Morgan Reed — Contributing Writer

Blenders are a kitchen staple beloved by many: from morning smoothies to hearty soups, they whip up delicious treats in seconds. Yet, many dread the cleanup that follows. If you don’t clean your blender properly, you can end up with lingering odors, stains, degraded performance—and even health risks. In this article, we’ll explore how to clean your blender the right way, ensuring your appliance stays hygienic, efficient, and ready for action. By applying these steps, you’ll extend your blender’s life and make the cleaning process far less of a chore.

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1. Why Proper Blender Cleaning Matters

It’s not just about keeping things looking nice. When food residue builds up inside your blender jar, around the blades, or under the seal, you create a breeding ground for bacteria—especially if you frequently blend raw ingredients (like greens, nuts, or protein powders). According to food-safety experts, such buildup can lead to contamination and bad odors if not removed properly. Well and Good+1

In addition, old food particles and grease can dull the blades, cloud the jar, slow the motor, and reduce blending efficiency. A properly cleaned blender ensures that your smoothie doesn’t taste like last night’s garlic sauce and that your soups are truly smooth. High Speed Training Limited

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2. Why You Should Never Manually Scrub the Blades

It’s tempting to grab a sponge or scrub brush and clean the blades by hand—but that’s often the wrong approach. First, those blades are razor-sharp: mishandling them can lead to injury. Second, aggressive scrubbing can wear down the blades’ edge, reducing their effectiveness. Finally, it’s hard to reach all the nooks around blades and gaskets using a sponge—so you may not get a truly clean surface. The Spruce+1

Instead of manually scrubbing, use the blender’s own mechanism to clean itself (see next section)—this both preserves blade sharpness and reduces risk.

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3. The Self-Cleaning Method: Fast, Effective & Safe

One of the best cleaning tricks is delightfully simple and fast:

1. Immediately after use, rinse the jar with warm water (this prevents residue from setting).

2. Add warm water (roughly halfway up the jar) and a few drops of dish soap.

3. Secure the lid, attach the jar to the motor base, and blend on high speed for about 30 to 60 seconds. This agitation loosens and washes away stuck particles. epicurious.com+1

4. Pour out the soapy water, then rinse the jar thoroughly with clean water.

5. Dry parts immediately (see section 6).

This method is endorsed by multiple experts: it works quickly, removes residue effectively, and avoids injuring your fingers or dulling blades. Well and Good

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4. The Crucial First Step: Immediate Rinsing

One of the simplest yet most overlooked steps is the immediate rinse. Right after you’ve finished blending—especially sticky or thick mixtures like nut butter smoothies, hummus, or spinach shakes—fill the jar with warm water and swirl it around. This prevents puddled residue from drying and bonding to the jar and blades. If you skip this, you may face crusted-on messes that are far harder to remove. Breville

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5. Skip the Dishwasher for Plastic/Resin Jars

While tossing the jar into the dishwasher seems easy, it’s not always ideal—especially for plastic or resin blender jars. Thehots and harsh detergents of dishwashers can cause warping, clouding, or weakening of the material. Many manufacturers and cleaning experts recommend hand-washing with warm soapy water and a soft sponge, then drying thoroughly. High Speed Training Limited+1

If your jar is glass, dishwasher use may be acceptable, but always check your model’s manual.

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6. How to Clean the Blender Base and Ensure Proper Drying

The motor base of your blender should never be immersed in water. Here’s the correct way:

• Unplug the blender.

• Wipe the exterior of the base with a damp cloth and mild detergent if needed.

• Use a small brush to clean around buttons, crevices, and the power cord.

• Dry the base thoroughly before reassembly.

Proper drying is equally important for the jar, lid, gasket, and blades. Leaving moisture or trapped water can promote mold, mildew, or odors. After rinsing, dry each component thoroughly and allow air circulation (leaving the lid off helps). Well and Good

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7. Dealing with Built-Up Stains, Odors & Tough Residue

Every blender will eventually face stubborn stains or smells—especially from ingredients like garlic, turmeric, spinach, or peanut butter. Here’s how to tackle them:

• Create a mixture: ½ cup warm water + ½ cup white vinegar + a few slices of lemon. Blend this for 30 seconds, then rinse. This helps neutralize odors. Southern Living

• For deep stains, use baking soda + warm water: let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse. The mild abrasiveness of baking soda helps remove the film without scratching. A Joyfully Mad Kitchen

Doing this every few uses—or whenever you make strong or oily batches—keeps your blender feeling fresh long term.

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8. The Big Picture: Maintenance & Extending Life

Cleaning is more than just hygiene—it’s maintenance. Frequent residue buildup can shorten your blender’s lifespan by making the motor work harder, dulling blades, or damaging seals. Food-safety guidelines emphasize that equipment used for food blending should be cleaned and sanitised regularly to prevent contamination and maintain performance. health.wa.gov.au+1

Regular inspection is also wise: check the gasket/seals for cracks, ensure blades are still sharp, and confirm there’s no lingering “off” smell. By doing so, you protect both your appliance and your health.

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9. What About Viral “Hacks”? What Works & What Doesn’t

You may have come across viral cleaning hacks for blenders (and many are worth trying). For example: fill with water + dish soap, run for 30 seconds, rinse. This method has broad expert support (and even went viral on TikTok). Better Homes & Gardens

However—some recommended shortcuts are not good ideas:

• Using abrasive scrubbers or steel wool can scratch plastic jars and dull blades.

• Over-filling with hot liquids while cleaning can cause pressure issues. EatingWell

• Using harsh chemicals not safe for food-contact surfaces may leave residues.

Stick to the safe methods above, and always follow your blender’s user manual.

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10. Final Takeaways: Keep It Simple, Keep It Clean

To sum up:

• Rinse your blender immediately after each use.

• Use the self-cleaning method with warm water + a few drops of dish soap.

• Clean the base with a damp cloth, never submerge it.

• Dry everything thoroughly; store with lid off if possible.

• Deep-clean periodically with vinegar or baking soda for stains and odors.

• Avoid shortcuts that risk damage or contamination.

By making these habits part of your routine, your blender will remain hygienic, effective, and long-lasting. No more dreaded “smelly smoothie” aftermaths—just smooth results every time.

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Sources:

• High Speed Training. “How to Clean a Blender.” Apr 30 2025. High Speed Training Limited

• Well + Good. “How to Clean a Blender Correctly (Because Yes, There’s Probably Gunk Lurking Under Those Blades).” Aug 31 2024. Well and Good

• WA Government (Food Safety). “Cleaning and sanitising of blenders and mixers.” Oct 4 2024. health.wa.gov.au

• The Kitchn. “How to Clean a Blender in 30 Seconds (Without Taking It Apart First).” Sep 4 2019. The Kitchn

• Simply Recipes. “The Easiest Way to Wash Your Blender, According to Vitamix.” 2025. simplyrecipes.com