How To Deep Clean Your Blender

If you regularly make smoothies for breakfast or prepare soups or sauces for dinner, your blender likely does a lot of the work during the day. Cleaning and drying the blender jar thoroughly after each use is important to ensure it stays clean and runs well. But doing a deeper cleaning is necessary every so often. Like any appliance, sometimes you have to take apart the blender (if/when possible based on style and brand) to give each piece a good scrub down as food can build-up in the crevices and start producing bacteria growth. Thankfully, deep cleaning a blender is relatively simple but it does require a few extra steps and time.

How Often Should You Deep-Clean The Blender?

The frequency you use your blender will determine how often you should deep clean. “Every few weeks should do the trick,” says Leanne Stapf, COO of The Cleaning Authority. “If you don’t use your blender that often, you can likely span it out further – however, you may want to give it a quick wipe so that dust does not accumulate.” However, if you use your blender daily, Tonya Harris, award-winning toxin expert and author of The Slightly Greener Method recommends, “deep clean after every 3-4 uses, or once a week, if it’s used daily or almost daily.” And if you’ve blended up something that is tricky to clean, taking apart some of the pieces to reach those nooks and crannies will save you time in the long run.

Why Deep-Clean?

Just like any kitchen appliance, occasionally cleaning the blender more thoroughly is important to ensure the blender runs efficiently and all the parts are in good working order. “Periodically deep- cleaning your blenders will not only help extend the lifespan of the appliance, but will also get rid of any built-on food residue,” says Stapf.

And there’s another factor: mold. If any part of the blender isn’t completely dry before putting it back in the cupboard or on the kitchen counter, bacteria and mold may start taking up residence. “Without regular cleaning and drying, these molds can spread throughout the entire device over time, from the blades to even inaccessible parts such as inside of crevices,” says Harris. “Debris and residue that builds up can eventually accumulate and affect the gasket and the blades, decreasing the efficiency of the blender. This can result in an unpleasant smell and a discolored appearance - and health risks if the mold is ingested.”

What Cleaning Mixture Should You Use?

Harris opts for a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water. “The baking soda helps 'scrub' and remove difficult debris, and vinegar helps to break down grime and foggy areas,” says Harris. “The combination of these two ingredients help remove lingering odors, and they also cause a fizzing/foaming action that further helps breakdown grime and residue.” 

If you’ve wondered what’s going on after washing and air-drying and you still notice odors, this is normal. That’s because food can build up or sneak into crevices within the gasket, seal, or blades. It’s not uncommon for there to be odors in a blender even after a normal washing. Harris has a trick: “For lingering scents, cut up a lemon, add about a half-cup of warm water, and blend for 20-30 seconds, then dump and rinse.” Another option for smells that just won’t quite go away is to “use baking soda mixed with warm water and blend the mixture together for a few minutes,” says Stapf.

Step-By-Step Guide For Cleaning A Blender

Tonya Harris shares her best advice for how to clean your blender the right way:

1. Before you get started, unplug your blender and remove any attachments.
2. Disassemble all removable pieces, including the lid, container, blades, and rubber gasket (each blender is different - some blades are removable, while some are attached to the base, and some lids have an extra removable piece).
3. Submerge the lid, gasket, and blades (use extreme caution when working with blades!) in warm water with dish soap for about 10 minutes before deep-cleaning the canister.
4. While those parts are soaking, use a soft towel or paper towel and warm, soapy water to wipe down the base of the blender, concentrating on any visible residue.
5. Carefully remove and rinse the blender parts that were soaking, and re-assemble them.
6. Fill the blender jar up halfway with hot water combined with 3/4 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda.
7. Put the lid back on, blend for 20-30 seconds, then dump the mixture into the sink.
8. Empty out whatever remains inside the jar then rinse thoroughly by running hot water over every single area several times; this should remove any remaining traces of vinegar solution or debris.
9. Disassemble the pieces, removing the gasket, blades (if detachable), and lid, and gently pat dry, then let them air dry before reassembling.