A Last Ditch Effort to Save A Mucky Blender Container

I've had my Vitamix for maybe 7 to 8 years. It's great and never failed me. However, over that time the container has built in grime that won't scrub off with washing up detergent. 

Thats a fairly big problem for us because we want to start writing articles on our favourite smoothies and use cases for power blenders. Clearly taking pictures for articles with a grimy and cloudy looking container is not going to fly. So before we go and drop £100+ on a new container lets see if theres a DIY way thats basically free. 

I came across this article and it looked very similar to our how to clean stainless steel cutlery blog. I know that works great so it looks promising. Lets give it a go.

What You'll Need

• Distilled Vinegar
• Bicarbonate Soda
• Toothbrush
• Stainless Steel Scrubber
• Metal Skewer or Toothpicks

Process of How to Clean Blender Container

Step 1 - Soak Over Night

1. Pour 1 cup of distilled water into the blender container.
2. Boil the kettle and add the boiling water to the container.
3. Top up the container with hot tap water until full.
4. Throw in the lid cap to soak.
5. Add the lid and seal with cling film to prevent the potent vinegar fumes from overwhelming the kitchen.
6. Leave to soak overnight. 

Step 2 - Get Scrubbing

1. It's now the morning after soaking. Pour almost all the vinegar solution down the drain, leaving about an inch at the bottom to dip the scourer in later.
2. Add a few tablespoons of bicarbonate soda into a small jar and add a little water to make a paste.
3. Dip the toothbrush in the paste mix and start scrubbing.
4. Alternate between the toothbrush and the scourer. Use the toothbrush on the vertical walls first, then use the scourer to finish the walls, blade, and base.
5. Use the metal skewer on the inside of the cap and around tight areas. The soaking solution will have loosened debris, allowing the skewer to remove it from very tight, hard-to-reach areas that the scourer cannot reach.

How Long Did Cleaning Take? 

The physical cleaning took about 20 mins. The vinegar solution made the job a lot easier. I would not have been able to do it without the overnight soaking step.  

Container Fully Scrubbed And Cleaned

Final Results

I'm pretty happy with how this worked out, as cleaning with washing-up liquid after use was unable to remove the residue that built up over the years. I figured that was just what happens to these containers over time, and the end result would be having to buy a new one. But no, the results are clear to see. If I were to do another soak, I reckon we could get it even better still.

It doesn't look brand new with the scratches but at least it looks clean. 

If you're in the market for a blender. You cannot do better than a power blender. Check out our collection.