Blenders are easy to clean immediately after use and significantly harder to clean once food has dried in the jar or around the blade assembly. The key rule: clean within minutes of use.
Immediate Rinse Method (After Every Use)
- Add warm water to the blender jar immediately after use — fill it about one-third
- Add a small drop of dish soap
- Replace the lid and blend on high for 30–60 seconds — the turbulence cleans the inside of the jar and the blade assembly
- Pour out the soapy water and rinse with clean water
- Allow to air dry with the lid off — a closed jar traps moisture
Vitamix Self-Clean Cycle
- Vitamix blenders have a self-clean setting that runs the motor at varying speeds — add warm water and a drop of dish soap, run the self-clean cycle, then rinse
- This handles 90% of cleaning without disassembly
Removing Dried Food
- Soak the jar in warm soapy water for 30 minutes to loosen dried residue
- Use a long-handled bottle brush to scrub the inside of the jar — do not put your hand near the blade
- For the blade assembly: use a small brush (a toothbrush works) to clean around the blade base where food accumulates
Disassembly for Deep Cleaning
- Most blender jars unscrew from the blade assembly for separate cleaning — check your model; some (like Vitamix) are designed not to be disassembled by the user
- For blenders with removable blades: clean the rubber gasket around the blade assembly carefully; this is a common mould growth site when not dried properly
- Allow all disassembled parts to dry completely before reassembling
Mineral Deposits (Vitamix)
- White mineral scale on the inside of the jar: blend a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar for 1 minute, then rinse — the acidity dissolves calcium deposits