Juicing has become an incredibly popular way to get more nutrients into your diet. Freshly squeezed juice made at home lets you control exactly what goes into your glass. But cleaning your juicer is essential. A properly cleaned juicer works better and lasts longer. Neglecting to clean your juicer can lead to mold growth, damaged parts, and juice that doesn’t taste as good.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to keep your juicer as clean as possible. Follow these tips and tricks for the ultimate in juicer hygiene.
Why Cleaning Your Juicer is So Important
Cleaning your juicer is important for several reasons:
- Keeps mold and bacteria from growing
- Prevents clogs
- Ensures quality juice taste
- Extends the life of your juicer
Prevents Mold and Bacteria Growth
Fresh produce juice has no preservatives. This makes your homemade juice prime real estate for mold and bacteria.
Little bits of produce get stuck throughout your juicer. These bits start decomposing if you don’t rinse them out. And decomposing food scraps breed mold, fungi, and bacteria.
Some molds release toxins known as mycotoxins. Research connects mycotoxins with cancer growth and organ damage. Consuming them will make you sick.
Likewise, harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella can grow. Both these bacteria cause food poisoning when ingested.
Keeping your juicer clean removes chunks, exposes all areas to air, and prevents gunk buildup. Doing so hinders mold and bacteria development.
Avoids Clogs
Pulp and fibers build up surprisingly fast inside a juicer. These fibers and sediment can clog your machine.
Clogs make juicing much more difficult on your machine. Restricting juicer parts places strain and stress on vital components.
Over time, dealing with consistent clogs causes wear and tear. This shortens the overall lifespan of your appliance.
Giving your juicer a rinse after each use prevents pesky clogs. It also removes any stuck-on produce pieces before they have a chance to dry and bond.
Yields Better Tasting Juice
How often do you rinse out reusable water bottles? Hopefully, the answer is “after every use.”
You wouldn’t want to drink stinky stagnant water stored in a dirty container. The same principle applies to juice and your juicer.
Leaving chunks of produce behind taints the flavor of your next juices. Those pieces rot and ferment right inside your appliance!
Even tiny amounts of decomposing gunk make fresh juice taste “off”. Maybe you notice unpleasant sour or bitter notes.
Giving all juicer parts a good scrubbing ensures no old bits linger behind. This keeps future juices tasting clean and crisp.
Extends Juicer Lifespan
As mentioned earlier, consistent clogs cause undue strain on juicer motors and mechanisms. Leaving debris behind wears down components much faster.
The metal teeth of extraction augers gradually degrade scraping against fibers and sediment. Motors burn out quicker working extra hard through blocked paths.
However, keeping your appliance free of buildup prevents excess friction. All parts glide smoothly like the day you got your juicer. This extends the working life by years.
Commit to routine cleanings, and your investment should last over a decade. You maximize the value gained for dollars spent on the original purchase.
Read More: Myth-Conceptions: Top Household Appliance Myths
How Often Should You Clean Your Juicer?
Ideally, you fully wash juicing parts after every single use. But realistically not everyone has the time or desire to deep clean quite that frequently.
Here’s a breakdown of recommended cleaning schedules based on how often you use your juicer:
Juice Every Day
You should absolutely wash components after each daily session. Whole fruits and veggies turn quickly, so bits left behind get smelly fast.
At minimum take apart removable sections and give them a thorough scrub and rinse. Or better yet, follow one of the juicer cleaning methods covered later in this guide.
To keep your machine in tip-top shape also do a full tear down monthly for more detailed upkeep.
Juice A Few Times Per Week
Break down and wash parts at a bare minimum after every 2-3 uses. Any longer leaves more time for gunk to accumulate.
You might be able to stretch it to once weekly if you only make a juice or two per session. Remember to disassemble fully and tackle all nooks and crannies!
As above, deep clean the whole appliance each month even if you use it infrequently.
Juice Occasionally
For light hobby juicers that only use their appliance every now and then, wash thoroughly after each session. You have no idea how long it’ll be before making juice again.
Take extra care to scrub away all debris so none lingers until next time. And absolutely detail clean monthly no matter how little you juice overall.
Supplies Needed
Having the proper gear makes appliance cleaning your juicer much easier. Arm yourself with the right tools before tackling juicer tidying:
- Dish soap – Avoid harsh detergent
- Produce brush – Reaches into crevices
- Toothbrushes – For detailed scrubbing
- Microfiber cloths – No lint or streaks
- Bottle brush – Cleans narrow tubes
- Wooden skewers – Dislodges stuck bits
- Baby bottle cleaner – Whisks away film
- Dust cover – Protects while stored
Add some white distilled vinegar or lemon juice to the mix for extra grease and mineral deposit removal power.
What Juicer Parts To Wash?
While specific components vary based on the juicer model, these general sections need regular attention:
Removable Sections
Almost all juicers feature parts that separate for easier washing access. Common removable pieces include:
- Pulp containers
- Juice jugs
- Feed tubes
- Augers
- Filter baskets
Disassembling lets you tackle awkward and hard-to-reach zones. This prevents hidden gunk buildup over time.
Take apart every section possible and give each individual component focus during cleaning.
Housing Exterior
Don’t forget the visible outer shell and base! While these sections don’t directly contact juice, splatters still happen.
Over time stains set in and secretly harbor bacteria. Make sure to wipe down all exterior surfaces as well.
Internal Mechanisms
The interior chambers and grooves deserve detail too. Use bottle brushes, pipe cleaners, or wooden skewers to gently dislodge stuck sediment hiding out of sight.
Be extremely cautious around any electrical parts inside the base. Never submerge the motor housing or power cord. Simply spot-clean this section with a barely damp rag.
Juicer Cleaning Methods
Pick one of these options as part of your regular juicer washing routine:
Hand Wash
The most basic (and time-consuming) choice is good old-fashioned hand scrubbing. This low-tech method works great when done thoroughly.
Fill sinks or basins with warm water plus gentle soap. Allow removable parts to soak for 10-15 minutes so gunk softens for easier removal.
After soaking comes the elbow grease! Use brushes, sponges, and microfiber cloths to meticulously clean every surface. Give special attention to textured areas and tiny crevices where pulp loves to hide.
Once everything appears residue-free, triple rinse under running water. Check closely for any lingering debris. Repeat scrubbing as needed on still dirty sections.
Leave all disassembled pieces out to air dry completely before the next juicing session.
Helpful extras:
- Enhance cleaning power with some vinegar or lemon juice mixed into wash water
- Use an old toothbrush to scrub awkward geometries
- Try bottle brushes and pipe cleaners to wrangle tubular paths
Dishwasher
Many juicers boast dishwasher-safe parts for easy sanitizing. Double-check your instruction manual before tossing plastic components into a wash cycle!
Dishwashers conveniently blast away surface muck using hot water and strong detergents. The intense high-pressure shower heads are especially great for cleansing small nooks.
Just be aware that certain dish soaps leave a slight film. This tastes unpleasant and some appliance materials degrade faster with repeated chemical exposure.
Use your best judgement in deciding which sections get dishwasher versus hand scrub treatment. Do what works for your schedule while maximizing component lifespan.
And as always, give the non-submersible base a separate wipe-down by hand.
Soak
For more stubborn debris and residue build up, try prolonging the soak period before any manual or machine washing. This loosens even the most stubborn dried bits.
Fill a basin or sink with a 50/50 mix of warm water and white vinegar. Allow the separated juicer parts to soak for 1-2 hours minimum. The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down plant fibers with ease.
If dealing with hard water scale, swap the vinegar for lemon juice instead. The citric acid in lemon works magic dissolving tough mineral deposits.
After a nice long soak bath, bits should rinse away with very little effort. Then sterilize as usual in hot soapy water or by running through your dishwasher.
Specialized Cleaning Areas
Certain parts of your juicer tend to collect an abundance of funky gunk. These areas need some extra attention.
Mesh Filter Basket
This fine metal screen strains juicing pulp, leaving behind a smooth liquid. It also traps a ton of wet debris!
Carefully remove any large chunks first with tweezers. Then scrub gently using a toothbrush and mild dish soap diluted in warm water.
Avoid anything too abrasive that could damage the delicate mesh over time. This includes scouring pads or spraying cleaners directly.
Finally, soak the entire basket in vinegar or lemon juice for enhanced disinfectant powers against lingering microbes.
Auger
The auger (also called a screw or drill) crushes produce against juicer strainers to extract liquid. Its sharp metal ridges tightly grip debris.
Dislodge bits by sliding a dampened wooden skewer along grooves. Then loosen further by soaking in vinegar or lemon water bath. Scrub with a bottle brush to finalize cleaning.
Feed Chute
This tube guides ingredients into augers for initial chopping action. Juice splashbacks leave it quite gross!
Use skinny brushes made for basting or cleaning baby bottles to swab the length of the chute. Scour in a twisting motion to gather clinging debris downwards for removal.
Pulp Container
Wet pulp expelled after extraction collects here. Empty and wipe down daily. But don’t forget occasional deep cleans!
About once per week remove all pulp residue by hand. Scrape off anything stuck on with a butter knife or spatula. Then wash with hot soapy water.
For the smelliest rotten cases, sanitize by filling partway with water and a bit of bleach. Rinse very thoroughly after 5 minutes before any reassembly.
Juicer Cleaning Checklist
Follow this checklist each time you clean your juicing appliance for sparkling results:
- Unplug machine first
- Disassemble all removable parts
- Check the instruction manual for dishwasher-safe components
- Remove large debris pieces by hand
- Scrub exterior housing
- Soak small parts for extra cleaning power
- Clean mesh filter basket gently
- Use specialized brushes for narrow spaces
- Wash feed chute extra carefully
- Empty pulp container fully
- Rinse and inspect everything twice
- Air dry fully before reassembly
Storing Your Juicer
Even while tucked away between juicing sessions your appliance still needs protection. Follow these storage steps:
Let Components Dry
Never reattach damp parts or cover a wet machine. Trapped moisture leads to mold growth faster than you can say “biofilm”!
Give all pieces a chance to completely air dry first. This prevents musty stenches down the road.
Reassemble Properly
Slide augers back into their rightful place and reattach any other dissembled sections before storage. Stack parts neatly to minimize dust buildup.
Use Dust Cover
Place the included plastic cover over the machine or drape it with a clean towel. This prevents specks from settling into crevices while not in use.
Give Exterior Wipe Down
Right before the next juicing day give a quick cleaning pass across the housing. Removes any new dust or grime acquired during downtime.
Freshen With Lemon And Baking Soda
Prevent strange smells from developing while in storage by using fridge deodorizing tricks.
Place a small dish filled with baking soda inside the assembled appliance. Add lemon wedges to naturally combat funk. Replace monthly.
Troubleshooting Tough Cleaning Challenges
Even if you follow best practices, extra grimy messes happen! Try these last-resort tricks when faced with problem-cleaning scenarios:
Produce Stains
Some vibrant fruits and veggies can temporarily dye plastic components. Beets, berries, and carrots are common culprits.
Luckily these food stains are harmless, albeit annoyingly ugly. Use a bleach-free oxygenating cleaner to lift discoloration without damage.
Hard Water Scale Buildup
White or yellow mineral deposits result from tap water evaporation over time. Prevent scale by always using filtered or distilled water in your juicer.
Remove the existing scale by filling the affected parts with hot vinegar topped off with lemon juice. Let soak for 8 hours, scrubbing occasionally with an old toothbrush.
Black Mold
Seeing dark mold is deeply unsettling! First, clean up offending spores immediately using diluted bleach spray. Then implement preventative measures.
Always fully disassemble, thoroughly scrub, and properly dry your appliance after every use to avoid repeats. Dampness breeds mold!
Grease And Grime
Slow buildup of general yuck is unavoidable with frequent juicing. Schedule a monthly deep cleaning session to battle this gradual accumulation.
Use degreasing dish soap and set appliance parts to soak in very hot water for increased effectiveness. Bust out metal bristle brushes as needed on certain stubborn deposits.
Funky Smells
Odd odors come from leftover debris decomposing. Remove source material with a detailed scrub down using antibacterial dish soap concentrate.
Polish wash with undiluted white vinegar followed by an extra hot rinse. Air dry fully and implement better storage habits going forward.
Also Read: Juicing 101: Tips and Solutions for Beginners
Keep Your Juicer Sparkling
Now you know how to clean every juicer component and troubleshoot any tricky messes. Put these tips into practice for a shining appliance that runs wonderfully for years on end!
Here’s a quick recap of the juicer cleaning fundamentals:
- Wash after every use for maximum juicer lifespan
- Disassemble fully and scrub each part separately
- Target hard to reach crevices using specialized brushes
- Deal with common trouble areas like screens and feed chutes
- Freshen up the exterior too – splatters sneak outside!
- Troubleshoot tough grease, mold, stains, mineral deposits, and smells
- Always let parts fully air dry before storage or reassembly
Happy juicing! May your concoctions be delicious and your cleanup minimal. Your body and appliance thank you.