Good add - I’d also check the jar’s bottom ring and gasket first; if that collar isn’t snug or the gasket is flipped or nicked it’ll vibrate and scream. With it unplugged, try spinning the blade by hand: grinding or up‑down wiggle usually means a worn bearing or rubber drive coupler; that coupler on the motor is cheap and easy to replace. And for day‑to‑day use, load liquid first then soft stuff with ice last, and park the blender on a damp towel or heavy board to tame the walking.
Three months is the standard and if the bristles splay before that it’s usually from pressure rather than hard water - let the brush do the work or drop the intensity. Use the fading indicator bristles as your cutoff and don’t stretch past that, because worn tips clean poorly and can irritate gums. For hard water, a quick weekly vinegar soak followed by a thorough rinse and upright air-dry helps, and rotating two heads (so one fully dries) or buying soft off-brand multipacks can keep costs down.
