Getting your blender sparkling clean can take some elbow grease, but not with this sneaky method. Even residue from sticky mixtures like peanut butter and honey are no match for this simple blender cleaning hack.
While many blenders are dishwasher safe, some aren’t, and you can do real damage by putting blender parts through that hot wash cycle. Instead of scrubbing or taking your blender apart, use the blender’s motor itself to clean even the grittiest parts of the blender jar and lid in seconds.
This is the best and fastest way to get your blender sparkling clean, without scrubbing.
The best way to clean your blender
First, the best thing you can do after using your blender is to clean it immediately. If you let food or other liquids sit and dry, it will only make cleaning more difficult. Once you are done blending, transfer the contents to another carafe, cup, or serving bowl.
Save yourself the hassle and use the blender motor to clean it.
To clean a blender:
1. Fill the blender halfway with hot water from the tap or a kettle.
2. Add a few drops of dish soap to the carafe. (You can also add half a lemon.)
3. Put the lid on and let the blender run on high for one to two minutes.
4. Pour the contents into the sink.
5. Rinse the carafe and lid in the sink with warm water.
6. Fill the carafe again with hot or warm water.
7. Place the jug back on the blender base and blend for another minute.
8. Rinse the lid and carafe again and set aside to dry.
9. If there is anything stuck, you may need to sponge it and rinse it off. Try not to use a metal scouring pad as it will scratch the plastic.
For high blenders a cheap sponge with handle makes it easier to remove those pesky residues and protects your knuckles from the sharp blades.
If you do this every time you use the blender, you won’t have to thoroughly clean and scrub it every time.
Note: Some blenders have a cleaning preset that you will need to use each time you perform the above steps. Often the pulse function is used in conjunction with some high-speed blending to loosen sticky bits from the sides and crevices.
Some foods you blend are trickier to clean, like thick contents or food that has dried in the carafe. These will eventually need to be scrubbed out, and it’s not a bad idea to hand wash your blender after a few uses. But with this quick cleaning tip, you can use your blender more often without having to worry about cleaning it.
For more kitchen cleaning tips, see How to burnt spots from your best cookware and read our ultimate guide to cleaning your grill this summer.
