How To Clean Your Vape Tanks & Coils

by Martin B. · November 17, 2020

Giving up cigarettes is no easy task. If you’re on the road to recovery and switching out smokes for a sweet vape mod, we commend you for it. But if you’re new to vaping, you may not know everything about how to maintain your device, including how to clean it properly. That’s right: unlike cigarettes, you can’t just puff on a vape whenever you need a hit and dispose of it after. Your device needs regular cleaning to keep things running smoothly.

What happens when you don’t clean your vape? If you’ve ever had the misfortune of experiencing a burnt hit, then you may have cringed just reading that sentence. A dirty vape produces an unpleasant-tasting cloud that might have you reaching for a pack of cigarettes. But don’t fear: we’ve put together this guide to help you clean your vape and avoid this fate. It’s easier than you think!

Cleaning a vape tank.

Some flavors just don’t mix—like coffee and honeydew. When you don’t clean your vape tank, old e-juices stick around and mix together. The vape tank is what holds the e-juice; if it isn’t cleaned regularly, your latest liquid will taste more like the residue from the last three. Clean your tank before you add a new flavor for the best results.

Start by disassembling the vape and removing the top and bottom parts of the tank. Pour out any e-juice that remains. When it comes to cleaning vape tanks, hot water is your best friend. The key here is hot, not boiling. Hold it under a tap and let the water rinse away any gunk or residual liquid. If you’ve got the time, you can soak it in a bowl of hot water. You can also use vodka or white vinegar.

For a deeper clean, use alcohol to wipe the sides of the tank. You can use a microfiber cloth to reach the corners. Whenever you use alcohol to clean your vape, you need to be sure that you rinse it thoroughly with hot water afterward; any lingering alcohol will be inhaled. When you’re satisfied with the cleanliness of your tank, allow it to air dry completely before reassembling it.

Cleaning your vape coils.

Vaping is less expensive than smoking, but it comes with a few recurring costs—one of which is replacing your coils. If only there were a way to make them last longer…have you tried cleaning them?

Coils contain cotton wicks, which are responsible for the acidic taste of a burnt hit. If the coils aren’t properly saturated when you use your device, they’ll burn up and become discolored. This is why you need to avoid chain vaping: it uses up the liquid so quickly that the coils don’t have time to saturate, resulting in dry, burnt hits. Wait a few seconds between hits to give your device a break.

The owner of a vape shop in Winnipeg writes, “Most people don’t realize they can clean their coils. They discard them when they notice a burnt taste instead of soaking and reusing them.” Often, coils can be cleaned instead of tossed in the trash. Check the color of the cotton inside. If it’s slightly darker or brown, it can probably be cleaned; if it’s black, you might be better off using a new one.

So, how do you clean your coils? It’s not much different than a tank cleaning. Remove the head of the coil from your vape and twist it so you can access the coil itself. Then, soak it in hot water or ethanol for as long as you can. This will dissolve burned pieces of e-juice from the cotton coils. Once you’re happy with the soaking process, rinse the coils under hot water. This part is pretty satisfying, as you can watch all the discoloration run down the drain. You can use a coil cleaning tool to remove any leftover bits from the wick. At this point, you can pat the coils dry with a paper towel, but don’t use any heat. Allow the piece to air dry completely before using it.

Before you take your next hit, make sure to prime your newly-cleaned coils! Otherwise, they’ll burn, and you’ll need to repeat this process all over again. Just add a few drops of e-juice to the cotton wick and then you’re ready to go.

Cleaning the components of your vape is a great way to extend its lifespan. You’ll enjoy cleaner hits and be able to taste the distinct nuances of flavored e-juices. Set aside a bit of time each week to maintain your vape—you’ll thank yourself for it later.

Meta description: If you clean your vape regularly, you’ll enjoy more distinct flavors and less burnt hits. The process is simpler than you might think.

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Martin B.

Ex-smoker, passionate vaper who loves to tell the world about the life-changing potential of vaping. Co-creator of Ecigclopedia with a background in Business & Finance. Prefers a dessert flavored vape and loves to innovate.