I bought a blender a few months ago and it's not working like it used to. When I make smoothies or purées, I end up with unliquefied bits and lumps everywhere. Is it just a matter of changing the blades or should I just bite the bullet and get a new one?
Before you spend money on a new one, try these things that usually fix the problem. First, check the blades: if they're dented, worn down, or bent, that's almost definitely where the issue is. They often bend without you noticing, especially if you blend hard things or ice regularly. Unscrew the base (usually with a small wrench) and look carefully for any damage. If the blades are fine, then the problem might be the rubber gasket that seals the jar: if it's worn out, the contents don't mix properly because air gets in and creates dead zones. Also make sure the jar is properly seated on the base - sometimes a bad connection causes the same thing.
If you decide to change the blades, find your blender's exact model and see if you can find replacement parts on Amazon, appliance stores, or eBay. It usually ends up way cheaper than a whole new blender. The gasket is easy to replace too. Here's the thing: if your blender is a couple of years old and you've already had to do several repairs or adjustments on it, maybe it's worth investing in a new one with a warranty. But if it's just a blade or gasket problem, with 30-50 euros worth of parts it'll work like new again. Try fixing it before you throw money away - most of the time it's a quick and cheap fix.
Did you put the blender on a flat surface when you used it, or did you move it around a lot during the process?
What they said above about the blades is fine, but there's another thing people forget: if you don't pour the contents well around the blades or if you overload the blender with really thick ingredients, you'll get lumps even if the blades are perfect.
Before buying a new one, try adding a bit more liquid, blend in pulses instead of continuous, and put the harder ingredients in first so they break down. If that still doesn't work, then it's worth replacing the blades - they're usually cheap and a lot of blenders come with spare parts.
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