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Are Blenders Waterproof? (& how to dry a wet motor)

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Blenders

A blender is great for smoothies, soups, sauces, and a lot more. But let’s face it, they can get messy. And when that happens, I naturally want to use water to clean it up. But are blenders waterproof?

Blender bases are not waterproof, although the glass or metal removable container and blade assembly are typically waterproof and dishwasher safe. While the base isn’t waterproof, it can handle some water. So the best way to clean it is to wipe with a damp sponge.

But some blenders are different. 

Others may have different cleaning recommendations, and still, others may not have any dishwasher-safe parts. And what do you do if you accidentally get the motor wet? So let’s explore a little deeper and make sure we answer all your questions.

Let’s get into it.

Will it break my blender if the base gets wet?

Getting the base of your blender wet won’t immediately break. However, it could cause it to spark if it’s still plugged in and water gets inside the motor. If it does get wet, make sure to unplug it and allow it to dry for 24 hours before using it again.

The main part of your blender that you don’t want to get wet is the motor located in the base.

Normally the motor is very secure and not very accessible by water, but that doesn’t mean these things are meant to be immersed in water.

But if you do get water to the motor for some reason, there are a few things you have to be wary about.

Of course, it should go without saying that you should unplug the blender anytime it gets near a sink. And if the base does get wet, especially if it seems like it may have gotten inside the base, let all parts completely dry before putting back together and using them.

Later on, in this article, I’ll go over what would be the best way to clean your blender. Overall though, if you don’t get the motor wet, you’ll be fine. Just make sure you dry everything out before using it again.

But really, the bottom of your blender was designed with messes in mind.

Can you put water in a blender?

Yes, you can put water or other liquids in your blender to blend. But water is also great for cleaning a blender’s carafe. If you’re adding water to something you are blending, open the lid slowly, and watch your portions to ensure it doesn’t overflow.

Too much water isn’t good, and you need to watch the water’s temperature or any liquid you put in your blender.

If your liquid is too hot, you risk your blender’s top coming off and making a huge mess in your kitchen and on you. This is due to too much pressure buildup within the blender.

This goes for water, soup, and anything else you can think of. You want a warm temperature but not a hot one.

You may also be wondering if you can put sparkling water into your blender to add to your smoothies. Since sparkling water is carbonated, it would be easy to assume that would cause pressure buildup too.

This isn’t the case, though. Simply because the blades actually reduce the amount of carbonation in the drink while not eliminating it.

This makes for a light and refreshing smoothie.

How do you clean the base of a blender?

Hand wash the base of a blender with a damp sponge. Add a small amount of soap if needed, but make sure to wipe again with just water. Then allow it to air dry. If it’s just a simple mess, just wipe the base down with a Clorox wipe.

While it may be tempting to leave your blender alone after using it, you should get in the habit of washing the container after every use.

This includes the blades, and you should always do this to avoid crusty and hard to remove leftovers.

Nothing is worse than trying to squeeze your hand into a blender container to clean everything perfectly. Save yourself the time later by doing it now.

Not to mention that if you wash your containers right after using it, it’s like a quick rinse, and you’re done.

As for the base of the blender, you should always try to hand wash this. Never immerse it in water full, and don’t put it in the dishwasher!

If you want your kitchen appliances to last forever, you better start treating them right.

A clean and well-maintained blender will also help ensure your blender isn’t any noisier than necessary too.

I have a recent article on why Blendtec blenders are loud, and it’s worth taking a look at if you want to take good care of your appliances.

Just click the link to read about it on my site.

What happens if the Ninja blender motor gets wet?

If a Ninja blender motor gets wet, unplug it immediately. Wipe up any excess water, and allow it to air dry for at least 24 hours. You can also use a hairdryer aimed at the vents on the underside to help speed that process up. Just set the heat level to off or low to avoid overheating the blender parts.

Ninja blenders are their own breed of blenders, but they act like most blenders when it comes to water.

When it comes to the motor in any blender, they are not waterproof. You will have water and other liquids that happen to get through to the motor, especially if you’re cleaning the base.

Water touching the motor isn’t usually the problem.

You shouldn’t let water connect to the motor often as your Ninja blender will stop working because the mold and lack of dry surface area will cause your Ninja blender to die eventually.

But, your Ninja blender might not actually be dead, and you can revive it with another cleaning.

Seems counter-intuitive? Well, the first time your motor was exposed to water, the water stayed. When you clean it again, make sure to let it dry and try to dry as much as possible with a rag.

Once it’s all dried, you will likely come to find out that your Ninja blender is working good as new again.

Like with any appliance, you want to make sure you are cleaning them regularly and making sure they’re dry. Electronics and water DO NOT MIX!

And a motor that starts to rust or gets otherwise damaged can make a loud blender even louder!

Just how loud are Ninja blenders and what can you do to quiet them? Check out this recent article on exactly that, including the 1 surefire way to cut the noise significantly.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

If my blender base gets wet, can you dry it?

If you get the base of a blender significantly wet, make sure to unplug it. Wipe up any excess water, and if warranted, use a hair dry on low or no heat aimed at the vents to dry the interior. If, however, the water is mainly on the outside, you can simply wipe it up with a kitchen towel. 

Most blenders will have air vents located on the underside of the base, or possibly on the back.

If you set the base upside down and just let it “drain,” you’re going to get mold and have bigger problems to deal with. So make sure and leave it sitting so any water on the inside will drain down and out the vents.

If your blender has a hatch or opening on the base, you can open it to dry it.

Just make sure it’s unplugged, and be warned that if under warranty, you may be breaking the warranty by opening it up. Once the inside is accessible, simply use a dry rag to soak up any water.

To clean the other portions of the blender, as I said, make sure you clean them after each use, but if you had a bad day and forgot, I got you covered!

The blender carafe can be put in the dishwasher, along with the blade assembly, or you can wash it by hand with soap and hot water.

Make sure to scrub any leftover food and be careful of the blades.

Dry everything and reassemble. Have hard, stuck-on food? Fill the container halfway with warm soapy water and give it a few runs.

Just be careful not to get the motor wet!

Final Thoughts

Blenders are an excellent appliance for any size kitchen.

We always want to be safe with any appliance we get, no matter how small. We learned that you shouldn’t put hot water or any hot liquid into your blender.

We learned how to clean a blender and why it’s important to let everything fully dry before using it.

Blenders are not waterproof but don’t let that dampen your mood. You just have to be a little more careful, and even if water does get down there, it’s not the end of the world. Just check for mold and do a more thorough cleaning, making sure everything is dry.

Stay safe and enjoy cooking; just remember if you question it, look it up!

Jeff Campbell
Latest posts by Jeff Campbell (see all)
By Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Blenders

Rachel Stevens

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Hi, this weekend my husband immersed the lower detachable wand of the hand blender in the washing up water. the instructions and everything I read online says not to immerse that detachable part in water. My husband says it is fine because it has not got the electrical motor or any wires attached to that part and he says it's 'just plastic'. However there must surely be a reason why you cannot immerse that lower part. He says it's no big deal. So what are your thoughts on whether this is safe, bearing in mind the top half with the cord was not immersed at all. Can we just dry out that bottom part over the radiator..? Thanks!

Jeff Campbell

Thursday 14th of January 2021

Hi Rachel

The only reason I can think of to not immerse the detachable blade in water is if it was metal to possibly avoid rust. If it's plastic, it should certainly be fine as long as the handle with the cord is not still attached. After all, from a safety, care, and electrical standpoint, there's not much difference between immersing it in water or in soup.