How do you clean a blender?

The fastest way is the self-clean method: fill the jar about a third with warm water, add a drop of dish soap, put the lid on, and run the blender for 20-30 seconds, then rinse and air-dry. Do this right after use, before residue dries on. For stuck-on bits or thick blends, unscrew the blade assembly and gasket and wash them (and the jar) by hand with a brush. Never submerge the motor base — just wipe it with a damp cloth.

How do you clean under blender blades?

Residue collects around the blade base and the rubber gasket. On blenders with a removable blade, unscrew the blade assembly from the jar, take out the gasket (sealing ring), and wash all the parts separately with warm soapy water and a brush, then dry and reassemble. On sealed-base blenders, the self-clean run (warm water + soap, blended 30 seconds) reaches under the blades; for stubborn buildup, soak with warm soapy water first. Cleaning the gasket regularly is what prevents trapped smells.

Why is my blender jar cloudy?

A cloudy plastic jar is usually a build-up of hard-water minerals, oils, or fine scratches. Try soaking with a solution of warm water and white vinegar (or a little baking soda) and a soft brush; the vinegar dissolves mineral film. Avoid abrasive scrubbers, which scratch plastic and make cloudiness worse. If it's permanent fine scratching rather than film, it won't fully clear — but it's cosmetic and doesn't affect performance. Glass jars resist clouding better than plastic.

Can you put a blender jar in the dishwasher?

Often yes for the jar, but check your model — many jars and lids are dishwasher-safe (top rack), while some (and most blade assemblies and gaskets) are better hand-washed to protect the seal and blade edge. Never put the motor base in the dishwasher or water. When in doubt, hand-wash the blade, gasket, and lid, and dishwasher the jar only if the manufacturer confirms it's safe. Hand-washing generally extends the life of seals and blades.

How to Clean a Blender (the 30-Second Self-Clean Trick)

The 30-second self-clean

The trick most people miss:

Fill the jar about one-third with warm water and add a drop of dish soap.
Put the lid on and run it for 20–30 seconds (use a couple of pulses too).
Rinse and air-dry.

Do this right after use, before smoothie or sauce residue dries on — it’s faster and cleaner than any scrubbing later.

Deep clean: blades and gasket

For stuck-on residue or after thick blends (nut butter, dips):

On a removable-blade blender: unscrew the blade assembly from the jar, remove the gasket (the rubber sealing ring), and wash the jar, blade, and gasket separately with warm soapy water and a brush. Dry and reassemble.
On a sealed-base blender: the self-clean run reaches under the blades; for stubborn buildup, soak with warm soapy water first.

Cleaning the gasket regularly is what prevents trapped food and smells — it’s the most-missed spot.

The base

Never submerge the motor base or put it in water or the dishwasher. Just wipe it with a damp cloth, and dry any drips around the coupling.

Fixing a cloudy jar or a smell

Cloudy plastic jar: soak with warm water + white vinegar (or a little baking soda) and a soft brush — vinegar dissolves the mineral/oil film. Avoid abrasives, which scratch. Permanent fine scratching won’t fully clear but is cosmetic.
Smell: almost always a damp gasket or jar stored wet. Clean the gasket, run a vinegar-water self-clean, and dry everything fully before storing.

The supplies that make it easier

A simple routine

When	Do this
Right after each use	30-second self-clean (warm water + soap)
After thick blends	Disassemble blade + gasket, hand-wash
Weekly	Check and clean the gasket; dry fully
Cloudy jar or smell	Vinegar-water soak; dry before storing

Clean it right after use and dry the gasket, and a blender stays fresh and blends as smoothly as it should for years.

Where to go next

What to look for in a blender — the five things that matter
Premium vs budget blender — is high-performance worth it?
Personal vs countertop blender — which size fits you