How To Clean A Juicer: Simple Steps For A Clean Machine

Most people who are serious about their juicing have a dedicated appliance, but what’s the best way to clean a juicer?

In this article you’ll find complete instructions for getting your juicer back into sparkling clean condition. 

Just keep in mind that prevention is better than cure here. The overall time you spend cleaning your juicer will be much reduced if you clean it after every use, rather than waiting for problems to build up.

(If you want to explore more of my blending and juicing guides, have a look through the archive I’ve put together.)

What You’ll Need To Clean Your Juicer

The good news is that you’ll almost certainly already have access to everything you need to clean your juicer.

Here’s what you should have to hand before getting started.

• Hot water
• Standard kitchen dishwashing liquid.
• A spatula
• Cleaning attachment (or an old – clean – toothbrush)*
• A kitchen towel for drying

(* Many modern juicers are supplied with a special cleaning brush. I say “special”, but don’t worry if you’ve lost yours. You can use a toothbrush for this task, but just make sure it’s clean first.)

How To Clean Your Juicer

This isn’t a complicated process, and it’s very easy to do after each juicing session. Doing so each time will definitely make life easier in the long run, so it’s a good habit to get into.

Step 1

Turn off the mains power to your juicer and disconnect the plug from the outlet too. It’s not strictly necessary but it’s a few seconds work for a little extra peace of mind while you’re disassembling the juicer.

Step 2

Disassemble the juicer according to the owner manual. If you’ve lost yours (who hasn’t?), then every major manufacturer stores its manuals online these days.

Certain juicers can be surprisingly tricky to put back together again after cleaning, so you’ll need this anyway when you’ve finished cleaning.

Step 3

Focus on the pulp container first, as this is where the bulk of the mess will end up by design. Use a spatula to get out as much of the insides as possible, as this will make the rest of the clean up operation significantly easier.

Step 4

Fill your sink with hot water and then add a few splashes of standard kitchen dishwashing liquid. Add all of the removable components and let them soak in the water for a few minutes. 

If they’re smooth and made of plastic, wipe them down with a non-abrasive cloth. For filters and the like, give them a scrub using the cleaning brush / toothbrush.

Once cleaned, leave them to air dry while you attend to the juicer base, or dry them off with your kitchen towel.

Step 5

Next we’re going to clean the juicer base. This, obviously, can’t go into water. 

Instead, grab a clean and damp cloth and then give it a good wipe down. Make sure you get into the edges of any buttons and dials as well, as grime loves to build up in these spots. 

Once wiped down, dry the power base thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel.

Step 6

Finally, just reassemble everything according to the manual, and make sure everything is completely dry.

Once you’re happy, plug it back in and get ready to juice again!

Final Tips

Here are a few extra tips that you might find useful if you’ve not cleaned your juicer for a while.

• If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your juicer properly, let the individual components soak in the hot water for longer – a good 15 minute soak should do it. Otherwise just follow the instructions as usual.
• If your juicer is developing water spots, try diluting white vinegar and wiping it into the surface. Give it a good rinse off afterwards to get rid of the smell.
• Some juicers have dishwasher safe parts but check your owner manual carefully before adding them. Keep them in the top rack as well, so they’re further away from the heating element that’s normally located in the lower half of the dishwasher. This will help prevent plastic parts from warping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Those are some simple steps you can follow to keep your juicer healthy, clean and happy.

Before wrapping things up I wanted to answer some of the most common questions people have about cleaning their juicer.

Do You Have To Clean A Juicer After Every Use?

You don’t have to, but I definitely recommend it. The longer you leave this job, the harder it gets. You also risk the build up of bacteria if you leave old produce rotting in the components.

The instructions I’ve outlined in this article are really simple to follow, and will give better results if you clean your juicer immediately. Believe me, it’s less work in the long run…

How Do You Deep Clean A Juice Filter?

The cleaning instructions I’ve outlined in this article will do a great job of getting your juicer back into mint condition, but juice filters can be a little more problematic.

The easy answer is to soak a little longer and scrub a little harder with the cleaning attachment (or toothbrush).

If you’re still struggling to get the worst off though, try adding a little baking soda to the brush before cleaning the filter. Just make sure you rinse it off thoroughly – and dry – before reassembling the appliance.

What’s The Easiest Juicer To Clean?

For maximum convenience in terms of both juicing and cleaning, a centrifugal juicer is the best option.

There are three main juicer types on the market: centrifugal, masticating and triturating. As each type is more complex than the last, they become trickier to clean as a result. Here’s a quick snapshot of what to expect:

Centrifugal Juicers: Fast, loud but relatively inexpensive. These work by shredding the produce with blades at high speed. The simplest type of juicer to take apart and clean.

Masticating / Cold Press Juicers: Slow but achieve great juice yields from tricky ingredients like leafy greens. An auger slowly chews through the produce, which adds another element to the cleaning to do list.

Triturating Juicers: Bulky, slow and expensive, using two separate augers to grind through fruit and vegetables. More moving parts mean more components to clean.

If you’re looking for a specific juicer recommendation, have a look at my guide to buying the best easy to clean juicer. I’ve covered all budgets in that article, and have recommendations for both masticating and centrifugal juicers.

How Do You Get Celery & Carrot Stains Out Of A Juicer?

These are the most problematic ingredients to clean from a juicer, especially if you’ve left it uncleaned for a while. Celery juice in particular can cause a lot of staining.

Follow the instructions in this guide, but try soaking the components for a longer period of time. Up to 15 minutes is about right.

If that doesn’t work, try soaking the affected component in salt water instead. Add a teaspoon or so of salt to regular water and again leave it for 15 minutes.

You can also try using a little baking soda on an old toothbrush. Just be gentle with smoother surfaces so you don’t create any scratches.

Wrapping Up

I really think it’s worth making the effort to keep a juicer clean after every use. It’ll last longer, perform better, and pay off with tastier juice too.

If you get into the habit of cleaning up after each use, you’ll find yourself spending less time on the process in the long run.

Happy juicing!