You may love your blender, but if you don’t clean it properly, it can start growing mold and other things you’d rather not think about. A blender has detachable parts to give you access to all its nooks and crannies. We have three different methods to help you clean and maintain the blender, so you’ll be making delicious smoothies and soups for years to come.
How to Clean a Blender: 3 Simple Processes
- The Quick Clean Method
- Hand Wash Method
- Dishwasher Method
Before you jump to any of the methods, get familiar with the parts of your blender, including the base, cup, lid, blades, lid plug, and gasket seal.
The Quick Clean Method
The quick clean method works well when you’re short on time or after liquid recipes like smoothies, soups, and pasta sauce. It’s also the only method in which you leave the base plugged in.
- Put one cup of warm water and a few drops of dish soap into the cup.
- Secure the lid.
- Blend on low for 30 seconds. You can increase the speed to raise the water level and access all interior parts of the blender.
- Take the cup off of the blender, and pour out the water and soap into a sink, letting it run down the outside of the cup.
- Rinse or scrub the outside of the cup to remove any food or debris.
- Rinse thoroughly and air dry.
- Wipe down the blender base with a clean cloth or sponge that’s been dipped in warm water and soap.
This method may not work after every recipe. Anything that uses flour or other dry ingredients may get stuck and need a little extra scrubbing. Bits of food may get caught in areas that the water misses. You might have to scrub any parts that didn’t come clean. You can add more water to make sure to get food off of the lid, or you can hand wash the lid.
Hand Wash Method
Sometimes a good hand washing is what the blender needs because you can reach the gasket seal and other places that the quick clean method may miss.
- Detach the cup, lid, and blades from the base, and take them apart.
- Soak the cup, lid, and blades in hot, soapy water.
- Use a scrub brush, sponge, or dishcloth to clean the cup and lid. If the lid has a lid plug, open or remove it to clean any of the sealed areas.
- Carefully scrub the blades outside of the water so you can see where each blade is. Sharp blades can easily cut your fingers, so be slow and methodical as you wipe over and under each blade.
- Rinse each part.
- Let them all thoroughly air dry before putting them away.
Wipe down the base with a damp cloth to remove anything that might have dribbled down the side of the cup. Keep an eye out for buildup. Buildup can come from missed food or from hard water. If you notice a white film covering any part of the blender, use equal parts of white vinegar or lemon juice with water to soak and clean it off.
Dishwasher Method
Many of today’s blenders have components that are dishwasher safe. Check the owner’s manual, so you know which ones work and where you can place them in the dishwasher. It’s usually the blender jar, lid, and blades. The gasket seal might also be dishwasher safe. Most of the time, the blender’s parts need to go on the top rack to protect them from the hottest temperatures.
Make sure to rinse food off before loading the blender into the dishwasher. Keep the blades away from anything that might scratch or nick them. It might go without saying, but we feel like we should say it anyway—do not place the blender base in the dishwasher. It can ruin the electrical components. Always wipe it down with water and soap.
Other Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Your Blender
- Wash the blender as soon as you’re done using it. If you leave it dirty for too long, the food and ingredients may dry on, making the blender harder to clean.
- Never wash the blades when they’re submerged under water because it’s harder to see what you’re doing, and you might cut yourself.
- Consider hand washing the cup even if it is dishwasher safe. High temperatures and dish detergents can sometimes discolor the plastics used in the blender cup. It can also get scratched or nicked in the dishwasher.
- Food tends to hide around the gasket seal, a small rubber ring between the base of the cup and the blades. Check it frequently, and use a Q-tip to clean out any trapped food.
FAQs
How do I get odors out of my blender?
The plastics used to make blender cups can sometimes absorb odors, especially when exposed to acidic foods like tomatoes. When using the quick cleaning method, add lemon juice instead of dish soap. Lemon neutralizes odors. Another option is to soak the cup in hot soapy water overnight. Rinse off the cup after either cleaning method.
How often should I clean my blender?
Clean the blender every time you use it. Sometimes you may be able to use the quick clean method without doing any extra scrubbing. However, take the blender apart and check the gasket at least every other time you use it to make sure liquids haven’t leaked and food hasn’t gotten caught.
How do I get out tough stains?
Some foods can stain the blender. If that’s the case, make a cleaning paste out of lemon and baking soda or white vinegar and baking soda. Both neutralize odors, kill bacteria, and when combined with baking soda, offer enough grit to remove most stains.
A Final Note
Cleaning the blender isn’t a hard task, nor will it take long when you get used to it. Now that you know the parts, where to look for food buildup and a few different ways to keep it clean and wash it, you can enjoy a morning smoothie every day.
