Home » Blenders » Vitamix Questions

14 Ways to Make Your Vitamix Last Longer

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission. Thanks.

Vitamix is one of the best blender brands on the market. They’re the undisputed champs in the blender game and for good reason. Their blenders are powerful, last forever, and come with an incredible warranty.

My wife and I have absolutely loved our Vitamix. We’ve been able to test other brands like Ninja and NutriBullet, but the truth is that they don’t stand up to Vitamix.

Today we want to help you find ways to make your Vitamix last longer. These blenders aren’t cheap so the longer they last, the more you’ll get for your money.

ways to make vitamix last longer

How Long are Vitamix Blenders Meant to Last?

With regular use, Vitamix blenders last around a decade – sometimes even longer.

Vitamix offers warranties that range in length from 5 to 10 years.

  • Explorian series: 5 years
  • Legacy series: 7 years
  • Ascent series: 10 years

Some Vitamix blenders have been known to last 15 to 20 years if properly maintained.

If your Vitamix stopped working and you’re under warranty then it might be worth reaching out to get them to fix it!


3 Main Causes of Vitamix Blender Breakdowns

These are the main reasons that Vitamix owners normally have to get their blenders serviced or even replaced.

1. Worn-out container seal

Regular use of your blender will likely wear out the container seal. This is bad news if you blend particularly messy ingredients. With a worn-out seal, messy ingredients could easily leak out of the gaps in your blender seal and cause a mess!

If you only use your Vitamix blender for blending soups and juices, then you may never encounter blender seal issues. But if you use your blender for hard ingredients, the seal will likely wear out after a while.

The best thing to do is just buy a new blender seal from Vitamix.

2. Worn out drive socket

The drive socket is the part that the connects the blender container to the base.

arrow pointing to drive socket on blender

This piece can get worn out for a variety of reasons.

  • Rocking the blender container while it’s in use.
  • Lifting the blender container off the motor while the blades are still in motion.
  • Use the blender without a centering pad.
  • Using parts made by other blender manufacturers that are not approved by Vitamix.
  • Problems with the blade assembly gear

You can get a replacement drive socket from Vitamix for about $15 and it’s super easy to install.

3. Blown motor

If your Vitamix won’t start at all, then you might have a blown motor on your hands. This is sometimes caused by overloading the blender or if it gets overheated. This can make your Vitamix smell like it’s burning.

The best thing to do is let the blender cool down for an hour before you try again. If the Vitamix still won’t turn on then you will need to reach out to Vitamix and get a replacement if you’re still under warranty.


14 Tips: How to Make Vitamix Last Longer

There are a bunch of ways to make your Vitamix last longer. The better you maintain it, clean it, and use it properly, the more likely your blender will last.

1. Don’t store leftovers in the blender container

It’s tempting whenever you finish a big batch of smoothies to just leave the extra in the container and shove it in the fridge.

Sadly, the convenience isn’t worth it. You should avoid using the blender container for storage.

avoid using the blender container for storage

It’s best to remove food from the container as soon as you’re done blending it up. This will keep the container in good condition. Failing to do this could stain the container or cause problems for the bearings and blades.

You should also avoid storing food in your blender in the fridge. Cold temperatures can be particularly damaging to the container.

2. Use your Vitamix on high speed

Vitamix blenders are best used at top speed. It’s okay to use your Vitamix blender at lower speeds now and again. However, the machine functions best when turned up to 10.

You’d think that running a Vitamix on a lower speed may save your blender’s energy. Running at a lower speed could actually be more draining for the machine.

The thermal override kicks in only when a Vitamix is at speed 10. This means that the blender can’t cool itself at any temperature below this.

3. Invest in a separate dry container

Vitamix blenders come with a standard wet container. Vitamix also sells dry containers which are used for blending dry foods like seeds, nuts, or coffee grinds.

It’s best to use the containers and blades as they’re intended. Blending dry ingredients in the wet container with wet blades can be bad for their longevity.

It’s best to buy both containers so that you can use them appropriately.

The Vitamix dry and wet containers have different functions.

The dry blades work far better at blending thick items and tough ingredients. A wet container can grind coffee, but a dry container can do it more finely. Dry containers can also knead dough, dry chop vegetables, and crumble chocolate.

wet vs dry blade vitamix

Hard ingredients wear out the blades on a wet container. Plus, hard ingredients can chip and scratch the container. This can give your container a milky or cloudy appearance.

4. Keep the Vitamix clean

Whenever you finish using your blender, always wash your Vitamix container right away. It’s tempting to leave it in the sink to “soak” but we all know that’s an excuse to just wash it later.

Vitamix in sink

The faster you clean your food/smoothie from the blender, the better your container will stand up over time. Food getting stuck can make the container cloudy and it can cause stains.

Cleaning your Vitamix is super simple. First off, rinse out the leftover ingredients with some water. Then, fill your container halfway with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Clean it by running your Vitamix on high speed for 60 seconds.

Once the cleaning cycle has finished, rinse out the soap and towel dry the inside of your blender. Make sure no soap is stuck to the inside of the container before packing it away.

The key to making your Vitamix last is to keep it as clean as possible!

5. Don’t put your Vitamix in the dishwasher

Some Vitamix blenders are dishwasher safe, but it’s still best to wash it by hand. Running it in the dishwasher can actually wear the container down.

Putting your Vitamix in the dishwasher means it doesn’t get cleaned ASAP. It could sit in your dishwasher for hours before it gets cleaned. This gives leftover ingredients enough time to dry onto the container and stain.

The high dishwasher temperature could harm the container, blades, and bearings. The detergents used in your dishwasher could also be too harsh for your Vitamix to handle.

So, Vitamix blenders should not be considered 100% ‘dishwasher safe’. It’s okay to use the dishwasher from time to time, but don’t rely on it as your main mode of cleaning.

According to Vitamix themselves, the only models that are dishwasher safe are the Ascent series blenders.

6. Use the tamper whenever necessary

Vitamix blenders come with a tamper which helps push ingredients down while it’s blending. The tamper also helps keep food off the edge of the container.

Always use the tamper when using frozen ingredients or making nut butters.

Thick ingredients don’t always go with the flow of the blades, and can easily get stuck and cause friction. This is how air pockets form and blades overheat. If you continually do this, then the blender parts will gradually wear down.

The tamper is there to guide the ingredients into the blades. Due to the length of the tamper, no matter how far you force it, it will never come into direct contact with the blades. This makes it easy to shift particularly tough ingredients. It allows you to push as heavily as needed.

It’s also worthwhile to note that you should only use a Vitamix tamper. Never use a tamper from another blender. You also shouldn’t use the likes of a wooden spoon to move your ingredients around. The tamper has been measured to fit the Vitamix container perfectly.

7. Load your blender in a specific order

Vitamix blenders perform best when they’re used the way they are meant to be used.

One tip for making your Vitamix last longer is to load ingredients in a specific order. This will keep your blender from potentially overheating and it will ensure your blender blades run at the optimal speed.

Liquids and soft ingredients should always go at the bottom. This makes it easy to fill up the space around the blender first. Heavy and frozen ingredients should go in last. This provides weight to hold down the rest of the ingredients. The heavy ingredients will gradually push the ingredients below it towards the blades.

Organizing your ingredients prevents your blender from overworking.

Always load your Vitamix blender in the following order:

  1. Liquids (yogurt, milk, juice, water)
  2. Soft fruits (Oranges, bananas, strawberries)
  3. Hard fruits (Apples, pears, pineapple)
  4. Leafy greens
  5. Ice, frozen fruit, and other frozen ingredients
  6. Nuts, grains, and seeds

Organizing your ingredients in this order is also better for the blades. The blades can easily blend lighter ingredients at a slow speed. But they need a fast speed to cut the heavy ingredients. Having your light ingredients at the top gives your blender enough time to pick up speed.

8. Load your Vitamix with the right amount of food

It’s important to put the right amount of food into your blender for it to work best. If you put too much or too little, it can cause your Vitamix to overheat.

Overfilling your blender also causes problems. There is a “fill line” on the side of your Vitamix. That’s the max amount your blender can handle.

If you go over the maximum fill line, the blades won’t be able to blend and will most likely end up overheating and you might find your blender smells like it’s burning.

We find that it’s best to fill your blender up with at least half of the max capacity.

9. Be cautious with protein powder

Despite what we said about putting lighter ingredients to the bottom of your Vitamix container, don’t put protein powder in first. Protein powder can cause problems for your blender blades.

The protein powder gets super sticky when it comes into contact with water. This could lead to it getting clogged in the blades.

For this reason, you should keep powder as far away from liquid for as long as possible. This reduces the risk of it sticking to and caking the blades.

If you plan on adding a large quantity of protein powder to your smoothie, we’d recommend adding it during the blending process. Protein powder can also get stuck and cause damage to the seal. If you add the powder midway through the blend, the powder won’t have time to stick to the seal.

10. Use the under blade scraper after blending thick ingredients

Vitamix are super easy to clean, but there is one spot that’s tough to get.

Food always gets trapped underneath the blades and if you have thick food like a nut butter or hummus it can be hard to get that area properly cleaned.

The best thing to do is scrape out any excess food that get stuck to the blades. You can use a spatula, but even that’s tough to get down under the blades.

Vitamix has a tool specifically made for this – the Vitamix Under Blade Scraper.

You can use an under blade scraper to pick out the thick ingredients lining the bottom of your Vitamix container. Not only does this keep the container clean and functioning, but it also reduces food waste.

Unlike tampers, under blade scrapers are not complimentary with a Vitamix machine. We’d recommend getting one if you’re planning on blending thick ingredient recipes regularly.

11. Add water when chopping hard vegetables

You should add water to the container when blending harder ingredients such as carrots or onions. This will make the job easier for the blades.

When the blender starts, this water at the bottom will create a vortex. This will steadily suck the hard ingredients down towards the blade. With this motion created, the blades can chop through the tough ingredients easier.

However, adding water isn’t always a good idea. If you’re looking to create a rougher and chunkier texture to your vegetables, we’d recommend blending without water.

12. Increase the speed of your blender in stages

The best way to use your Vitamix is to slowly ramp the speed up while you’re blending. Start slow must build up to a high speed in stages. If you go from 0 to 10, it will overwork the motor and gradually deteriorate its capabilities over time.

For this reason, we’d recommend increasing the motor speed slowly. No matter what you’re making, it’s important to start at a low speed and move up gradually. This gives the blender a chance to heat up and prepare itself for the coming high speed. You can reach 10 with a push of a button, but it’s important to avoid doing this.

It’s also important to gradually reduce the speed of the motor once you’re finished.

You should wait until the blade has stopped before lifting the container from the base. As we’ve already mentioned, this protects the blade socket.

13. Use your Vitamix regularly

Using your blender once a week will get you in the habit of the cleaning cycle and carrying out best practices.

With more opportunities to use your Vitamix, you’ll become a more responsible owner. Cleaning your container after using it will become like second nature to you.

14. Unplug your Vitamix from the wall after using

It’s recommended that you unplug your Vitamix as soon as you’ve finished using it. This saves you electricity. It also protects the electrical components of your Vitamix. Leaving your Vitamix plugged in could wear out its electrical components.

Unless you plan on using your Vitamix more than once a day, we’d recommend unplugging it and packing it away after every use.


Accessories That’ll Help Extend the Life of Your Vitamix Blender

There are several Vitamix accessories that can make the blending process easier. By using them, they can also extend the shelf life of your Vitamix.

These accessories include:

Under blade scraper

We already mentioned this above, but it’s worth mentioning again! This tool is compatible with any Vitamix blender. You can use it on both older and newer Vitamix models. It is specifically designed to minimize wastage. It is useful for removing sticky substances from the bottom of your blender. This helps to keep your blender parts clean and operational.

Tamper holder

When blending food, you need to keep a watchful eye on the blades and make sure they’re not getting stuck. You also need your tamper close at hand to tackle any blockages as they occur. One way to keep your tamper handy is by purchasing a tamper holder. This ensures your tamper is always within grabbing distance.

With your tamper close at hand, you can be sure your blender is never overworked or overheated.

A range of containers

Owning a range of containers helps if you want to blend several recipes at once. It’s also useful if you want to extend the longevity of each individual container. By keeping each container reserved for a specific food type, they will stay in good condition.

Common Questions on Making Vitamix Blenders Last

How do I make my Vitamix container clean again?

To make your Vitamix clean again, fill the container halfway with warm water (not hot) and add a cup of white vinegar. Leave it alone for several hours or even overnight. Later, rinse out the vinegar water mixture. The Vitamix container can sometimes become clouded after using particularly hard ingredients.

Will a Vitamix burn out?

Modern Vitamix machines will automatically switch off before they burn out. This switch off will occur if overheating is detected. Still, you should not rely on this feature. As soon as you sense that the Vitamix may be jammed and overheating, switch it off. This will ensure the longevity of the machine.

Do any Vitamix machines have a lifetime warranty?

There are no Vitamix machines that come with a lifetime warranty. Most models come with a warranty of 7 years and in general span between 5 and 10 years. Still, it’s possible that your Vitamix will last decades.

Photo of author

Richmond Howard

Richmond Howard started World of Blenders in 2022 to help people solve all their blender issues and buy the best blender for their kitchen! He's tested dozens of blenders and on his other site, Meal Prepify, he's helped over 3 million people learn how to meal prep.

Leave a Comment