How to Clean a Mixer Grinder

How to Clean a Mixer Grinder: Step-by-Step Maintenance Guide (2026)

ByValue Kitchen Team
Editorial Note: This is an independent kitchen maintenance guide. No affiliate links are included. Recommendations apply to most standard Indian mixer grinder brands including Philips, Sujata, Preethi, Bajaj, and Butterfly.

A mixer grinder works hard in an Indian kitchen. Grinding masalas, making chutneys, blending smoothies, and pureeing gravies, all in a single appliance. That also means a lot of residue, staining, and odour buildup if you are not cleaning it correctly after each use.

The good news: cleaning a mixer grinder properly takes under 5 minutes per use. This guide covers everything from daily jar cleaning to monthly deep cleaning, gasket care, and how to remove stubborn stains and odours.

Daily Jar Cleaning (After Every Use)

The fastest and most effective method is the self-cleaning trick, it takes 30 seconds and cleans the jar without disassembling the blade.

Step 1: Rinse immediately after use. Do not let residue dry inside the jar. Rinse with water right after emptying. Dried masala or coconut chutney hardens quickly and becomes much harder to clean.

Step 2: The self-cleaning method. Half-fill the jar with warm water and add 2 to 3 drops of dish soap. Close the lid firmly and run the mixer at medium speed for 20 to 30 seconds. The soapy water cleans the blade and inner walls. Empty, rinse once with clean water, and air dry upside down.

Tip: For dry grinding jars used for masala or flour, wipe the inside with a dry cloth first before rinsing. Water and flour residue together form a paste that is harder to remove than flour alone. Dry-wipe first, then rinse.

Step 3: Clean the lid separately. Remove the lid and wash it with a soft sponge under running water. Pay attention to the rim where the lid sits on the jar, masala residue collects there. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

Step 4: Air dry completely. Never reassemble a wet jar and store it. Moisture trapped inside the jar causes mildew and metallic odours. Place the jar and lid upside down on a drying rack for at least 30 minutes before storing.

Blade Cleaning and Safety

Safety first: Never put your hand directly on the blade. Mixer grinder blades are extremely sharp. Always use a brush or cloth held from the side to clean around the blade, never reach in with your fingers.

The self-cleaning method handles most daily blade residue. For stubborn residue stuck between the blade and the blade assembly, use a small bottle brush or an old toothbrush dipped in soapy water. Work the bristles around the blade base where the blade meets the shaft, this is where masala paste and coconut residue accumulate most.

To remove the blade assembly for deep cleaning, unscrew it carefully (most Indian mixer grinder blades unscrew by turning clockwise when viewed from the bottom, opposite to regular screws). Wash the blade assembly under running water with a brush. Dry completely before reassembling.

Note on blade sharpness: Mixer grinder blades do not need sharpening the way kitchen knives do. They work by impact and rotation rather than slicing. If grinding performance has dropped, the issue is usually the motor or a worn gasket, not the blade sharpness.

Gasket and Seal Maintenance

The rubber gasket (the ring that sits between the blade assembly and the jar) is one of the most overlooked parts of a mixer grinder. It prevents leaks during blending and wears out faster than anything else on the appliance.

How to clean the gasket: Remove the gasket from the blade assembly after every few uses. Wash it with warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Rinse and dry completely before placing it back. Do not use hot water, very hot water causes rubber to expand and lose its shape over time.

Signs your gasket needs replacing: If the jar leaks from the bottom during blending, if you can see cracks or tears in the rubber, or if the gasket has become hard and inflexible, it is time to replace it. Gaskets for most Indian brands cost Rs. 20 to Rs. 80 and are available at local appliance repair shops or online.

Store gaskets away from direct sunlight and heat. UV exposure and heat accelerate rubber degradation. Keep spare gaskets at home, they are inexpensive and running without one damages the jar and blade assembly.

Cleaning the Motor Body

Never submerge the motor body in water. The motor, switch, and electrical components are inside the base. Even a small amount of water entering through the coupling or base vents can permanently damage the motor.

Wipe the motor body with a damp cloth, not a wet one. Wring out as much water as possible before wiping. Focus on the coupling area at the top (where the jar locks in) where food residue collects, the ventilation slots at the sides and bottom, and the exterior casing.

For stubborn dried-on stains on the body, apply a small amount of dish soap to a damp cloth and gently rub the stained area. Wipe off immediately with a clean damp cloth. Never let soapy water sit on the body or drip into any opening.

Clean the coupling (the toothed connector at the top of the motor body) with a dry brush to remove any dried masala or coconut that falls in during use. This keeps the jar locking mechanism working properly.

Removing Stains and Odours

Indian cooking produces some of the most challenging stains, turmeric, tamarind, red chilli, and coconut oil all leave marks inside jars and on gaskets.

Turmeric stains (yellow): Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of dish soap and water to form a paste. Apply to the stained area, let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub with a soft sponge and rinse. For plastic jars, placing the jar in sunlight for a few hours after cleaning also helps fade turmeric stains naturally through UV exposure.

Coconut and masala odour: Half-fill the jar with water and add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Run for 30 seconds, empty, and rinse well. Vinegar neutralises the fatty odour from coconut and oil-based masalas. For very persistent smells, leave lemon peels inside the sealed jar overnight, citrus absorbs odours effectively.

Red chilli staining on gaskets: Soak the gasket in warm water with a few drops of dish soap for 15 minutes. The staining may not fully disappear, but the capsaicin residue (which causes the smell and staining) breaks down with soaking. Replace the gasket if staining is very deep.

For stainless steel jars: Make a paste of baking soda and lemon juice, apply to the interior, wait 5 minutes, and scrub. This removes both stains and odours without scratching the steel. Rinse thoroughly before the next use.

Monthly Deep Clean

Once a month, do a complete disassembly and clean of every removable component.

Step 1: Disassemble all jars. Remove the blade assembly from each jar by unscrewing it. Separate the blade, jar body, lid, and gasket.

Step 2: Soak jar bodies and lids. Place in a basin of warm soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes. This loosens any residue in the threads where the blade screws in and in the lid edges.

Step 3: Clean blade assembly and gasket. Use a bottle brush around the blade shaft. Clean the gasket as described in the section above.

Step 4: Clean the coupling and motor top. Use a dry brush to clean the coupling thoroughly. Wipe the entire body with a well-wrung damp cloth.

Step 5: Dry every part completely before reassembly. Lay all components on a clean dry towel for 30 to 60 minutes. Any moisture in the blade threads or gasket groove causes rust and odour.

Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

Putting jars in the dishwasher: Most Indian mixer grinder jars are not dishwasher safe. The high heat and detergent degrade the gasket and can warp plastic jar components. Always hand wash.
Soaking the entire jar with blade attached: When you soak the assembled jar, water enters the blade shaft bearing. Over time this causes rust in the bearing and the blade assembly becomes loose and wobbly. Disassemble before soaking for monthly deep cleans.
Leaving the jar stored wet: Wet storage causes the gasket to develop mildew and the inside of the jar develops a musty smell that transfers to food. Always dry completely before closing and storing.
Using harsh chemical cleaners on the body: Bleach or abrasive chemical sprays damage the plastic casing and can seep into the ventilation slots. Use only mild dish soap on a damp cloth for the motor body exterior.

Cleaning Schedule at a Glance

Part Frequency Method
Jar (inside) After every use Self-clean with soapy water, 30 seconds
Lid After every use Rinse and wipe with soft sponge
Blade area (brush) Every few uses Bottle brush with soapy water
Gasket Weekly Remove, wash, dry, replace
Motor body exterior Weekly Damp cloth wipe only
Full disassembly deep clean Monthly Disassemble, soak jar bodies, clean all parts, dry fully

Looking for a mixer grinder? Read our best 1000W mixer grinders in India guide or the Sujata MG01 vs MG03 comparison to find the right model for your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put mixer grinder jars in the dishwasher?

Most Indian mixer grinder jars are not dishwasher safe. The high heat in a dishwasher degrades rubber gaskets quickly and can warp plastic components over time. Stainless steel jars may survive dishwasher cycles but the gasket will not. Always hand wash mixer grinder jars and their components.

How do I remove turmeric stains from mixer grinder jars?

Make a paste with baking soda and a few drops of dish soap. Apply it to the stained surface, wait 10 minutes, then scrub with a soft sponge and rinse well. For plastic jars, leaving them in direct sunlight for a few hours after cleaning helps fade turmeric stains naturally through UV exposure. Stainless steel jars respond well to a baking soda and lemon juice paste applied for 5 minutes.

My mixer grinder jar smells of coconut even after washing. How do I remove it?

Half-fill the jar with water, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, close the lid, and run for 30 seconds. Empty and rinse well. Vinegar neutralises the fatty odour from coconut residue effectively. For very persistent smells, seal lemon peels inside the jar overnight. The citrus absorbs remaining odours by the next morning.

How often should I replace the gasket?

Replace the gasket as soon as you notice any cracking, hardening, or the jar leaking from the bottom during blending. With regular use (once or twice daily in an Indian kitchen), gaskets typically last 6 to 12 months. They are inexpensive, Rs. 20 to Rs. 80 per gasket, and widely available. Most brands sell compatible gaskets online and at local appliance repair shops.

Can I wash the motor body under a tap?

No. Never wash the motor body under a tap or submerge it in water. The motor, switch, and electrical components inside the base will be permanently damaged by water. Clean the motor body only with a well-wrung damp cloth. Make sure no water enters the ventilation slots, the coupling at the top, or the base of the unit.

This guide covers general cleaning and maintenance guidelines for standard Indian mixer grinders. Always refer to your specific model’s user manual for manufacturer instructions. ValueKitchen is an independent kitchen resource for Indian households.

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