How to Clean a Blender

How to Clean a Blender: Different Ways to Do It

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

When cleaning a blender, it can be difficult to wash around the blades safely if you don’t know the best cleaning methods. While you may think the dishwasher or washing by hand is the only option, you may be surprised to learn that there are several other ways to clean a dirty blender, some of which are easier and faster than others. This article will teach you how to clean a blender using four different methods.

Whether you are looking for a regular cleaning process, need to remove cloudiness, odours, or your blender requires a deep clean, you have come to the right place. Please keep reading to learn how to care for your blender by keeping it sparkling clean at all times.

Getting Started

Before we go through the different methods, let’s first look at the concerns many people have when cleaning their blenders.

Is Cleaning a Blender Difficult?

If you have ever thought about using your blender but ultimately decided not to because you don’t feel like cleaning the blades and different parts when you are done, you are not alone. For the most part, putting your blender jar in the dishwasher is not recommended as it can dull the blade or blades. The dishwasher also takes a long time to clean, so it is not nearly as efficient as you would like.

Often, people think of cleaning their blenders as a difficult task. Fortunately, there is more than one way to clean your blender, and some methods are surprisingly easy. One simple and obvious hack is to clean the blender when the mess is still fresh. This job is often completed within only a few minutes.

What Will You Need?

For the most part, you will only need dish soap with hot or warm water to clean your dirty blender. However, if you have not given your blender a deep clean in a while, or if your blender has any persistent dirt or odour of any kind, you will need a few more supplies to get the job done.

For a more thorough clean of the blender jar, you will also need the following:

  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Lemon
  • Sponge or clean towel
  • Dish soap
  • Hot or warm water.

To deep clean, your entire blender, add rubbing alcohol, Q-tips, and vegetable or olive oil to your list of ingredients.

How to Keep Your Blender Clean: 4 Easy Methods

There are four different ways to clean your blender. Let’s take a look at each of them below.

Method 1: Quick and Easy Basic Cleaning

If you are looking to clean your blender after using it, this is our preferred method. All it requires is a little bit of dish soap and hot water. Aside from being super easy, the best part about this method is that you do not have to handle or manually clean the sharp blade.

  • Fill your blender jar halfway with hot water. You can use water from the tap or your boiled kettle for a little extra cleaning power.
  • Add a couple of drops of dish soap to the water – a small amount goes a long way.
  • Put the lid on the blender jar and hold it in place.
  • Please turn on the blender and run it for about 10 to 30 seconds.
  • Pour out the soapy water solution and rinse thoroughly with hot water, and you are done!

Pro tip: Clean the blender jar as soon as you empty the contents while the mess is fresh. Cleaning the blender before any food particles get a chance to stick on will make washing it out much easier.

Method 2: Cleaning Stuck on Food and Residue

This cleaning option adds an extra layer or two of cleaning power to the previous water and soap method if you need to clean stubborn, dried-on food particles, residue, cloudiness, or a smelly blender jar. You probably won’t need to do this option after every use, but it can be useful from time to time.

  • Start by adding equal parts baking soda and hot water to the blender jar and replace the lid. With a typical blender, one cup of baking soda and one cup of water should suffice.
  • Blend for 30 seconds.
  • Dump the mixture and rinse with warm water.
  • Add coarsely chopped lemon and white vinegar to the container and blend for 30 seconds to remove odours or cloudiness on your blender jar.
  • Dump the mixture and rinse with warm water.
  • To finish cleaning the blender, use the warm water and dish soap method listed above, and you are all set.

Method 3: Soak Overnight and Scrub

If the above option doesn’t provide you with the results you want and your blender container is still looking a bit dull, cloudy, or has a smell, we recommend you soak and manually scrub the jar. This method requires a bit more effort and takes a bit longer, but it provides excellent results.

  • Fill the blender jar with one cup of white vinegar and one cup of warm water.
  • Allow the liquid to soak overnight, or at least for a few hours.
  • Pour out the liquid and use a sponge or scrub brush to scrub the inside of the jar. Please do not use an abrasive sponge on a plastic container as it could permanently scratch the interior, which makes it even harder to clean in the future.
  • Next, rinse the blender container with warm water. Scrub again, if needed.
  • To finish up, use the soapy water blender cleaning method above, and you should have a sparkly clean blender.

Method 4: Deep Cleaning

This final cleaning method is designed to help you reach and clean all of the nooks and crannies surrounding the blades, jar, and motor housing.

  • Start by unplugging your blender. You will be handling the blades with this option, so unlike the other methods, you will need to ensure the machine is completely disconnected from its power source before moving on.
  • Next, you will want to take the blender apart. Unscrew the base of the container and separate the blades and rubber gasket from the jar. Typically, the blades will be attached to the screw-off base.
  • Carefully clean the blades with soap and water. Take special care no to cut yourself while washing in between each blade.
  • Remove any buildup from around and under the rubber ring using soapy water. You may want to try soaking the gasket for about 10 to 15 minutes to remove any discolouration and get it as clean as possible.
  • When the gasket is clean, use a Q-tip or finger to rub a small amount of vegetable or olive oil into the gasket rubber. This will help to keep it pliable and will provide you with a better, longer-lasting seal.
  • Wipe down the motor housing base with a damp cloth or sponge to remove any stuck-on food or residue.
  • Use a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to get into crevices and cracks around the buttons on the motor housing. Food particles tend to build up in these areas, so you may need to use several Q-tips. Fortunately, the rubbing alcohol will evaporate quickly, and the smell should naturally dissipate as well.
  • Allow all of the blender components to air dry completely, reassemble the parts, and your blender should be ready to go.

Other Considerations

You should also look into other considerations, depending on the type of blender you have and how often you use it.

How Often Should You Deep Clean a Blender?

Deep cleaning your blender is an important part of blender care that can help to keep it running smoothly. So, how do you know when regular cleaning is not enough, and it is time for your blender to undergo a deep clean?

How often you need to deep clean your blender depends on how often you use it. However, there are a few telltale signs that will alert you to the need for deep cleaning:

  • Buildup on the motor housing or on and around the control buttons will alert you that cleaning only the jar is not enough.
  • If your blender jar is not made of glass, it is not uncommon to develop a dull or cloudy appearance after extended use. We recommend a deeper cleaning to get the jar back to its original state if you see this developing.
  • If your blender jar develops a smell, it is a sure sign it is time for a deep clean.

If you use your blender daily, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend deep cleaning your blender every couple of weeks or once a month to keep it in top shape for years to come. Don’t worry, though, as we learned deep cleaning your blender doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort, especially if you do it frequently.

What Can Damage a Blender?

Blenders can chop through just about anything you put in them, but some ingredients can be bad for your blender’s blades and container. Avoid putting the following ingredients in your blender if you want to prevent scratches and chips that could damage the components and make your blender more difficult to clean.

  • Hot foods should be avoided. Steam from hot food inside your blender creates pressure and can be dangerous, as well as seriously messy.
  • Bones can dull or break the blades and can also chip, scratch, or crack the container. Make sure to remove any bones from fish or meat before blending.
  • Spices do not blend well and can also get stuck in the crevices around the blades. This can prohibit the blades from functioning properly.

Be mindful of how often you use your blender. Remember, although a blender is recommended, there are other ways you can blend food. For instance, you can make sauces or milkshakes without using a blender or food processor.

Keep Your Blender Clean

After reading through this article on how to clean a blender, we hope that washing your blender has never seemed easier, especially if you wash it while the mess is fresh. Just remember to stay on top of your blender’s cleanliness, and for the most part, you should be able to wash it without taking it apart or handling the blades at all.

Let us know what you think and how your cleaning task went in the comments below.

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