What Causes Sticky Blender Buttons and How to Fix Them

Is your trusty blender refusing to turn on? Are the buttons stuck in place no matter how hard you mash them? Don’t settle for living without your morning smoothies or throw your appliance out yet! With a few troubleshooting techniques and DIY repairs, you can often get those stuck blender buttons moving freely again.

Blenders take quite a beating during food prep. All that steam, grease, food particles, and daily use can take a toll over time. But most button issues can be fixed with minimal effort and a few inexpensive parts.

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Causes of sticky buttons

When blender buttons refuse to budge, your first step is some detective work to determine the cause. Before working on any appliance, make sure it’s turned off and disconnected from the power source.

Food or other debris caught in the buttons

After months or years of blending a variety of ingredients, it’s inevitable that food particles, oils, or other gunk will build up around the buttons.

How to fix:

• Disconnect the blender from its power source.
• Inspect the openings around each button for any visible debris.
• Remove the jar and place the blender base upside down.
• Grab a clean toothbrush and gently brush around the blender buttons, scrubbing out any built-up grease or crumbs.
• Use a dry cloth to wipe away any residue loosened by brushing.

Mechanical issues with the button assembly

If a good scrubbing fails to get your blender buttons moving smoothly, the issue may be mechanical. The plastic button assembly may have warped slightly or a specific part may have broken.

How to disassemble the base to inspect the button assembly up close:

• Unplug the blender.
• Carefully place the base upside down on a stable surface to avoid scratching the exterior.
• Check the base housing and see if there are any screws securing the bottom housing in place. Some screws might be concealed under rubber feet.
• Once you have found the screws, carefully and gently pry apart the two halves of the base housing using a flathead screwdriver. Be very careful to prevent any potential damage or cracking of the plastic components.

After removing the base housing, you’ll have a clear line of sight to visually inspect the buttons and the internal switch:

• Press each button and pay attention to any rough or sticky movements that you may feel.
• Check for any broken plastic parts that may be obstructing the correct functioning of the buttons.
• Look for any signs of melting or warping caused by overheating. If you do come across melted or warped areas, you’ll need to replace the damaged part(s).

If all mechanical parts seem intact, dirty electrical contacts are likely the culprit of the sticky buttons.

Electrical contact issues

The buttons on your blender are connected to electrical contacts that complete a circuit when pressed. Just like any switch, these contacts can become dirty or corroded over time.

Before replacing the entire internal switch, you can try cleaning the contacts using an electrical contact cleaner spray. This powerful cleaner dissolves built-up grime so the buttons glide smoothly again with each press. Here are the steps:

• Turn the blender off and disconnect it from the power source.
• Spray a generous amount of electrical contact cleaner directly into the blender button openings.
• Press the buttons multiple times to work the cleaner in.
• Allow the blender buttons to fully dry before reassembling and testing.

If the cleaner fails to get those buttons moving freely, you’ll need to replace the switch assembly.

Read More: Your Kitchen Cleaning Chemical Guide

How to replace defective or broken switch assemblies

If you can’t get the buttons to move better by cleaning the electrical contacts, the switch assembly itself will need to be replaced. Thankfully, you can easily swap in a new switch assembly in most blenders with basic mechanical skills. Here’s how:

• Research the specific replacement switch needed for your blender model. It is important to keep in mind that switch assemblies are not universal and vary depending on the blender’s make and model.
• Open up the base housing to gain access to the button switch. Take a moment to carefully inspect how the current switch is mounted. (Take pictures to help you remember where everything goes)
• Inspect how the current switch is mounted. It may be secured with small screws or snapped into plastic tabs.
• Press down on any locking tabs or remove the screws to remove the defective switch.
• Install the new switch assembly, ensuring all tabs snap into place or screws are tightened.

Be sure to test the buttons thoroughly before reassembling your blender.

Read More: 4 Simple Ways to Reduce Kitchen Waste

Takeaways & more information

With proper care and regular maintenance, your blender has the potential to help you with meal prep for many years to come. Rather than discarding it prematurely, we hope this guide has helped you consider giving it a little tender loving care and prolonging its lifespan.

If you have questions or need to order replacement parts for your home appliances, grab your model and serial number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. Once there, you can chat with a pro, speak with customer service, and find more guides on our DIY blog.

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