I'm writing this review because I am looking for some replacement parts for my blender and saw I had never reviewed the original purchase. After 18 months of use, I wanted to give some advise on how to keep your blender working and you happy. I bought this blender to make daily smoothies for better health and to have something to stimulate my appetite for the day. I hate breakfast foods. The first tip I will give is keep the base clean inside the blender area. Wipe it after each use, especially if anything gets into the blending area. There is a tiny hole that will get clogged if you don't keep it clean. Second, make sure to keep the gaskets on the blade casing new and fresh. They will hold dirt easily, and they wear out pretty frequently, so buy some extras. Third, do not over fill your cup, especially with liquid. You can fudge a bit more with solids. Make sure to put the blade lid on tight before blending or you will be cleaning a mess daily. Fourth, get some extra cups if you can when you buy the original, as they do not hold up as well as the unit itself and are almost impossible to find replacements. If you break off the 'nubs' on the cup, the unit will not work, no matter what you do. The cup is then useless for making the blender work. Be careful with your cups and don't throw them around, as they are not really sturdy. Fifth, the cups, lids and blade lids are dishwasher safe. I don't run the blade housing through much, just wash it daily by hand and take the gasket out a few times a week to clean. Also, don't use the heated dry setting, as it could crack the cups and lids. Last, but not least! BE GENTLE WITH USING THE CUP TO START THE MOTOR. Don't force the cup into the unit, press it in gently. If it doesn't start the first time, take the cup out and reposition. I see a lot of reviews on here about the motors not working, etc. This is a small motor made overseas. It is not a generator engine! It will break if you are impatient and rough on it. And it will break the nubs off of the cup. Also, don't shake it around while blending to further blend the ingredients. Take the cup off and shake, then return to blending if necessary. I never have to do this with mine. I do my smoothie out of spinach, some frozen fruit, a small yogurt cup, some water, protein powder, and fiber powder. It fills the cup perfectly and all happens in less than 5 minutes total. That is mixing and then the blending time is about 35 seconds. This is a great unit for a small price.