One thing about ice cubes in the freezer, sometimes they can get some of the gross smells or tastes that are from other items that aren't so fresh anymore. It can also have other things spill on the ice cubes, adding to the ice cubes whatever unwanted substance spilled. The way to prevent this and keep your ice cubes clean and purely water is having a cover on them. I love this. My Mom is so conscious of germs and doing what she can to prevent them ending up in her food and her life in general. She won't use any ice trays without a cover after being spoiled with these. It is worth it's weight in gold, as far as I am concerned.