How do you clean the inside of a ninja blender base?

Introduction

Ninja blenders are popular high-powered blenders that can pulverize tough ingredients like ice and frozen fruit into smooth smoothies and shakes. However, all that blending power can leave behind sticky messes inside the blender base that are difficult to clean. Learning how to properly clean a Ninja blender base is essential to keeping your machine running efficiently for a long time.

A clean blender base will not only help your smoothies taste better, but it will also extend the life of your Ninja blender by preventing growth of mold and bacteria. This article will provide a step-by-step guide to thoroughly cleaning both the inside and outside of your Ninja blender base.

Gather Supplies

Before disassembling and cleaning your Ninja blender, gather the following supplies:

• Warm water
• Dish soap
• Bottle brush or long flexible brush
• Old toothbrush
• Microfiber cloth
• Cotton swabs
• Ninja blender cleaning solution (optional)

Warm water helps dissolve and rinse away sticky blender residues. Dish soap combined with warm water helps lift and clean away grime. Bottle brushes or long flexible brushes allow you to scrub inside the narrow base. An old toothbrush helps scrub crevices and small spaces. Microfiber cloths and cotton swabs are great for detail cleaning and drying. Ninja blender cleaning solutions are specially formulated to dissolve stubborn residues, but are optional.

Disassemble Base

Before cleaning, you need to take apart the blender base:

1. Unplug blender base from power source
2. Twist and remove blade assembly from base
3. Remove gasket/seal ring from blade assembly
4. Remove base pad/cover from base, if possible

Taking apart the blender will expose all areas needing cleaning. Removing the gasket prevents damage. Removing a removable base pad provides access to clean the motor area. Refer to your Ninja blender manual for model-specific disassembly.

Wash Removable Parts

Wash removable blender parts individually:

• Blade assembly – Place in sink with warm water and dish soap. Scrub using bottle brush or flexible brush. Rinse thoroughly.
• Gasket/seal ring – Wash with dish soap and water. Rinse thoroughly.
• Base pad/cover – Wash with warm soapy water if removable. Rinse thoroughly.

Scrub blades thoroughly with a brush to remove all residues. Clean gasket and base pad/cover to eliminate grime buildup. Rinse all parts well after washing.

Clean Inside Base

With parts removed, target cleaning inside the base:

1. Fill base halfway with warm water and add a squirt of dish soap
2. Scrub inside base walls with bottle brush or long flexible brush
3. Use toothbrush to scrub tight crevices and corners
4. Dump out soapy water, rinse base interior well with clean water

The soapy water helps loosen blender residues. Scrubbing with brushes ensures you remove sticky grime from the walls and hidden spaces. Rinsing eliminates leftover soap. Repeat cleaning if needed for stubborn messes.

Detail Clean Base Exterior

Clean the visible exterior surfaces of the blender base:

• Wipe down base exterior with a microfiber cloth and warm soapy water.
• Use cotton swabs to clean into crevices and tight spaces.
• Rinse exterior surfaces well and dry with a clean soft cloth.

This helps remove splatters and drips on the base for a like-new appearance.

Clean Cord and Controls

Don’t forget to clean the cord and control panel:

• Wipe down cord with microfiber cloth and mild soap and water
• Clean control buttons with cotton swab and mild soap and water
• Take care not to get electrical components wet

Gently clean the cord and controls to prevent damage. Never submerge the electrical portions.

Reassemble Blender

Once all parts are cleaned and fully dried, reassemble blender base:

1. Replace base pad/cover if removable
2. Insert gasket in blade assembly
3. Attach blade assembly to base and twist to lock in place
4. Plug blender cord into power source

Refer to your use and care guide to ensure proper reassembly. Do not operate blender without correct assembly and all parts in place.

Sanitize with Bleach

For an extra level of disinfection, sanitize your Ninja blender base:

• Combine 1 tablespoon bleach and 1 quart water in blender base
• Run blender on low for 30 seconds, allowing bleach solution to contact surfaces
• Let sit for at least 2 minutes before rinsing thoroughly

The bleach solution kills bacteria and mold spores for a germ-free clean. Be sure to rinse very thoroughly after sanitizing.

Clean Blender Base Regularly

To keep your Ninja blender running optimally, clean the base thoroughly:

• After each use – Rinse blender base and blades immediately after using
• Daily or weekly – Disassemble and wash blades, gasket and base with soap and water
• Monthly – Deep clean interior and exterior surfaces of base
• Every 3-6 months – Sanitize base with diluted bleach solution

Frequent cleaning prevents permanent staining and buildup leading to mold and odors. Refer to your Ninja blender user manual for any specific maintenance recommendations.

Conclusion

Thoroughly cleaning a Ninja blender base requires disassembling components, washing removable parts, scrubbing interior and exterior surfaces, and reassembling properly. Ensure that electrical components do not get wet. Regular cleaning plus occasional sanitizing keeps your blender running smoothly for many blended drinks to come. Following these Ninja blender base cleaning tips will help remove sticky residues, eliminate odors, discourage mold growth, and extend the life of your machine.