Kitchen Blender maintenance 101.

Whether your blender is something you only bring out on special occasions or you have a smoothie every day for breakfast, a little simple maintenance will keep it running well for a long time. Without proper maintenance, blenders can wear down fairly quickly. Kitchen blender maintenance is an important factor for enjoying your blender for many years.

A blender is a staple addition of kitchens and most homemakers search for the best juicer blender to accompany the other kitchen appliances in their kitchen. It should be more than just a showpiece in your kitchen as it can serve you for the best of purposes.

A blender when incorporated in the right way can give the users the best juicing results and be beneficial for their overall health. Blenders play an important role in our daily life as our kitchen can’t be fulfilling without a blender. It is one of the most versatile appliances in your kitchen.

It can chop, blend, puree, and liquefy to the consistency you desire. Using it safely and maintaining it will make it last longer and keep it working efficiently for you.

Here are some kitchen blender maintenance tips that you can use to ensure that you get the most life out of your kitchen blender.

* Assemble all blender parts properly before use.

Secure all the parts each time you use it, and follow any instructions given in the blender's user manual regarding proper assembly. Make sure that the blade is securely tightened in the blender's base, and that the glass or plastic container (also called the carafe) unit is firmly seated in the motorized base unit.

If incorrect assembly occurs, then the blender doesn’t work well and sometimes the loose parts could run away or damage the blender.

* Blend only appropriate items.

Blenders are designed for chopping or grinding up soft fruits or vegetables and liquid food items. If we use hard or solid foodstuffs that will hamper the effectiveness and damage the sharpness of the blades. So it should be only used for liquid and soft food items.

On the other hand, if we use it for making non-food purposes then it may permanently damage the blender. So being aware of it. Use a separate, inexpensive blender instead, one that you won't mind losing.

* Cut up larger pieces of food.

Large pieces of food like watermelon, apple or any large citrus fruits should be cut into smaller pieces before put into the blender. Make sure that every chunk or piece will be 2 Square inches or 13 square centimetres cause smaller pieces or chunks will blend more easily and quickly than uncut large food items.

Another thing that can help is adding liquid to the mixture. If plenty of liquid is added into the mixture that increases the efficiency of the blending process otherwise the mixture is too dry and the paste will push up away from the blades.

* Clean the pitcher after every use.

Before you clean the blender, unplug the appliance and detach all the accessories. The best cleaning tip we can give you with your blender is to clean it shortly after using it. You don’t have to go for the full cleaning right away, but you should at least rinse it down. This will make it much easier to clean and prevent some food particles from sticking to the blender.

A simple way of cleaning the empty jar is by adding a mix of warm water and few drops of washing up liquid. Press the pulse button for 5 seconds, then rinse it thoroughly. You can do this a few times for a very sticky mess. If the blades are removable it can be separated for more in depth cleaning.

It's very important to clean the pitcher after use as food particles and liquid can have a damaging effect on just about anything. They can wear surfaces down over time, especially if you are dealing with acidic juices like those from oranges or other citrus.

Let me give you a 30 second cleaning method for your blender. This 30-second cleaning method means much faster, easier cleanup after smoothie-making and soup-pureeing.

This blender-cleaning method is super easy. You just need hot water, a bit of soap, and a few seconds. If your blender has buildup or is looking a bit dull, you can also add a drop of vinegar or some lemon. This quick and easy method doesn’t replace occasional deep-cleaning of your blender.

30 second cleaning method:

1. Pour water in the blender: Fill your blender pitcher about halfway with hot water from a kettle or the tap.
2. Add dish soap: Add just a drop of dish soap.
3. Turn on the blender: Put the blender pitcher back on the base and hold the lid down with a towel. Turn on the blender and let it run for about 10 seconds.
4. Pour out the hot water and rinse: Rinse out the blender thoroughly with more hot water.

Voila! You should have a perfectly clean blender with no smoothie, no soup, or pureed baby food left to be scrubbed out.

* Clean the Blender lid and base.

Because the base of the blender is electric and includes a plug, you should never immerse it under water. Instead, use a soft cloth with soap and warm water to carefully wipe down the base. Take care to avoid dripping water into the cracks and crevices of the base.

Next, use a cloth with warm water to wipe the soap from the base, and a towel to dry it. If necessary, use a cheap toothbrush to clean in between buttons and corners. You can use a little dish soap to get rid of any grease build-up.

To clean the lid of the blender, simply disassemble it and wash it by hand with dish soap and warm water. Allow it to dry before you assemble it once again

* Care for the Blender blades.

While cleaning the appliance after every use is a good rule of thumb, you also need to pay attention to your blender's blades. Just like you sharpen your knives, you should extend the same courtesy to the blades on your blenders.

If you are successful in looking after the blades of your blender, you won't need to worry about getting them replaced periodically. Caring and cleaning your blender blades properly would ensure that they last for a couple of years!

Before you start cleaning the blades, you need to remove the blender jar from the motor base. After removing the blades, clean it properly with dish soap and water. Scrub it with a sponge or toothbrush to remove residual food particles.

Afterwards, rinse it properly and then let it dry. Make sure that there is no moisture left before returning it, as that might cause motor failure or cause mold to grow. Note that you can only do this for blenders that have removable blades.

For blenders that don't have removable blades, you just fill the blender jar with one-third warm water and then add a drop or two of gentle dish detergent to it. You then run the blender for a few seconds at medium speed. After this, you can proceed with rinsing the blender with fresh water. 

Once they are worn out, the blades of a blender cannot be sharpened. To find replacement blades, either contact the manufacturer and ask about replacement parts, or look for replacement parts on the manufacturer’s website.

* Dry and store blender properly.

After proper cleaning, keep the pitcher upside down on a suitable place and wait for a few minutes to dry it properly and then store it in suitable places. Try to wipe any moisture on your appliance before you store it. This is important when it comes to the well-being of the blender.

Now, let's talk about some common issues that you might have with your blender and how you can go about fixing them by yourself.

Blender common issues and solution.

1. Jammed Blender blades.

It's possible that you turn on the appliance and you hear the motor humming but the blades aren't turning, if so turn the blender off immediately. If food particles are deposited around the blades, then it can’t be rotated and sometimes it may just be that the food in the blender is to large. First try reducing the load by cutting large chunks into smaller pieces or adding some liquid.

Then try running the blender at a higher speed. If the blades don't start turning right away, turn off the blender immediately to avoid damaging the motor. If the blades become damaged, then your blender won’t be much use, so take extra care when dealing with obstructions.

Unscrew the base from the pitcher, pull off the gasket, and then carefully remove the blade from its housing in the pitcher. Check for any buildup of food material around the blades. If there's any, wash the blade assembly with dish-washing detergent or soap and rinse it thoroughly. Usually, if the blades do not rotate, it's probably either the switch or the motor.

2). Dulled or worn out blades.

Once the blades become dull or lose their sharpness and worn out, they unable to slice fruits and vegetables appropriately. Once they are worn out, the blades of a blender cannot be sharpened. So you need to replace the blades and you can contact the manufacturer and look for replacement parts on the manufacture website.

3). Broken blender switches.

If your blender is unresponsive when you flip it’s on/off switch, or if it doesn't properly respond when you change speed settings, you may need to replace the switch. Replacing a switch on a blender is an easy fix that costs far less than a new blender.

Always read the owner's manual before attempting any repair, and check the base or access panel of an appliance for a warning against owner servicing. If you don't have any replacement switch, then contact the manufacturers and ask them to send you a replacement switch or to suggest a store to purchase a new switch.

Note: Always unplug the blender before attempting any disassembly.

Though it's possible to make minor repairs on blenders, not all of them should be repaired by the owner. Some are so expensive that a new one may cost less than a repair.

4). Leaking blender.

Sometimes a small gap is present between the base of the blender unit and the pitcher. For this reason, liquid leaking out from the bottom of the pitcher. The most common source of a blender leak is a poor seal between the base and the jar.

Pour the liquid out of the blender, and unscrew the base unit. Make sure that the pitcher is firmly in place and not worn or cracked. If multiple cracks are present on the pitcher, sealing rings, base, then remove the broken and cracked pitcher for replacement from the manufacturers.

If none of these parts is broken, then the blade shaft or its bearing may be worn out. Replace the entire blade assembly.

Lastly, I would mention some don'ts that you must observe with your blender so as to help it last longer while performing optimally for you. These don'ts are very simple but important tips that when you follow will go a long way in ensuring that your blender has a long and fulfilling lifespan.

Here are 7 Don'ts of the kitchen blender.

* Don't overload the blender as this can hurt the blades and permanently damage the appliance. Blend little at a time.

* Don't run the blender when it is empty as it may damage the product. Ensure there is something in the blender before you operate it. 

* Don't operate the blender when the cord or plug is damaged to avoid further damages.

* Don't ever completely fill your blender. Make sure you leave room for mixing and expansion. Make sure you only fill the blender to the fill line.

* Don't pour hot or boiling water or liquids into your blender jar.

* Don't ever use a jet of water to clean the base of your blender. Also, never soak the base of the blender in water.

* Don't store away your blender with some moisture left in it. Be sure to store your blender in a dry place. 

Conclusion.

A clean blender is one that works better, lasts longer and is more sanitary to use. With these simple kitchen blender maintenance techniques you can maintain your blender properly and keep it performing optimally for a longer period of time.