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The Vitamix brand has earned its top-tier reputation by delivering high-quality kitchen products for decades. Just like any household appliance, you want to make sure your Vitamix blender is clean and you know how to take care of it. Can it go in the dishwasher, though?
Your Vitamix can not go in the dishwasher. However, Vitamix is a breeze to clean as long as you know what you‘re doing. With the longevity of your $400 plus blender on the line, the last thing you want to do is damage it with incorrect maintenance practices.
In this article, we will look at what has made Vitamix the number one blender brand and detail the best methods for cleaning your top of the line machine.
What Is So Great About Vitamix Blenders?
Before we dive into the proper cleaning procedures for your Vitamix, let’s examine why this brand has become the gold standard in the world of blenders.
Starting way back in 1921, a long history in the kitchenware business and consistent innovation has made Vitamix the benchmark for professional kitchens and the home market.
Vitamix’s founder placed a high priority on the importance of whole foods in a healthy diet and worked to create a machine that could process a wide variety of products easily and efficiently.
While several features continue to set Vitamix products apart from the field, the features that put them on the map can be boiled down to a few key characteristics:
- Stainless Steel Blades. Hardened steel blades are attached to the blade base with robust bearings designed to last the lifetime of your machine, even in the face of the toughest foods, including nuts and seeds.
- High-Quality Motors. The powerhouse of any blender, the motors used in Vitamix blenders, is built with durability and power. Most utilize a two horse-power motor to generate the torque required to process tough foods and stand up to daily use, whether in the home or a professional kitchen.
- Heat Generation. One of the most unique and surprising results of the quality blades and high power motor is the ability to generate enough heat through friction to cook soups in the process of mixing ingredients.
- Built-in Fan. One of the common failings of blenders is motor burn out. Vitamix solves this problem with an incorporated fan that adds to the machine’s longevity and means that you don’t have to rest the blender between tasks.
- Responsive Controls. The straight forward controls allow for a high level of texture variation. Everything from chunky salsa to silky smooth almond milk can be produced with a Vitamix. Several newer models have a “Pulse” function that gives even more control.
- Built-in Fan. One of the common failings of blenders is motor burn out. Vitamix solves this problem with an incorporated fan that adds to the machine’s longevity and means that you don’t have to rest the blender between tasks.
- Heat Generation. One of the most unique and surprising results of the quality blades and high power motor is the ability to generate enough heat through friction to cook soups in the process of mixing ingredients.
- High-Quality Motors. The powerhouse of any blender, the motors used in Vitamix blenders, is built with durability and power. Most utilize a two horse-power motor to generate the torque required to process tough foods and stand up to daily use, whether in the home or a professional kitchen.
Vitamix also provides customers with a 10-year warranty guaranteeing that they will fix or replace their machine should it fail from the wear and tear associated with normal use.
How to Clean Your Vitamix
Now that we know what makes these machines so popular, we can look at the correct way to keep your Vitamix happy and healthy.
Keeping your blender clean is essential to the longevity and effectiveness of the machine. While some of their newer products are dishwasher safe, the vast majority of Vitamix blenders are not.
Notable exceptions are the S-series’ 20 and 40 oz. containers, but we’ll get to that later. If you can’t toss them on the top rack of your dishwasher, how are you supposed to clean your Vitamix?
Several of the brand’s newer models have a pre-programmed cleaning cycle that makes maintaining a spotless machine a breeze.
For these models, the process goes something like this:
- After using your machine, you should start by rinsing the container with warm—not hot—water.
- Fill the machine halfway with fresh, warm water and add one or two drops of your favorite dish soap.
- Close the lid and make sure the lid-plug is in the locked position.
- Start the “Clean” cycle and wait; the machine will automatically stop when the cleaning is complete.
- When completed, empty the remaining water and rinse the container thoroughly.
- Place the container upside down on a dish rack to air dry.
- When completed, empty the remaining water and rinse the container thoroughly.
- Start the “Clean” cycle and wait; the machine will automatically stop when the cleaning is complete.
- Close the lid and make sure the lid-plug is in the locked position.
- Fill the machine halfway with fresh, warm water and add one or two drops of your favorite dish soap.
While there is no doubt that this self-cleaning option is a neat feature, manually cleaning their Vitamix is almost as easy for those with older models. The process goes like this:
- Once again, the first step is to thoroughly rinse the container with warm—not hot—water after each use.
- Fill the container halfway with clean, warm water and add one or two drops of dish soap.
- Close the lid and make sure the lid-plug is in the locked position.
- Run the machine on Variable Speed 1. Gradually increase the operating speed until you reach Variable Speed 10.
- Run the machine on High for 30-60 seconds and then turn off the blender.
- Pour out the remaining water and rinse thoroughly.
- Place the container upside down on a dish rack to air dry.
- Pour out the remaining water and rinse thoroughly.
- Run the machine on High for 30-60 seconds and then turn off the blender.
- Run the machine on Variable Speed 1. Gradually increase the operating speed until you reach Variable Speed 10.
- Close the lid and make sure the lid-plug is in the locked position.
- Fill the container halfway with clean, warm water and add one or two drops of dish soap.
In both cases—auto-clean or manual—it is good to wipe down the base, control dials, and feet with a damp cloth to clean any spilled or splashed liquids.
S-Series Dishwasher Safe Components
As we have mentioned, some of the newer Vitamix models have several components that are dishwasher safe, although there is a bit more to it than just chucking them in the machine and pushing “START.” The process goes like this:
- Thoroughly rinse the container with warm water after each use.
- Disassemble the container by unscrewing the blade base. If the base assembly is too tight, several notches can be utilized with a spatula to add leverage and make this step easier.
- Remove the seals. Be careful not to damage or misplace them as they are essential to a functioning Vitamix blender.
- You may need to manually clean the blades as sometimes thick mixtures can congeal there.
- Place all components—the container, lid, lid-plug, blade base, and seals—in the top rack of the dishwasher. Do not place them in the lower portion of the dishwasher as the hotter water can warp and damage the components leading to machine failure.
- Once the dishwasher is finished, allow the components to air dry before reassembly, and you’re ready to start blending! Once again, be careful not to damage the seals and make sure they are properly seated between the blade base and container; otherwise, your Vitamix will leak.
- Place all components—the container, lid, lid-plug, blade base, and seals—in the top rack of the dishwasher. Do not place them in the lower portion of the dishwasher as the hotter water can warp and damage the components leading to machine failure.
- You may need to manually clean the blades as sometimes thick mixtures can congeal there.
- Remove the seals. Be careful not to damage or misplace them as they are essential to a functioning Vitamix blender.
- Disassemble the container by unscrewing the blade base. If the base assembly is too tight, several notches can be utilized with a spatula to add leverage and make this step easier.
Remember that water and electricity don’t mix, so never place the motor base of your Vitamix in the dishwasher. Use a damp towel to clean the power plant of your Vitamix blender.
Cloudy Container and Deep Cleaning
The rigorous use that many Vitamix owners put their machines through can often lead to a cloudy or stained container. The minerals in food products, especially tomatoes and leafy greens—can leave unsightly stains on your machine. But don’t worry, these can be easily cleaned as well.
To tackle these stains, before carrying out the standard cleaning procedures we detailed above, fill the container half full with clean, warm water and add one cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to soak in the container for four hours before pouring it out and proceeding to use a soft scrubber to clean the interior surfaces of the container manually.
Remember to be careful when cleaning around the base assembly’s sharp blades at the bottom of the container.
Conclusion
In the modern world of endless convenience in which we live, it has become a little unusual to buy new kitchen products that can’t simply be tossed in the dishwasher.
However, the fact that the majority of Vitamix’s products are not dishwasher safe doesn’t mean the cleaning process is difficult. Thanks to the utilitarian design and quality components, the maintenance of Vitamix products is as simple as a rinse, wash, repeat.
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