How to Clean a Blender: Jar, Blades, and Gasket

Clean the washable parts after each use, keep the motor dry, and check the manual before taking anything apart. A jug blender, a sealed smoothie cup, and a hand blender do not share one cleaning procedure. In particular, a rubber seal that looks removable may be factory-fitted.

Identify the parts before washing

Unplug the appliance and wait for the blades to stop. Remove the jug or cup from the motor base. Separate only the lid, blade unit, shaft, or other parts the manual marks as user-removable. Leave fixed blades and sealed gaskets in place; do not pry them out with a brush or knife.

Wash approved removable parts with dish soap and water at the temperature stated in their care instructions. Use a soft brush for accessible residue, keeping fingers away from the cutting edges. A brush helps reach corners; it does not make a sealed joint safe to dismantle. Wipe the unplugged motor housing with a well-wrung cloth and keep water out of its openings.

Can you blend soapy water?

Only use a powered cleaning cycle if your model permits it. Follow its water quantity, temperature, speed, and runtime. Nutribullet’s cleaning guidance distinguishes a full-size pitcher from a sealed personal or portable cup: warm or hot water must not be blended in the sealed cup because pressure can force the cup and blade apart. Use cold or room-temperature water for that permitted cup-cleaning method.

After a cleaning cycle, unplug before removing or handling parts. Rinse the lid and accessible threads as well as the vessel; swirling water inside does not necessarily remove food trapped outside the main flow. Do not keep running a dirty blade assembly to compensate for a blocked or leaking seal.

Check the gasket without removing it

Nutribullet says its blade gasket must stay fitted. If it becomes loose or comes out, the brand calls for a replacement blade assembly, not a loose replacement seal. That instruction is specific to its design. Another blender may have a user-removable gasket, but only remove one when its own manual instructs you to do so.

Check accessible seals, threads, lids, and blade assemblies while cleaning. A crack, loose seal, damaged blade, or recurring leak calls for the matching replacement part or service advice. Do not force a part back into shape or buy a similar-looking assembly without checking model compatibility.

Hand blenders and dishwashers

For a hand blender, detach the shaft only as directed and check which parts can be rinsed or submerged. Metal appearance is not an immersion limit: a gearbox, whisk coupling, or chopper lid may need wiping rather than soaking. Keep the powered handle dry.

Dishwasher permission is also part-specific. A dishwasher-safe cup does not establish that its blade assembly, lid, or gasket can go in too. Use the rack position and temperature stated in the manual. Let washed parts dry completely before storing or reassembling.

When cleaning does not solve the problem

Food odor and an electrical burning smell need different responses. For food residue, use the exact model’s approved deeper-cleaning method. For a burning smell, damaged cable, sparks, a cracked blade assembly, or liquid entering the base, stop using the blender. If the plug or outlet is wet, switch off the supply safely without touching wet electrical parts and arrange qualified help.

A stronger cleaner is not a fix for an electrical fault. Do not sharpen blades, remove sealed gaskets, or open the motor housing as a cleaning task.

For a replacement, compare the blender shortlist and how to choose a blender. Choose accessible, compatible washable parts for the recipes you actually make.

How to Get Rid of a Bad Smell in Your Blender

A food smell after washing usually calls for a closer look at the washable lid, vessel, threads, and blade assembly. A burning or electrical smell calls for stopping the appliance. Do not treat both problems with a stronger cleaning mixture.

Start with the source of the smell

Unplug the blender and separate only the parts its manual allows you to remove. Empty leftover food and wash the approved pieces promptly with dish soap. Check beneath a removable lid insert, around accessible threads, and at the edge of the blade assembly. A quick rinse inside the jar can miss these areas.

Smell the clean, dry components separately without putting your face near sharp blades. If the odor stays with one part, you have a better question for the manufacturer: can this lid, seal, or assembly be cleaned further or replaced? You have not established which material or internal fault caused the odor.

Do not pull out a sealed gasket

A rubber ring is not automatically a removable cleaning part. Nutribullet specifically says to leave its blade gasket in place. Its guidance calls for a matching blade assembly if the gasket loosens or falls out. Other designs may differ, so check the exact manual before dismantling anything.

Use a soft brush on accessible food residue, keeping clear of blade edges. Do not use a pin to dig underneath a fixed seal. If the assembly is cracked, leaking, loose, or cannot be cleaned as directed, stop using it and ask about a compatible replacement.

Use a model-approved odor treatment

Begin with ordinary washing and complete drying. For persistent food odor, look for the manufacturer’s deeper-cleaning instructions, including the permitted cleaner, concentration, contact time, and rinsing. Nutribullet publishes a dilute-vinegar rinse for its blade care; that does not establish one vinegar recipe for every blender.

If your manual permits vinegar, never mix it with bleach or chlorine-based cleaners because the mixture can release toxic gas, and rinse thoroughly before another product. Avoid abrasive pads, improvised chemical mixtures, or soaking components the manual says only to rinse or wipe.

Do not blend warm cleaning liquid in a sealed personal cup. Nutribullet’s cleaning guide specifies cold or room-temperature water for this format because warm or hot liquid can build pressure. A vented pitcher has different instructions; follow the actual model rather than its material or size.

Dry before storing

Rinse away cleaner, then allow every washed part to dry completely. Store the parts as directed so residual water is not trapped inside a closed vessel. If the smell returns immediately after an approved clean, repeated soaking may not help. Check for inaccessible residue, damage, or an assembly due for replacement with the manufacturer.

When to stop and call a technician

Stop for a burning smell, smoke, sparks, damaged cable, abnormal grinding, or liquid reaching the motor base. Unplug only when it is safe; if the plug or outlet is wet, switch off the supply safely without touching wet electrical parts and seek qualified help. Do not open the base or keep restarting a stalled motor.

A cleaning brush is useful for reachable residue but cannot repair a seal or motor. If replacement is necessary, use the US blender shortlist and check the matching vessel and blade assembly before buying. Use the blender buying guide to compare supported recipes, vessel size and care requirements.

Blender Not Working? What to Check Before You Give Up

If a blender stops working, disconnect it before touching the jar, blade, gasket, or drive area. Then use the troubleshooting steps for the exact model. A power problem, incorrect jar assembly, too much ice, too little liquid, or a misplaced gasket can look like a failed motor, but the correct check depends on the blender.

The quick answer

Turn the blender off, unplug it, and wait for the blades to stop. Check the outlet, cord, jar assembly, ingredient load, and gasket in the order given by the model manual. Do not assume that every blender has a lid interlock or that every overload protector resets after the same number of minutes.

A safe order of checks

1. Disconnect power first. The BLACK+DECKER BL2010BP manual says to unplug before putting on or taking off parts and before cleaning. It also says there are no user-serviceable parts inside.
2. Inspect the plug and cord without opening the base. Stop using the blender if the cord or plug is damaged, the appliance was dropped, or liquid entered the base.
3. Check power only where safe. Do not test a wet, hot, scorched or damaged outlet. For an undamaged, dry supply, follow the manual’s power checks. Do not keep cycling a damaged blender on and off.
4. Check jar assembly against the manual. On the BL2010BP, the gasket must sit between the jar and blade assembly, the jar base must be tight, and the assembled jar must sit firmly on the base.
5. Check the recipe load. The BL2010BP troubleshooting table says that too much ice or too little liquid can keep a mixture from blending. Its instructions say to turn the unit off before redistributing food with a rubber spatula.

If it will not turn on

Confirm that the unit is plugged into a working outlet and assembled exactly as its manual shows. Some blender models use a jar or lid interlock, but that is model-specific. The BL2010BP manual’s no-power entry only tells the owner to check the working outlet, so a universal claim that a lid switch is the usual cause would be misleading.

If the blender stopped during a heavy load, consult its overload or cooldown section. The required wait and reset sequence can vary. If the manual does not publish one, unplug the unit and ask the manufacturer or an authorized service provider instead of guessing a cooldown time.

If the motor runs but the food does not move

With the unit unplugged, check whether the blade assembly is obstructed, damaged, or installed incorrectly. Keep fingers away from the blade edges. Also check the maximum fill line and the model’s ingredient order. BLACK+DECKER tells BL2010BP owners to add liquids first and to use short pulses for thick mixtures, with brief rests between pulses and no more than two minutes total for that procedure.

Do not substitute a generic replacement blade because it looks similar. Match the exact model number and part number, and follow the manufacturer’s assembly instructions. An incompatible blade or gasket can create a leak or unsafe fit.

If liquid leaks from the jar

Stop, unplug the blender, and lift the jar off only after the blade stops. For the BL2010BP, the manual identifies a missing or incorrectly placed gasket as a possible cause and tells the owner to check jar assembly. Inspect the jar, blade assembly, gasket, and jar base for visible damage. If liquid has reached the motor base, do not reconnect power until qualified service says it is safe.

Prepare a useful record for support

Once the blender is safely stopped and unplugged, note its exact model, what you were blending just before it stopped, and the symptom or error shown. List only the manual checks you have already completed. If a removable part has visible damage, photograph it while the unit remains unplugged, without touching blade edges or opening the base. Keep the model label and purchase record available for support.

This record helps describe the fault without repeated trial runs. Do not bypass an interlock, open the motor base, or keep restarting a faulty appliance to collect more evidence.

Repair or replace

A correctly seated gasket or corrected load may solve the problem. A damaged cord, cracked jar, liquid in the base, burning smell, repeated shutdown, or internal electrical fault needs manufacturer-authorized service or replacement. The BL2010BP manual states that the product contains no user-serviceable parts, so opening the motor base is outside the owner checks.

If replacement is the practical choice, compare models by the jobs their manuals support, jar size, parts availability, warranty, and cleaning instructions. The Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ remains the current top pick in our best blender in the USA guide.

For more buying context, see common blender buying mistakes, current blender prices in the USA, and our guide to choosing a blender. Browse the full blenders hub.

Why did my blender suddenly stop turning on?

Start with the exact model manual. With the BLACK+DECKER BL2010BP example, the manual says to confirm that the appliance is plugged into a working outlet and that the jar is assembled correctly. Other models may add a jar or lid interlock or an overload reset, so do not assume every blender uses the same system.

What should I do before inspecting a blender blade?

Switch the blender off, unplug it from the outlet, and wait until the blades have stopped completely. Then follow the manual’s removal instructions and handle the sharp blade assembly carefully. Never reach into a plugged-in jar or place a loose blade assembly on the motor base.

Why is my blender leaking from the bottom?

On the BLACK+DECKER BL2010BP, the troubleshooting table points to a missing or incorrectly seated gasket and tells the owner to check jar assembly. A crack, loose blade assembly, or worn seal can cause similar symptoms on other models. Stop using a unit if liquid reaches the motor base.

How long should a blender cool before restarting?

Use the cooldown or overload-reset instructions for the exact model. Manuals differ, and the BL2010BP manual does not publish a universal 15-to-20-minute reset. If the manual gives no reset procedure, leave the unit unplugged and contact the manufacturer rather than repeatedly trying to start it.

How often should I clean my blender?

Clean washable food-contact parts after each use. Inspect accessible seals and threads at the same time; follow the model manual for deeper cleaning.

Should I remove the rubber gasket?

Only if the exact manual says it is user-removable. Nutribullet says its blade gasket must not be removed; a loose or damaged one requires the matching blade assembly.

Can I blend warm soapy water to clean it?

Only where the model permits it. Do not blend warm or hot water in a sealed personal blender cup. Use the temperature, fill level, and runtime specified for your appliance.

Can blender parts go in the dishwasher?

Check each part separately. Permission for the jug does not automatically cover blades, lids, gaskets, or hand-blender couplings.

Why does my blender smell after washing?

Food can remain on accessible lid parts, threads, or the blade assembly, and damp storage can leave odor. Inspect clean, dry parts separately rather than assuming the gasket is always responsible.

Can I remove the gasket to clean it?

Only if the exact manual permits removal. Nutribullet blade gaskets are not user-removable; a loose gasket needs the matching replacement blade assembly.

Can I use vinegar?

Use only the solution and method approved for your model. Never mix vinegar with bleach or chlorine cleaners, and rinse thoroughly before another cleaner.

What if the smell is electrical or burning?

Stop using the blender. Do not run a cleaning cycle to clear a burning smell. Damaged electrical parts, a stalled motor, or liquid entering the base need qualified assessment.

Sources

• BLACK+DECKER, “BL2010BPA Use and Care Manual,” safety, assembly, operating limits, cleaning, and troubleshooting: https://www.blackanddeckerappliances.com/~/media/SmallAppliancesUS/Black%20and%20Decker/Files/Blenders%20Juicers/BL2010BPA%20Use%20and%20Care%20Manual.PDF
• BLACK+DECKER, “6 Cup 10 Speed Blender,” BL2010BP-1 specifications and two-year limited warranty: https://blackanddeckerappliances.com/products/bd-blender-6-cup-10-spd
• Ninja, “Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ,” model BN701 features and one-year limited warranty: https://www.ninjakitchen.com/products/ninja-professional-plus-blender-with-auto-iq-zidBN701