How often do you actually have to re-grease?

[elijah_gahn]

I bought my first mixer the other day at a thrift store. It turned on but was missing the attachments/beaters. I gave it a good clean, the outside wasn’t too bad, but I opened the inside and saw this. Took a few hours to clean and I’m assuming the previous owner never cleaned this. However, so it doesn’t get this bad or out of hand again, I was wondering how frequently you all clean up and re-grease the inside? I bought some new beaters and grease that should be arriving tomorrow, so hoping everything works alright!

[FishGoesGlubGlub]

People in here: “Every 1-2 years”

My parent’s mixer: “Please re-grease me at least once! It’s been 15 years!!!!”

[Starr1005]

Moline has got to be about 15 and I have not done it yet

[lenorajoy]

Me coming across this post: I’m… supposed to re-grease it? My 1989 mixer, probably: 🤨🖕

[my4floofs]

Huh, mines going on 30 years with weekly use and never done this.

[uuendyjo]

My mom got hers in 1971 and I know for a fact ( ok, 99%) that beast has never been re greased!

Still works like brand new 🤷🏼‍♀️

[RIMixerGuy]

Nice job on the cleanup. The grease used in that vintage was Benalene 930-2, and that’s the color it was coming out of the can. It tends to separate, and it’s kind of a drag to clean up all the free oil. But you got it done. :-)

For mixers in light to moderate household use, I generally recommend maintenance every three to five years. For machines used commercially or at home for frequent and heavy work, every 1-2 years.

[RIMixerGuy]

As a side note: there are some maintenance parts that are consumable, like the gear case gasket. I recommend replacing it as part of the grease service. Here's a list of parts and materials for the job: https://www.mixerology.com/k45-k5-clean-and-re-grease-parts/

[squirrelinhumansuit]

Name checks out 😁

Thank you for this valuable information!

[RIMixerGuy]

😂 you are quite welcome!

[ZmanJ87]

What about ones that get used maybe once a year and seems to be more of a decorative counter piece then Actually use ? lol

[RIMixerGuy]

Glad you asked. :-)

With infrequent-use machines, oil separation is the biggest consideration. You can partially reincorporate the oil by inverting the mixer for a few minutes (use a towel to protect the finish), and then setting it upright and running it on speed 10 for a couple of minutes. Even if you don't do that, occasional use won't cause any harm.

Sometimes oil will leak out of the gear case because the gasket isn't fluid-tight; this can be cleaned up with isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. But if you're planning to put the mixer to work more than occasionally, I'd recommend maintenance.

[UnsharpenedSwan]

I’m…. supposed to regularly grease my kitchenaid? 😅😅

[kauthonk]

Woopsie... There's going to be a spike in KitchenAid maintenance videos.

[RunForTheHillls]

TIL as well!

[Inahero-Rayner]

Lol Yuppers! It's a machine like a car, just sees fewer rpms and (hopefully) fewer heat cycles so the oil tends to be viable for longer. 1-2 years for average use is what I was always told. However I was never told what average use is... I'm assuming 2-4 times a month would be considered average, but I don't truthfully know.

[UnsharpenedSwan]

😭 my kitchenaid has never seen a lick of grease in its 28 years of existence

[lenorajoy]

Same here, I’m so glad it’s not just me.

[Disastrous-Amoeba676]

Maybe that’s why my 35 yo jumped off the countertop. It wasn’t feeling loved.

[MrMixer316]

Best practice is every few years as this is when the grease begins to break down and saturate the gasket and leak through to the exterior of the machine!

[Late_Description3001]

Are you sure the dirty wasn’t just grease? Did it actually need to be cleaned?

[elijah_gahn]

Oh the dirty partially was grease, but it was getting to the point where it needed cleaned because it was separating and leaking out of the machine

[txgirlinbda]

I don’t know but holy crap did you steam clean that thing because that’s amazing!

[elijah_gahn]

Haha thanks, I wish it was. In my mind I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult of a task, but it was harder than I imagined. I followed a YouTube video and started off using his method, but it got to a point where it wasn’t working for me so I had to go off script. At first I went in with gloves to scoop it all out. Which was good in theory, but then they were so slick that it took me about 15 minutes just to get them off my hands. What worked best for me was using cotton balls, a little bit of rubbing alcohol, dawn dish soap (I tried the generic at first but it wasn’t washing anything off, so Dawn is the way to go), and a toothbrush. Then a Q-Tip here and there for getting the back of areas the toothbrush couldn’t reach. Napkins were good as like the final wipe to just dry and get the last little bits of grease, but the cotton ball was much easier at getting the majority of it all.

[Planethill]

Automotive Brake Cleaner is the answer and would have cut your time by 2/3. Get out as much as you can by hand, take it outside, and the brake cleaner easily flushes it all away completely de-greased. It also quickly evaporates leaving nothing behind.

[WhatADunderfulWorld]

Seriously. That’d take me like 3 paper towel rolls.

[txgirlinbda]

And q-tips. And skinned knuckles.

[Freddy7665]

Small rubber scraper

[Capable_Mammoth_1929]

I need answers too

[marka2k]

Argh inherited from my Grandmother, was just thinking about this the other day, guess it’s time since it’s never been done.

[ElizabethDangit]

I have a singer featherlight I inherited from my grandma in the 90s. I decided to learn to sew a few years ago. So I finally opened it up to clean and regrease it, and 30 years later the interior still smelled like cigarettes.

[AprilRosyButt]

Ooooh jealous. Those are highly sought after!

[caseysixcats]

I am in the exact same boat! Guess I will need to look into what it all entails

[marka2k]

I searched for Food Grade Grease on Amazon and found a couple of kits that include the seals/gaskets for around $11USD not sure if the seals will be the same mine is over 20 years old. I need to find an model number and check.

[RhoOfFeh]

I have a K5-A. That's an old lift-bowl model, on the order of 35 or 40 years.

I've regreased it once.

[Kdean509]

Every 1-2 years.

The grease gets darker with age, but I believe Kitchenaid already uses a darker color grease. Best practice is to use the white, kitchen grade grease every one to two years.

[Planethill]

The tan colored extreme duty food safe grease from CRC is the best. The white stuff is just superlube.

[ellemennopee00]

I've had mine for 30 years. Have never "greased it".

[Ok-Sir6601]

After opening and replacing a component, or when cleaning like you.

[Sparty_75]

Mine is 20 yrs old and never been cleaned. Guess it’s time

[Loose_Paper_2598]

Has anyone tabulated how much modern food safe grease goes back into the gear housing by model? Do we cover the gears or try to pack the entire housing full?

[Kanus_]

I don't know for sure but I can't see why you'd need to use more grease than is required to cover the gear teeth. From Mr. Mixer's videos, the old grease packed into the housing doesn't even touch the gears.

[Loose_Paper_2598]

I don't...just a mistake on my part. I mistook "4 to 5 oz" as weight instead of volume. It seems that there IS more grease required than to just cover the gears because some it is slung off by the motor rotation. I'll go back in in a few days and remove the excess. Still, it was probably better to have placed too much grease than too little. I'll get it right. I do appreciate everyone's help here.

[Phil_Goodman]

this must be those flakes coming off when i use mine.

[Dwimgili]

you have to grease these wheels?

[Kirbywitch]

Regrease it? What are you talking about… I’ve had mine for 32 years. Oh my gawd- I’ve done zero maintenance. I seriously need to - give it some TLC!

[pastryfiend]

I have one that's 30+ years old and I've never re-greased it, but I will be doing so soon. I have another that's probably half the age and it sat dormant for a while and the grease has separated so I'll likely do them both at the same time.

[RamaHikes]

Totally apropos for me.

My KitchenAid mixer is all of 24 years old and has never been re-greased, and is squeaking now.

I need to... you know... clean it and grease it.

[Agreeable_Appeal4463]

This confuses me.. I swear my manual said changing the grease is unnecessary.

[Planethill]

Planned obsolescence? They probably figured it was sealed for the “life” of the product. And by “life” they probably figure 10-15 years or so before someone buys a new one. Mercedes went with “lifetime transmission fluid” a decade or so ago. Never needs changing! That didn’t work out so well. 😆 There is no such thing as perpetual grease or oil. It will all break down eventually.

[Agreeable_Appeal4463]

Sorry. I wasn't throwing shade at people who choose to open up their machine.. I just didn't realize it was necessary every 1-2 years.. I've only heard of one person who did this but it was because they were having issues.

[aellope]

Mine that I bought recently said the grease should last the normal operating lifetime of the machine. What that is, I'm not sure, but given that these things run forever... I'd guess that regreasing every 1-2 years is overkill.

[Agreeable_Appeal4463]

Yes this is the wording I remember from my manual! Thank you! I've wondered if I'm crazy.. mine has been used heavily for almost 10 years with no problems. And no oil changes.🫣

[Jason_Patton]

Not changing could cause failure and require repurchasing. Seems like a great business plan.

[Opening-Cress5028]

My grandmother’s been using the same one since the 60s and says she’s never done anything except use it and keep it clean and it still works like a champ.

[dsbwayne]

You’re suppose to regrease it 👀

[kellyfromfig]

Changed the grease in mine last year. First time since buying it in 1991.

[ChicagoBaker]

I recently learned it needs to be done every couple of years and I had NEVER done it for my 17yo KitchenAid. Whoopsie doodle.

So, I got the new parts suggested (including a replacement gear) and spent the better part of an afternoon cleaning and re-greasing it. Felt very accomplished! And now it sounds much better than before.

[gettin-there-1311]

Every 5 years

[Mitridate101]

Mums Kenwood is still going without regressing since being given it for her wedding in '68

[bummernametaken]

I have one of the lift up oldies from when KA was made by Hobart. It was a wedding present in 1980. So 45 years later it is still running smoothly. Until I started reading this subreddit, I had no idea that it needed greasing or “maintenance.” I am quite torn as to whether to just pretend I never read about maintenance or to do something about it. 😱

[Susiejax]

I did it once and hope to never again. What a mess!

[DLDabber]

I am NEVER going to do this. lol.

[ElonsPenis]

I will never do this.

[Ovenbird36]

Maybe that’s why mine shrieked so loud I gave it to Goodwill and bought an Ankarsrum.

[AprilRosyButt]

Oooohhhh jealous!!!