The Easy Trick To Make Your Old, Tired Blender Sparkly Clean & Shiny

It's no surprise, then, that what starts as a shiny beacon on my kitchen counter inevitably becomes tired, less-than-transparent, and decidedly un-Instaworthy. One day, tired of the aged-looking blender marring my kitchen, I decided to see if there was anything I could do to restore my container to its sparkling youth. The good news? There definitely is.

Sometimes, though, even if you're cleaning it regularly, it can get a little grubby. "If you blend mineral-rich fruits and vegetables or if you have hard water, over time you may find a white film on the inside of the container," explains a brand rep from Vitamix. "One way to remove this is by pouring one cup of white vinegar into the container. Then, fill it halfway with warm water and let it soak overnight. In the morning, pour out the contents and use a soft pot scrubber to clean the remaining residue. Good as new!"

One of the best ways to keep your blender clean is by avoiding the things that make it appear less than perfect in the first place. "Beets, carrots, turmeric, and coffee grinds stain plastic," explained Ashley Hosmer, a brand representative for Nutribullet, "so avoid those if you want to keep your blender in new condition!" According to Hosmer, It's also important to consider not only the ingredients you're using but the order in which you add them. "Add your nut butters and other sticky ingredients last to prevent them from sticking to the sides," Hosmer says. A professional recipe developer also notes that she either soaks her nuts and seeds or puts them in the middle of her mixture, so the hard edges don't scratch the container.

A dirty-looking blender isn't the end of the world, of course—if we learned anything from The Velveteen Rabbit, it's that well-loved items can be even more special. The scratches and discoloration on your blender are badges of honor—but now, if you want a clean slate, you know how to get there.