured that mix into the reservoir, flipped the switch. Saw blue liquid start pumping through. Left it to do its thing for 20 minutes. Watched a bit – bubbling slightly. Afterward, drained it out. Water looked... gross. Murky gray gunk. Felt kinda proud? Gave it a solid triple rinse with fresh water like they said.

The Value Test - Crunching Numbers

Okay, did it work? Heck yes. Clicking noise GONE. Ice looked clearer. But the real test for me was cost. Broke it down:

• The Gallon Cost: Yeah, upfront hurt.
• What’s Inside: That gallon makes TONS of solution. Like, 12 gallons diluted! Each cleaning took maybe half a gallon? So 24 cleans per jug?
• vs. Tablets: The cheap tablets cost per cleaning. Need like 2-3 per clean. Did the math for my usage (clean every 3 months). That big jug covers me for 6 YEARS!
• Secret Grocery Store Win: Saw the same cleaner at a restaurant supply store next week. Way cheaper than appliance places! Would’ve saved a few bucks knowing that. Bummer, but still.

Final Verdict - Worth the Splash?

Okay, here’s the honest take. Buying a whole gallon of ice machine cleaner feels ridiculous at first. Like, what on earth am I doing? But after using it? This stuff is LEGIT. Cleans way better than those wimpy tablets. Smells serious, works serious. And the cost per cleaning is pennies. Actual pennies.

Yeah, you gotta store a big jug. Juggled it a bit getting it off the porch. And that initial price tag makes you blink. But if your machine needs cleaning regularly? You’ll save a pile of cash buying the concentrate jug over time compared to constantly re-buying tablets or the pre-mix stuff. Took the plunge, did the work, crunched the numbers. This Manitowoc gallon cleaner? It’s a smart money-saver. Annoying to buy, awesome to own. This stuff is LEGIT.