Blender Maintenance Tips: Cleaning and Care

Safety first: always unplug the blender before cleaning, removing blades or reaching into the jar. Never submerge the motor base in water.

After every use: the two-minute routine

1. Rinse the jar straight away so food doesn’t dry onto the blades.
2. Fill it half way with warm water and add a drop of dish soap.
3. Lock the lid and pulse for 20–30 seconds.
4. Empty, rinse with clean water and leave upside down to drain.
5. Wipe the motor base with a damp cloth and dry it.

Cleaning blades safely

Blades are sharp enough to cut, even when they feel dull. Use a long-handled bottle brush rather than a sponge held in your fingers. If the blade assembly is removable, take it out once a week and clean the underside and the rubber gasket, where food residue and moisture collect. Dry everything fully before reassembling.

Washing jars and removing stains and smells

Turmeric and spice stains

Make a paste of baking soda and a little water, rub it over the stain, leave it for 15 minutes and rinse. Drying plastic jars in indirect sunlight can also help fade turmeric stains.

Garlic and onion odours

Blend warm water with a squeeze of lemon or a spoon of baking soda, then rinse. Leaving the jar to air with the lid off stops smells building up.

Cloudy glass

Hard water can leave a film. Soak with a mix of white vinegar and warm water, then wash as normal.

Dishwasher?

Only if the manual says the jar is dishwasher-safe. Steel jars and blade assemblies generally last longer when washed by hand.

Preventing overheating

• Blend in short bursts — around 30–60 seconds — then pause.
• For thick pastes and batters, rest the motor for a minute or two between batches.
• Keep air vents under and around the base clear of cloths and spills.
• If the overload cut-off trips, unplug and let the motor cool for 20–30 minutes before trying again.
• Check your manual for its recommended maximum running time.

Avoiding overloading

• Stay below the MAX line; for hot liquids, fill only half way.
• Add liquid first, then soft ingredients, then hard or frozen ones.
• Cut hard vegetables and fruit into small pieces.
• Work in batches rather than forcing one large load.
• If the blades spin but nothing moves, stop and add a little liquid instead of running longer.

Proper storage

Store the blender in a dry place with the jar either off the base or with the lid resting loosely, so trapped moisture doesn’t cause smells or mould in humid weather. Coil the cord loosely — wrapping it tightly around the base strains the wires where they enter the motor.

Power cuts and voltage fluctuation

If the electricity goes off mid-blend, switch the blender off at the wall straight away so it doesn’t restart suddenly when power returns. Where voltage is unstable, a surge-protected extension board adds a layer of protection for the motor.

Parts that wear out — and when to replace them

Before buying, it is worth checking whether these spares are sold locally — our buying guide covers what to ask. If a blender smells of burning repeatedly or the cord is damaged, stop using it and contact an authorised service centre.