Half fill with warm water and a drop of washing up liquid, then run it for thirty seconds. That covers daily use, but the gasket still needs removing every few weeks.
The self clean cycle
- Rinse the jug immediately after use to stop residue drying on.
- Half fill with warm water and add one drop of washing up liquid. More creates foam that overflows.
- Fit the lid and run on high for thirty seconds.
- Pour out, rinse thoroughly and stand upside down to drain.
Doing this straight after blending, while the jug is still wet, takes almost no effort. Once smoothie residue has dried to a film it takes a soak instead.
The deep clean the cycle misses
Under the blade assembly and inside the gasket groove is where residue actually accumulates. On most jugs the base unscrews and the blade and gasket lift out.
- Unscrew the base collar and lift the blade assembly out carefully. The edges are sharp even when they seem blunt.
- Peel the rubber gasket off the blade shaft and wash both sides.
- Brush the threads of the jug where residue dries into a ring.
- Dry every part fully before reassembling, since moisture trapped under the gasket is what causes smells.
Every few weeks is enough for normal use, more often if you blend dairy or leafy greens, both of which leave more behind than fruit.
Specific problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Cloudy plastic jug | Bicarbonate paste, left thirty minutes |
| Garlic or spice smell | Bicarbonate paste overnight, or lemon and water blended |
| Dried on residue | Soak with warm water and washing up liquid before running the cycle |
| Sticky base unit | Damp cloth only, never under a tap |
| Stiff blade rotation | Residue in the bearing. Deep clean, and if it persists the assembly is worn |
What damages a blender
The dishwasher is the main risk. Heat can craze plastic jugs, and repeated cycles degrade the gasket until it stops sealing. Many jugs are labelled dishwasher safe on the top rack only, which people frequently overlook. The base unit must never go near water, since it houses the motor.
The other common error is soaking the whole blade assembly for long periods. The bearing inside is not designed to sit submerged, and prolonged soaking flushes out the lubricant, after which the blade grows stiff and noisy.