Silence that Blender! Top Techniques for a Smoother, Quieter Blend
Do you find yourself avoiding using your blender early in the morning or late at night to avoid disturbing your family or neighbors? Are you looking for ways to dampen the noise coming from your blender so you can use it anytime without disruption?
Blenders are notoriously loud appliances, especially high-powered models used for tough tasks like crushing ice or frozen ingredients. The high motor speeds, fast-spinning blades, and vibrations all contribute to un noise.
Luckily, there are several simple, affordable ways to soundproof your blender and allow you to keep blending without all the racket.
Some of the things you can do to soundproof your blender include using a sound-dampening mat and feet pads to minimize the vibrations between the blender and countertop surface and getting a blender sound enclosure that covers the whole blender, which traps the noise.
There are also some more things you can do which I will go into in more detail In this article. So let's explore 5 easy ways to reduce blender noise.
5 Easy Ways to Reduce Blender Noise: At a glance
1. Use a Sound Dampening Mat
2. Install Sound Dampening Pads
3. Make a Soundproof Box
4. Get a blender sound enclosure
5. Buy a Blender with a Noise-Reducing Cover already fitted
Why Are Blenders So Loud?
First, let's look at why blenders make so much noise in the first place. There are three main culprits:
Fast motor speeds - Blender motors spin at very high rpm (revolutions per minute) to pulverize ingredients. Powerful motors with speeds ranging from 10,000 to 35,000 rpm or more are common. The faster the motor spins, the louder the noise as it works to blend tough ingredients.
Spinning blades - The sharp, stainless steel blades also spin rapidly, cutting through ingredients. Most blenders have 3-4 blades arranged in various patterns on the bottom of the pitcher. As the hard blades slice and chop at high speeds, the friction and impact on food causes loud noises.
Vibrations - The powerful motor and blades cause intense vibrations as they operate. These vibrations transfer through the base and into your countertop, amplifying the sound. Harder surfaces like granite, stainless steel, and glass will reverberate more noise than wood or laminate.
Understanding the source of blender noise will help us target ways to reduce it through soundproofing techniques. Now let's look at 5 methods to make your blender quieter.
5 Easy Ways to Reduce Blender Noise
1. Use a Sound Dampening Mat
One of the easiest ways to reduce blender noise is to place a sound-dampening mat underneath it. These thick, rubbery mats are designed to absorb vibrations rather than transfer them to the countertop which causes noise. The mat creates a barrier between the blender and the counter, blocking vibrations and dissipating the sound.
Look for a silicone, rubber, foam, or felt mat. The higher the density, the better for reducing noise. Mats typically measure anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2" thick.
Place the mat on your countertop and set the blender on top while operating to dampen the sound. Using a sound-dampening mat can decrease noise transfer significantly to a manageable amount of sound. This simple and cheap solution cuts down on noise transfer and isolation.
2. Install Sound Dampening Pads
Another quick fix is to install small sound-dampening pads under the four corners or feet of the blender base. These pads work the same way as the mat by absorbing vibrations so they don't amplify noise. Self-adhesive pads can be attached under each foot in just a few minutes.
Look for pads made of dense rubber, foam, or felt materials approximately 1/4" thick and several inches in diameter to adequately support the blender.
The heavy-duty pads isolate the blender base from the counter and prevent contact that transfers vibrations. Investing in a set of good quality, heavy-duty sound-dampening pads is an easy and cheap upgrade to make your blender run quieter.
Related articles:
3. Make a Soundproof Box
For even more noise reduction, you can contain the blender inside an insulated box while running it. Packing the blender inside a box lined with acoustic foam panels creates a soundproof barrier that muffles noise.
This requires a bit of time and effort but If you don't mind putting your hands to some of DIY you can construct a simple box frame out of medium-density fiberboard, plywood, or plastic sheets.
Cut panels to size and attach 1-2 inch thick high-density insulation foam or mass-loaded vinyl sheets to the interior sides using spray adhesive or screws.
Use the highest-density foam you can find for best results. Add a hinged door with a latch to keep the box tightly closed while blending. The door can have a small cutout to fit the blender cord.
For a more finished look, construct an enclosure box out of wood and line it with foam. Paint or stain the exterior for aesthetics. The closed box contains all the noise so you can blend in peace without disturbing the whole house.
Here is a helpful video that shows you have to make a soundproofing box for a blender:
4. Get a blender sound enclosure
If you don't have the time or skills to make a box of your own there are several ready-made soundproof cases on the market you can buy to enclose your blender.
These noise-reducing cases are designed to sit on your countertop and surround the blender with noise-blocking materials. They have cutouts for the blender cord and vent holes but remain closed while operating to reduce noise.
To help lock in the noise most effectively look for a sound-dampening case constructed using durable, transparent, impact-modified acrylic that is nearly a quarter-inch thick. You can also buy them lined with sound Dampening Matts or you can get them separately and line them yourself.
Whisper Blender is an example of a company that specializes in sound enclosures for blenders.....Go to Whipser Blender
Related articles:
5. Buy a Blender with a Noise-Reducing Cover already fitted
If you have some spare cash then upgrading to a blender already fitted with a noise-cancelling cover may be a good option.
Many popular blender brands now offer models that come equipped with noise-reducing sound enclosures or covers.
Just like the sound enclosure boxes these covers feature acoustic insulation to dampen blender noise while in use. Covers typically completely enclose the pitcher and lid while blending as opposed to the whole of the blender.
There is a wide range of smoothie blenders on the market for home use and prices have come down from the days when only commercial models came with noise-cancelling covers.
Conclusion
Annoying blender noise can be a thing of the past with these simple soundproofing techniques and equipment upgrades. Using a sound-dampening mat, vibration pads, enclosure box, muffler cover, or investing in a quiet blender model with a noise-reducing cover will allow you to keep blending without disturbing the whole house.
Implementing methods like a rubber mat, foam layered box, or muffler can drastically reduce blender noise for very little cost. Purchasing a blender specifically designed for quiet operation gives the best long-term results. With a few tweaks to your blending setup, you can blend smoothies, purees, batters, and more at any hour without sacrificing peace and quiet!
Give one or more of these noise-reducing tips a try for a soundproof blender experience. What tricks have worked for making your blender less disruptive? Let us know in the comments below!
About Author:
Gavin is the owner of Tru Foo Juice Bar. He has over 6 years of experience running a juice bar and creating juice and smoothie recipes for the consumer market.
His passion for juicing began in his early 20s as he explored natural ways to boost nutrition and energy. Over the years, Gavin has experimented with countless ingredient combinations to create the perfect juice and smoothie blends and bring them to the masses.
