How To Clean a Blender So It’s Spotless

If you love smoothies, purees, or juices, your blender probably sees a lot of use. But how much cleaning does it see? Your blender delivers tasty smoothies every single time, but are you returning the favor by cleaning it properly? Stuck-on bits in your blender can ruin the flavor of your drinks and make you sick. A good, thorough cleaning is important to maintaining the appliance, and it prevents bacteria growth from food residue that gets stuck in the nooks and crannies at the bottom of the blender jar. Here are some tips for how to properly clean a blender.

Step 1: take the blender apart

The first thing to do is to take the blender apart from the base. Remove the lid and unscrew the bottom element. Now you should remove the gasket seal as well as the blade.

Step 2: wash the jar properly

Now the next thing that you need to do is to wash the jar properly. This is the part that requires the maximum cleaning. To wash it, use warm and soapy water and then take a dish rag or sponge to scrub it properly. Rinse the jar thoroughly and make sure you dry it completely. You can also wash the jar of the blender in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Step 3: wash the other small pieces of the blender

Now wash the other small pieces of the blender such as cutting blade, gasket seal and locking ring etc. For this, you can make use of warm soapy water but be careful of the sharp edges of the blade and other parts. Rinse all of them properly with clear water and then dry thoroughly.

Step 4: clean the motor housing

Now the next step involves cleaning of the motor housing. First, wipe the motor/base of the device using a damp and warm cloth. But remember that you must not submerge the base or motor in water completely. It is not safe to put the motor or base in the dishwasher as well. All you need to do with it is to wipe it down only. The cord too must be wiped down on a periodic basis and check it for damage once in a while.

Step 5: Reassemble the blender and store

Once you are done washing and drying the blender properly, you must reassemble it carefully. Check each part for any damage etc and if not, then store the appliance. Store it on either the countertop or any other location where it can be accessed easily. However if you do not use the blender on a regular basis, then you must store it somewhere it cannot be accessed easily.

Now that you know how to clean a blender, you must follow the steps given above on a regular basis so that no problem comes up.

HOW TO CLEAN A STAINED BLENDER

Foods like tomato, Indian spices and beetroot can take their toll on any blender but especially those with plastic jugs. Cloudiness can also be an issue, often caused by oily food residue.

So, to clean a stained blender, first, try the lemon trick above. If there are still stubborn stains, it’s time to add muscle power.

Unplug the base and remove the jug, then mix a 50/50 paste of baking soda and water. Take a long-handled brush or toothbrush and coat the interior of your jug with the paste. Leave it for an hour or so (it shouldn’t be allowed to dry), and then rinse off. Finally, put the jug back onto the base and plug it in. Pour in a couple of cups of warm water and add a cup of white wine vinegar before whizzing for 30 seconds or so. This final step will cut through any lingering residue and should leave you with a box-fresh blender jug.

HOW TO CLEAN A BLENDER THAT SMELLS

Ever lifted the lid on a supposedly clean blender only to be met by a pungent odor? One cause of this is storing your blender with the lid on, especially if it is still a little damp when you stash it away. Leaving the lid off or ajar when not in use will prevent trapped air inside from getting stale and smelly.

But certain foods, like garlic or onion, can also be problematic, even if the jug is left unlidded.

To clean a blender that smells, again, baking soda will save the day. This time patience is your friend. Sit the blender jug in the sink and fill almost to the top with warm water. Add one cup of baking soda and leave to soak overnight with the lid off, before washing normally. A squirt of lemon juice in the overnight mix will leave the jug smelling extra fresh.

HOW DO YOU DEEP CLEAN A BLENDER?

Deep cleaning a blender at least twice a year is recommended, but this very much depends on use.

While the self-cleaning method is excellent for day-to-day cleaning and will help prevent the build-up of food in unwanted places, it is important to undertake a more thorough cleaning periodically. Liquids can seep into joints, especially around the blade and lid seal, causing a gradual build-up of bacteria.

Most blenders have detachable cutter blades/cutter units that make the process a little easier. Be extremely careful when handling the blade unit. Read the instruction book to find out if some or all (non-electric) parts are dishwasher friendly – and at what temperature. If your blender isn’t dishwasher-friendly, and many are not, it’s just a case of washing each part in warm soapy water. Leave it to soak if there are any stubborn areas.

It’s important not to use abrasive cleaning pads, like Brillo pads for example, or granular cleaning agents, which can scratch the surface of any plastic parts.