In this day and age, it is almost impossible to live without a blender. So many recipes require you to blend one thing or the other. Most of us love to prepare fruit smoothies, especially during the hot season. Vegetable soups, fruit yogurts, milkshakes, juices, all require the use of a blender.
The most annoying thing about blenders, however, is their noise level. If you have a young baby or a senior in your home, who hates loud noises, you have to do something. The worst part about the noise is that the stronger your blender’s engine, the louder it is. It is a delicate balance between wanting a powerful blender and waking your baby up while you prepare dinner. You have to choose, and of course, you will decide to buy a powerful blender and look for ways to keep the noise down.
10 Steps How to Reduce Blender Noise
If you hate noise, you can use the following steps on how to reduce blender noise:
1. Reposition the Blender
The position of your blender is significant. Most of us tend to place blenders in a corner or close to the kitchen wall. This is a huge mistake. The blender noise is amplified by bouncing off the kitchen walls, making it sound louder than it is.
Simply move the blender further from the walls. You can move it to the kitchen center on the kitchen island if you have on, or place it on a table or stool. If you cannot move it permanently, consider shifting it while blending, then putting it back in its corner after use.
2. Use a Fluffy Towel Under The Blender
Placing a towel or a silicone mat under your blender reduces blender noise. Our kitchen countertops are mostly made from granite or wood, and the blender tends to vibrate on the hard surface, amplifying the noise. Placing a towel under the blender absorbs most of this noise, reducing it by a significant margin. This solution will not cost you a dime, and you will not have to worry about waking the baby, grandma, or annoy the neighbors!
You can also use two fluffy towels to muffle the noise by:
- Wrapping the motor unit without covering controls
- Wrap the other fluffy towel around the blending jar and blend.
The towels muffle any noise, and you will not have to break the bank while at it! Just ensure your towels are fluffy enough for the job.
3. Buy a Silicone or Rubber Mat
Another solution is a silicone or rubber mat, which requires minimal investment. This method solves two problems in one go. It silences the blender by absorbing the vibrations and helps to protect your kitchen countertop against spills and to prevent the blender from sliding if your countertop is smooth.
4. Build a Noise Enclosure Box
Buying a sound enclosure box will set you back between $100 and $200. Why spend money when you can quickly build your box? All you need is some cardboard, wood or plastic to make a box. Line the inside with some thick material that can absorb the noise.
Ensure the box is slightly larger than your blender. One side should be open for operating the blender. A wooden enclosure box is the easiest to make as wood is easy to work with and line the inside with some soundproofing foam.
If you do not have the time to make a box or simply do not want to risk it, you can always buy one. Before buying one, look at the box’s qualities, especially its size and your blender’s size and brand. Some blender brands usually have soundproof boxes made for the specific brand, so be careful about that. The box encloses the blender and does not let the sound out, or at least reduces it to a manageable level.
5. Soundproof
Do you have little space in your kitchen? Do you have nowhere else to place your blender other than the kitchen corner or against the wall? The solution you are left with might be soundproofing your surroundings.
Get soundproof foam and place it to the wall nearest your blender. The foam will reduce any echo the blender motor produces. The soundproof foam is easy to install, using a double-sided tape, which is readily available.
You can also soundproof the entire kitchen if you so wish, or just choose the wall, floor, or ceiling that separates you from your neighbors. If you own the house, you may consider permanently soundproofing the kitchen. It might cost you a little more, but it saves you the trouble of soundproofing parts of the kitchen.
6. Combine a Towel and a Soundproof Enclosure
Use the towel method and a soundproof enclosure to reduce blender noise in your kitchen. The enclosure box does not entirely drown out the blender noise, so combining both these two options make the noise reduce significantly by bouncing the noise inside the enclosure walls and the towel.
Fold a fluffy towel and line it inside the box enclosure, then place the blender on top of the towel. This works like a charm, and you will not need to spend a dime if you already own an enclosure box.
7. Blend the Night Before
If you are an early riser, and you take your smoothie either to work or after an early workout, you do not want to wake your family or the whole neighborhood. Blend your smoothie the previous night and refrigerate it in an airtight container. Shake it in the morning before drinking ad you are good to go. It may not be the ideal method if you like freshly made smoothies, but if you have no other option, it will have to do.
Ensure you prepare your ingredients earlier before blending them. Cut your fruits into small chunks and mix in a bowl, ready for blending. If you have frozen ingredients, defrost them before blending. Do not throw large chunks into the blender jar, as it makes more noise while blending them, and runs for longer.
8. Buy a Silent Blender
Over the years, blenders have evolved, with their speed and power increasing. It is tough to get a quiet blender that will not make enough noise to wake your family or the neighbors in the morning. A silent blender is quite an expensive solution.
A silent blender does not necessarily mean noiseless. The silent blender buzzes, but the buzzes are manageable and cannot disturb anyone. When buying a silent blender, remember that quiet is relative. The noise from a blender originates from the motor, the blades, and the blending ingredients. This means blending frozen yogurt or fruit makes more noise than blending some soup.
No blender manufacturer will share the blender’s decibel levels, so you need to look at speed, performance, and noise. As much as you look at the noise levels, the speed should matter more. The faster the blender, the less time it runs. Some silent blenders come with jars that have special features such as double walls, which muffle the sound. Others come with enclosures that block out the noise but are more expensive and bulkier.
You need to know the maximum amount of power the blender motor can produce to prevent heat damage. You can find this info in horsepower and wattage. Horsepower is the power the blender generates, while wattage is how much power the motor consumes. One horsepower or HP is equal to 746 watts. Motors with higher rates are more efficient and powerful.
The number of speeds is also another factor when buying a silent blender. Speed determines the consistency of your mixture. More speed means the blender is adjustable and works faster, even when blending tough combinations.
9. Buy Noise Reducing Earmuffs
Buying noise-reducing earmuffs may only be a solution if you live alone, and in an area with no neighbors. If you have neighbors and have already soundproofed your kitchen, but still do not want to hear the blender’s noise, buy yourself some noise-reducing earmuffs.
If you have children or family members who are disturbed by the blender’s noise levels, you may also consider this solution, although it only works for exclusive neighborhoods..
10. Do not go for Very Low-Cost Blenders
When buying appliances, we tend to look for those that cost the lowest price. Most times, cheap is expensive, and when purchasing a blender, stay away from those with a very low cost. These very low-cost blenders are the noisiest.
Even if you are operating on a budget, remember a blender is an investment, and you get what you pay for. Go for a decently priced blender as the cheap ones may cost you more in the long run. Save a little longer if you have to, and buy a blender that will be quieter, and serve you longer.
Some manufacturers may claim their blender is the best, yet the price says otherwise. Beware of such cons. Buy from reputable manufacturers who have been in the market a while, with tested and tried products.
Go online and check the product review of the blender by customers before you make a purchase. Numerous sites dedicate their time to reviewing products and giving honest opinions. Check those out as well.
Final Thought
The noise from a blender is very annoying, especially late at night or early in the morning when you are trying to catch some sleep. Being considerate of others means you should strive to look for ways how to reduce blender noise.
Even the quietest blender will produce some noise, just not as loud as the traditional blenders. The above tips will help to significantly reduce the noise your blender makes, and will not cost you anything. Silent blenders are pricey, but you can get quieter and quite decent blenders for a fair price. Stay away from cheap blenders; they will mess you up eventually.