No one likes to eat or drink out of a dirty dish, but sometimes our appliances are challenging to clean. Things like blenders, which have sharp blades to be mindful of, often get overlooked. If you have a dishwasher, you hope that the powerful jets take care of the nooks and crannies for you, but even that isn’t always the case.
Some blenders come with various extras, like the Blendtec jar, that make blending smoothies and other yummy treats a breeze. Yet, eventually, the residue of fruits, veggies, and liquids gets caked onto the edges. Without digging in and chancing a run-in with the blades, getting those inner parts squeaky clean can be a challenge.
However, you don’t need to have muscle power and scrub for long periods to get your blender looking brand-new. Just follow these 9 simple steps to a sanitized and sparkling blender, no matter how old it is!
Warning: Avoid the Dishwasher
Even if your blender says it is dishwasher safe, be cautious about putting those sharp parts inside the appliance. The extremely high temperatures of the water, the drying cycle, and the detergent you use to wash the other dishes can cause long-term damage to blender blades and plastic.
Regularly washing your blender in the dishwasher can shorten its lifespan, forcing you to buy another one before you need to. It can also dull the blades, making blending the ingredients to make your favorite recipes harder. Yes, there are some parts that can go in the dishwasher safely, such as the lid, but check the manufacturer’s instruction manual first, and never use scorching temperatures to wash blades.
9 No-Scrub Cleaning Steps
If you want your blender to last as long as possible, always clean it immediately after use. Food debris, especially sticky or thick ingredients like peanut butter, honey, or oils, can be stubborn, and the longer they sit on your blender parts, the more difficult it becomes to remove them. Other problem ingredients include those prone to staining, such as berries and acidic foods. While you might not be blending spaghetti sauce in your daily routine, you should still remove the final product as soon as it’s finished blending. Then, you can start cleaning the pieces using the following steps:
1. Use hot water. Let the tap run long enough to get the water hot, or use already heated water, and fill the blender about halfway. Note: This water should not boil, as it can warp the blender.
2. Add soap. Sprinkle a couple of drops of your preferred dish soap into the water. Alternatively, you can use your favorite organic cleansers, such as salt, white vinegar, lemon juice, or corn starch. We don’t recommend using bleach as your cleaning agent as it can be hazardous to your health and damage the blender.
3. Tighten the lid and turn the blender on. With your partially full blender and the top closed tightly, press the power button to run on high. Let the water and soap mixture blend for about one minute.
4. Empty the leftover water. After the soap and water have done their job, you shouldn’t see most of the residual food is no longer on the sides of the blender. If there’s still any debris left, keep running the blender. Once the food is mostly gone, remove the lid from the blender and dump the liquid contents down the sink.
5. Rinse well. Using warm water in the sink, rinse the blender thoroughly. Use the pressure from the sink jets to remove any extra food still hanging around on the edges.
6. Deep clean as necessary. If any stubborn particles are on the blades or blender, use a washcloth or a sponge to remove them. Avoid using any kind of metal scrubbers so your blender isn’t scratched.
7. Fill partway again. Once you’ve removed any particles from the blender blades and sides, fill the container halfway again with warm water.
8. Blend one more time. Place the lid back on the blender and return it to the base. Set it to blend on high for one more minute, this time without soap.
9. Rinse and dry. The second blending routine should have removed any microorganisms that weren’t taken care of with the soap and water rinse. Now, you can rinse the appliance and set it upside down to dry on a clean drying mat.
Extra Tips For Cleaning Blenders
Like with anything you need to clean, keeping up with your blender is easier than waiting for it to be too dirty to use and doing a deep clean. You never want to use a scrubber with your hands around the blades, as that can cut and damage your knuckles and hands. However, tall blenders can be challenging to clean, so consider investing in a sponge with a long handle for those stubborn particles that resist your regular 9-step rinses.
What about blenders with cleaning presets? These functions work similarly to the 9-step cleaning steps we’ve listed above. The difference is that the presets likely use a pulse function and high-speed blending without soap or cleaning agents. The best method to incorporate is to use the 9 steps but click the preset cleaning when it’s time to turn the blender on, as in steps 3 and 8.
The thicker and stickier the foods you’re blending, the more effort you’ll need to put into cleaning the blender. Eventually, you may need to scrub, depending on the ingredients you’re using that day and how clean the blender was before blending your recipe.
Ultimately, cleaning your blender is a combination of safety and sanitization. When it’s time for a deep clean, it’s wise to remove the blades from the carafe and other parts and clean those blades one at a time carefully using a sponge. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this step, as blender blades can be extremely sharp and dangerous.
In the meantime, you should be able to safely and satisfactorily use these 9 steps to keep your blender in prime shape between the blade deep cleanings, no scrubbing necessary!
