Is a Vitamix Dishwasher Safe? It Depends on the Model…

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Vitamix makes some of the finest blenders and kitchen devices on the market today. If you’ve recently purchased a Vitamix product, you’re probably wondering which parts, if any, are dishwasher safe.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to the question ‘is a Vitamix dishwasher safe?‘. Vitamix produces a ton of products, and while some of them are indeed dishwasher safe, many are not.

To help you out, we’ve taken the difficult task upon ourselves to break down the confusion and explain exactly which Vitamix blenders can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

So, is a Vitamix blender dishwasher safe, and are Vitamix containers dishwasher safe? Let’s find out!

Which Vitamix Containers Are Dishwasher Safe?

Many people out there will claim they have been putting their non-safe Vitamix containers in the dishwasher for years without any problems. Although this is probably true, we still can’t recommend that anyone tries this out with their own Vitamix components.

Even though it might be safe to run your Ascent container in the dishwasher, your Vitamix will last longer if you don’t.

It’s important to remember that Vitamix has not certified these containers dishwasher safe for a reason. Although they may appear to be fine after the cleaning process, it’s difficult to know if any damage has been done on the inside.

Vitamix containers contain fairly complex mechanisms around the base, and it’s likely that a dishwasher cycle would have some impact on the ball bearings and parts located there.

If your container gets ruined, be sure to check out our post helping you find the right replacement: Are Vitamix containers interchangeable?

Which Components of a Vitamix Blender Are Dishwasher Safe?

A Vitamix blender is made up of a number of components. These include the electronic blender housing, the container, the base blade, as well as lids and seals. 

That means that for all other Vitamix models, some or all of these components cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher. It is generally recommended that the blades are never placed in the dishwasher since they can start to degrade after just a few cycles.

That leaves us with the container, seals, and the lid. However, even if your particular Vitamix blender container is dishwasher safe, that doesn’t mean the other components are too.

Cleaning a Vitamix in a Dishwasher

If you’ve determined that your Vitamix container or other components are dishwasher safe, then the next step is learning how to clean them safely. The number one rule is to always use the top rack of your dishwasher – the lower parts are much hotter than the top rack and could melt or damage Vitamix parts.

Make sure that you’ve fully disassembled your Vitamix container before putting it into the dishwasher. Lay out all the different parts on your counter and transfer over the dishwasher-safe ones. You’ll need to hand clean the other components, but we’ll get onto that later.

If you want to be extra safe when cleaning your Vitamix, then try to avoid leaving the parts in during the dishwasher’s drying cycle. Although any dishwasher-safe components should be fine with this, air-drying them removes the chance of any heat-related damage.

Having a Vitamix that is dishwasher safe is a huge advantage, but at World of Blenders, we love all Vitamix blenders. Here are (in our opinion) the best Vitamix blenders.

Can a Vitamix’s Stainless Steel Blades Corrode in the Dishwasher?

Stainless steel is very resistant to corrosion, so it’s highly unlikely that your blades would corrode if you put them in the dishwasher. The real reason you should avoid doing this is that the blades will become blunt after a few hot wash cycles.

Not only will blunt blades not be as effective in the blending process, but they could also cause permanent damage to your device. Blunt blades force the motor to work harder, which subsequently puts more strain on the internal components. In the long run, this can reduce the lifespan of your blender. It is wise to sharpen your blender blades occasionally to keep them operating in tip top shape.

At the end of the day, although cleaning your Vitamix by hand or with the quick-cleaning procedure takes more time, it’s definitely worth the extra effort. You really don’t want your expensive blades to break down any earlier than they should be.

Alternative Ways to Clean a Vitamix

Seeing as you can’t use the dishwasher to clean the majority of Vitamix blenders, we should probably look at some safe, alternative methods. The great thing about Vitamix is that they make their products super easy to clean, even if you can’t use your trusty dishwasher.

By hand

Of course, the first way you can clean your Vitamix blender is by hand. All the components can be removed and disassembled from the main blender body for easy cleaning. We’d recommend breaking the container down into all its separate parts before washing them one by one in warm, soapy water.

Be extra careful when cleaning the steel blades. You should never put the blades into your sink and forget about them – you could get a nasty cut the next time you reach into it!

After scrubbing your blender components, rinse them down and leave them out to air dry. Letting the parts fully dry before using them again will eliminate the chance of any water-borne bacteria getting trapped inside your blender.

Using the Vitamix self-cleaning function

If you’re not a fan of hand-washing, you’re in luck. Many Vitamix blender products have a revolutionary “self-cleaning” function built-in that does most of the work for you!

To use the self-clean feature, all you have to do is add warm water and a few drops of dish soap into the blender container. Switch the blender on and press the “clean” button. Once it’s done, rinse out the container and leave it out to dry.

If you do use the self-clean function regularly, then we’d recommend hand washing the components every once in a while too. This will ensure that any food particles trapped between the seals are fully removed.

The self cleaning function is just one of the reasons why Vitamix blenders are so expensive. 

Can You Remove Stains From A Vitamix Container?

If you’ve noticed staining on the inside of your Vitamix containers, then you’re probably wondering if you’ll be able to get them cleaned off. Luckily for you, we have a stain removing method that is always super effective.

These stains often come from things like beetroot and turmeric. If you love to throw these items in your blender, you’ve undoubtedly experienced some staining in the past. Over time, these stains can develop into something you no longer want inside your blender.

Step 1: Initial bleach soak

First, we’re going to use a gentle bleach soak to loosen the stains from your Vitamix. Fill your container halfway up with warm soapy water and add around one tablespoon of bleach. Let the container soak for around a minute.

Step 2: Activate the clean function

If your Vitamix blender has a self-clean function, then activate it now. This will spread the bleach mix all around the inside of the container and fully attack the staining. Once the cleaning process has finished, rinse out the pot with clean water.

If your blender doesn’t have the cleaning function, you can replicate it by turning the blender on and slowly increasing the blade speed.

Step 3: Make a baking soda paste

If there are still visible stains on your container, then you might need to take some extra steps to get rid of them. The next thing we recommend is a baking soda paste. To make this paste, mix baking soda and vinegar in an equal ratio.

Spread this paste onto the stains and leave it to dry for a few minutes. Once dry, fill the container up with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Run the self-cleaning feature and rinse out the pot once it’s done.

Step 4: UV soak

If you’ve taken all of the above steps and haven’t noticed any good results, then you’re probably going to struggle to get the stains off at all. As a last resort, you can leave the container in direct sunlight for a few hours.

The UV rays in the sunlight will work to break down the staining. You should then rinse the container out once more.

At this point, your blender container is as clean as it’s ever going to be. If there’s staining now, then this is purely cosmetic and isn’t going to affect the taste or hygiene of your future smoothies.

How to Remove Stuck-On Food from Your Vitamix Blades

One of the most common issues Vitamix users report is food getting stuck to the underside of their blender blades. Unfortunately, the built-in quick cleaning procedure probably won’t be able to remove the food by itself. This means you’ll have to clean your Vitamix blades by hand.

There are some foods that are more likely to cause this problem than others. Onions, peanut butter, and creamy sauces are common culprits that you should watch out for. If you’re blending any of these foods, then it’s best to try and clean your Vitamix out as soon as you’re done with it.

If you leave food to dry on the blades, then it becomes much more difficult to remove. It’s even worse if you don’t notice that the underside of the blades are covered. Not only can this stuck food get into your next smoothies, but it can also damage the blade mechanism over time.

Put simply, you want to be avoiding getting food stuck to the blender blades at all costs. But if you do notice caked-on food, then it’s important to know what to do about it.

A great way to keep the underside of the blades clean is to scrub them with a brush before running the self-clean function. This will loosen any stuck food that you’ll be able to pour away once the cleaning cycle has finished.

An even better solution is to pick up one of Vitamix’s dedicated blade scrapers. These tools slot under the blades and cut through caked-on food with ease. Again, you can follow this process up with a self-cleaning cycle to make sure any remaining residue is fully removed from the blades.

How Do You Deep Clean a Vitamix?

At some point, you might feel like you want to give your Vitamix a bit of a deeper clean. If your containers are starting to get “cloudy”, you should definitely consider a deep clean. A cloudy Vitamix container doesn’t necessarily mean your system is unhygienic, but the milky film can be unpleasant to look at.

Fogginess inside a blender container appears when mineral nutrients start to build up on the inside of the plastic. Thankfully, removing this fog is a super easy process that only requires a few household items.

The first thing you want to do is fill the container halfway with warm water. Then, top the container up with white vinegar. This combination will work to break down the minerals that are coating the plastic.

Leave this mixture to soak for 2 hours before pouring it out of the pot. Using a soft bottle brush, scrub the walls of the container with the vinegar/water residue to really attack the fogginess. Rinse out the container and put it into the blender for a self-cleaning cycle.

Once this has finished, rinse out the container once more and leave it to air dry. Your container should now be fully transparent and spotless again.

How To Keep Your Vitamix From Smelling Bad

If you regularly blend foods like garlic in your Vitamix container, you might notice an unpleasant smell hanging around the pot. This odor can stay even after the container has been cleaned out.

This happens because tiny food particles get stuck inside micro-cracks on the container. Eventually, these particles will start to rot and smell horrible. Odors can also appear if stains are left untreated or food isn’t cleaned from the underside of the blender blades.

If you have food trapped in your Vitamix, it may rot and cause your blender to start leaking black liquid. 

How Can You Clean the Base of A Vitamix?

Your Vitamix container isn’t the only thing that might need cleaning after blending. The electronic base of the Vitamix can also pick up some dirt over time. You won’t need to be cleaning the base every single day, but sprucing it up once a week or so is probably a good idea.

Of course, you should never put the base into the dishwasher or sink. Instead, make sure that the blender is fully unplugged from the wall. Next, take a damp cloth and wipe down the exterior of the base.

You can get away with a cloth for most of the cleaning process, but you may want to use a thin brush to really get into the main internal components.

Should You Put Boiling Water in a Vitamix?

Although a Vitamix container will most likely be able to withstand boiling water, it’s generally best to avoid this situation. Leaving very hot water inside the Vitamix container is likely to damage its structure and may even cause it to melt.

In fact, Vitamix recommends that you should never add food that exceeds temperatures of 170 degrees Fahrenheit to your container. The Vitamix models that are able to heat up soup max out at this temperature too.

Common Questions About Cleaning Vitamix Blenders

Final Verdict: Are Vitamix Blenders Dishwasher Safe?

Clearly, there is no simple answer to the question of is a Vitamix dishwasher safe or not. Some Vitamix products are indeed dishwasher safe, but the majority of the blenders shouldn’t really be cleaned in that environment.

On the positive side, it’s great that Vitamix includes an excellent self-cleaning feature on a wide range of devices. In fact, this function is probably more convenient than having dishwasher-safe components.

As long as you take the time to fully understand the blender you have and how to clean your Vitamix components safely, you shouldn’t have any trouble keeping it spotless for years to come.