How to Sharpen Vitamix Blades: Avoid Dull Blender Blades

If you want to find out how to sharpen Vitamix blades, then this post is for you. If you have a Vitamix blender, then the blades need to be sharpened over time.

How do you know when it is time for your blades to be sharpened? You will notice that the food isn’t being blended as well as usual and there are chunks remaining in the container. Dull blades can make it difficult to blend ingredients and they can also cause unnecessary wear on the motor.

There are many reasons that blades will lose their edge over time, but most commonly they become dulled because of hard ingredients like ice cubes. In this article, I will discuss how to sharpen Vitamix blender blades and why they need to be done.

Why Should I Sharpen my Vitamix Blender Blades?

In order to blend ingredients smoothly, the blades need to be sharp and in good condition. If they are dull or bent out of alignment then it will make blending difficult and less efficient which can result in damage to the motor.

Dull blades can also cause a buildup of food particles and other residues on the blades, which can lead to bacterial growth. The bacteria from this build-up will be blended into your smoothie or soup as you use it so it is important that there is no residue stuck on the surface of the blade.

If you notice that your smoothie isn’t as smooth and it has chunks and ice cubes in it, then the blades will need to be sharpened. If you don’t sharpen your blades after noticing this or if they become too badly damaged, then there is a risk of the motor being burned out because it may overheat while trying to blend food items with dulled blades.

How do I Know if my Vitamix Blades Need Sharpened?

There are a few tell-tale signs that your Vitamix blades need to be sharpened. If you are experiencing any of these issues, then it may be time to sharpen your blades.

Inconsistent Blending

If your blending is inconsistent, then it may be time to sharpen the blades. This means that foods are not being blended well and you can sometimes see chunks of food in your smoothie or soup.

When the Vitamix blades become dull, they will have trouble breaking down ingredients like ice cubes into smaller pieces. You should also notice that there are large chunks remaining within the container when using a low-speed setting on your blender which indicates that it needs sharpening.

Using More Power Than Usual

While trying to blend hard ingredients with dulled blades, you might find yourself increasing the speed because normal speeds aren’t strong enough for this type of ingredient. By turning up the power too much so it’s at a higher speed, you are putting extra strain on the motor which can result in damage.

If your blades need sharpening then this will be a common occurrence that occurs more often over time. If this is happening to you and it doesn’t seem like normal power mixing with hard ingredients, then it may be an indication that your Vitamix blender’s blade needs to be sharpened.

How to Sharpen Vitamix Blades

The process of sharpening blades is very quick and easy. It can be done at home with items that you will find around the house, so it won’t cost anything out of pocket. The best way to sharpen your Vitamix blender blade is by using a wet stone.

Unplug the Blender and Remove the Blade

Make sure to unplug your Vitamix blender before you begin. You also need to remove the blade from the pitcher so that there is nothing in its way when you are using a wet stone on it. The easiest way to do this is to detach the gasket that houses the blade.

Wet Your Stone and Blades

Place some warm water onto your sharpening stone to help lubricate the blades as they are being sharpened. It’s important not to use too much water because this may cause the blades to slip against the stone.

The water will also help to remove any food or residue that may be stuck on the blade.

Holding the Blade Gently, Run it Against the Stone

Put on a thick pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. Place one hand firmly onto your sharpening stone and run each blade over the stone. Try to keep the blade at a 15-degree angle, and sharpen the blade under running water.

This process should only take about 15 seconds for each blade because the blades are so thin and don’t require much sharpening. Over-sharpening can damage the blades.

Wipe Off Any Residue with a Paper Towel or Cloth

Make sure that you wipe off any excess residue from your blades after sharpening them so there is no buildup of dust from the stone. The best way to ensure this is by using warm water and soap on either a cloth or paper towel before wiping down the surface of each blade one at a time.

Rinse With Warm Water Once All Surfaces are Cleaned

After all of the blades have been wiped clean, rinse them under warm running water for about 15 seconds on each side until they are shiny and clean. You can then dry them with a clean paper towel or cloth to prevent any bacteria from forming on the blades.

Put Your Blades Back into Their Housing and Tighten it Up

Once all of your blades are cleaned, you can put the blade back into its housing by first reattaching any gaskets that were removed during sharpening. You should also tighten up all screws so there are no loose parts inside of your Vitamix blender’s pitcher which could cause damage if they become unattached while blending food items together.

Plug in your Vitamix Blender and Test

After putting the newly sharpened blade back into place, plug your Vitamix blender in again and turn it on to test out your blade. This should be done after each time you sharpen the blades in order to see if they are working correctly and whether or not a new stone is required because of too much material buildup on either side of it.

How Often Should I Sharpen my Vitamix Blades?

You should only need to sharpen your Vitamix blades once every 6 – 12 months. Sharpening them more will cause the blades to become weaker, which may result in them breaking.

Also, be sure to check your warranty. Sharpening the blades of your Vitamix blender may void your warranty, and you could be responsible for any repairs that need to be made.

Can I Buy Replacement Blades Instead?

If your Vitamix blender blades are dull and you don’t feel comfortable sharpening them yourself, you can also buy replacement blades. Some Vitamix blenders come with a limited lifetime warranty or even 30-day money-back guarantee to make up for this high cost of replacing the blade yourself.

How to Sharpen Vitamix Blades – Final Thoughts

Vitamix blades need to be sharpened over time. Dull blades can make it difficult to blend ingredients and they can also cause unnecessary wear on the motor.

If you have a Vitamix blender, eventually your blades will lose their edge when blending hard ingredients like ice cubes. Luckily it is simple to sharpen Vitamix blades at home, and it will give you a much-improved blending experience.

This article has discussed how to sharpen Vitamix blender blades as well as why this step needs to happen periodically throughout the life span of your appliance. I hope you have found this post helpful.