How to Clean a Vape? A Step-by-Step Guide You Need

March 29, 2024

Maintaining your vape is important to keep it performing at its best. Over time, gunk buildup can affect its performance, making it less enjoyable to use. Fortunately, a thorough cleaning can often restore it to its former glory.

All vapes consist of several parts: a tank, a coil, and a battery. These parts can be taken apart for easy cleaning. The tank, where you store your e-liquid, should be cleaned whenever you switch flavors. Even if you stick to one flavor, it's a good idea to clean the tank every few weeks. In terms of pods or disposables, it is much simpler as they consist of fewer removable parts.

Regular cleaning not only keeps your vape looking its best but also ensures it's hygienic every time you use it. Sometimes it may even extend the lifespan of your device. Taking care of your vape's cleanliness is essential after all as it goes in your mouth!

On A Hurry? Check The Key Points of Cleaning A Vape.

Cleaning Vape Pods

Built-in Coils: For pods with built-in coils, wipe the mouthpiece and exterior with a cloth or use soap for sanitization.
Replaceable Coils: For pods with replaceable coils, remove the coil, rinse the pod with warm water, dry thoroughly, and remove excess water.

Cleaning Vape Tanks

Tanks: Empty and disassemble the tank, assess cleanliness, soak in cleaning solution if needed, rinse, dry, and reassemble.
Prebuilt Coils: For prebuilt coils, soak in cleaning solution, rinse, force water through wicking holes, and allow to dry.
Rebuildable Coils: For rebuildable coils, remove wicks, dry burn, rinse, brush lightly, rinse again, and perform final dry burn.

Cleaning Your Mod

Cleaning the Body and Connectors: Wipe down surfaces, clean crevices and threading, inspect and clean battery connections, inspect batteries, clean spills promptly, and fill properly.

Cleaning Vape Disposables

Mouthpiece and Body: Wipe external surfaces with a soft cloth, clean the mouthpiece with warm, with soapy water, and avoid cleaning internal components to prevent damage.

You Will Need Some Supplies (List Of 7 Equipment For Cleaning A Vape)

Before you begin your cleaning make sure to keep these supplies nearby to help you effectively clean your vapes

Q-tips: Perfect for reaching into small nooks and crannies, especially around the coil and tank connections.
Microfiber cloths, paper towels, or Cotton: These are great for wiping down surfaces and drying off components after cleaning.
Propylene Glycol (PG), vodka, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol: These liquids are excellent for breaking down residue and sanitizing components. They help remove built-up gunk from your tank and coil.
Dish soap: Useful for cleaning larger components like the tank. It helps remove stubborn residue and provides a thorough cleaning.
Baking soda: Ideal for cleaning tough stains or odors. It's an effective, natural abrasive that can help scrub away grime.
Vinegar and lemon juice: Both are natural cleaners that can help break down buildup and remove odors. They're particularly useful for cleaning glass components.
Bowl: You'll need a container to mix your cleaning solutions and soak smaller parts like coils and mouthpieces.

How To Clean A Vape? (Step-by-step Guide For Each Item)

How To Clean Vape Pods?

Cleaning vape pods is pretty straightforward. They consist of fewer removable parts to they typically take much less time. The method you use will depend on the type of pod you have.

Kits With a Built-in Coil

Cleaning vape pods with built-in coils such as Vaporesso XROS 3 Mini is quick and straightforward. Here's how:

Mouthpiece: Ensure the mouthpiece is kept clean. Wipe it down with a piece of kitchen roll or a microfiber cloth. You can also use a small amount of dish soap or antibacterial cleaner to sanitize it.
Magnets and exterior: Keep the section of the pod with magnets free from e-liquid. Wipe the exterior of the pod with a damp cloth or kitchen roll to remove any residue or dirt.

Since the coil in these pods cannot be replaced, cleaning the inside where the e-liquid is held isn't feasible. Therefore, focus on keeping the exterior and mouthpiece clean to maintain hygiene and ensure optimal performance.

Kits With Replaceable Coils

Cleaning vape pods with replaceable coils such as the Uwell Caliburn TENET KOKO is simple and can be done conveniently when you're changing the coil. Here's a quick guide to the process:

Remove the coil: It's best to do this over a sink since any liquid in the pod may start to come out. The Tenet has a screw-like mechanism that you twist to unscrew the coil from the juice pod.
Rinse the pod: Use warm water to rinse the pod and remove any dirt and leftover e-liquid residue. You can add a small amount of dish soap if needed, but ensure all the bubbles are gone before proceeding.
Dry It: Use a kitchen roll or a clean cloth to dry the pod thoroughly.
Remove excess water: Flick the pod to remove any remaining water from inside. It's best to do this over a sink or outdoors to ensure all the water is expelled. Any water left inside the pod can affect your e-liquid.

How To Clean Vape Mods?

In terms of vape mods the whole scenario adds a few steps to the cleaning process. Vape mods have a tank, a battery, the mod itself, and usually a separate prebuilt mesh coil.

Let’s say, you're simply changing the flavor of your e-juice and want to avoid any leftover flavor. Rinsing your vape tank with water and allowing it to dry would be sufficient.

However, if you're performing routine cleaning to prevent buildup or need to do a deep clean, here's a step-by-step guide on how to clean your vape tank.

Let's take the Geek Vape Aegis Max 2 Mod and the Geek Vape Zeus Nano 2 Tank as a reference point.

The Aegis Max 2 mod has a replaceable battery with a 510 connector as standard. You may also find mods with a built-in battery. In terms of the Zeus Nano 2 tank, it comes with prebuilt coils such as the Z series Coils that have a simple screw-in mechanism. Other tanks come with the ability to support rebuildable mesh or stainless steel coils.

Cleaning the Tank

Now that we got the distinctions out of the way let's dive into the steps in which you can clean your vape tank

Empty Your Tank Ensure your vape tank is completely empty before starting the cleaning process. If there's any leftover vape juice, empty it out and rinse the inside of the tank with warm water to remove any residue.
Disassemble Your Tank Take apart your tank by separating the base, vape coil, glass tube, top cap, and drip tip. Pay attention to how these components are assembled to ensure correct reassembly later.
Choose Your Cleaning Method Assess the level of dirtiness in your tank to determine the appropriate cleaning method. For light cleaning, soaking the tank in water for 30 minutes to an hour may suffice. However, for heavy buildup, consider using cleaning agents like vinegar, baking soda, or dish soap. To add a degree of fine cleaning, you can use an ultrasonic cleaner.
Deep Clean Your Vape Tank If your tank requires a deep clean, soak the disassembled components in the chosen cleaning solution for a couple of hours. After soaking, rinse the parts thoroughly with warm water. For coils, ensure water is pushed through the wicking holes to remove any residue.
Dry and Wipe Your Tank Components Lay the cleaned tank components on a dry microfiber cloth or paper towel to air dry. Use a blow dryer on a low setting to speed up the drying process if needed. Once dry, use a paper towel or cloth to wipe down the components, removing any excess liquid. Pay attention to hard-to-reach areas and use a Q-tip if necessary.
Reassemble Your Tank Carefully reassemble your vape tank, referring to your notes or mental image of how the components fit together. Incorrect reassembly can lead to leaking and damage to your vape device.

Cleaning PreBuilt Coils

Cleaning prebuilt or replaceable coil heads can provide a temporary boost in performance, but it's important to manage expectations. Due to the presence of wicks, cleaning won't fully revive tired coil heads. However, if you're determined to extend their lifespan, here's a simple method to clean them:

Soak the Coil: Place your coil head in a container filled with ethanol, vinegar, or cheap vodka. Let it soak for at least a couple of hours to break down the residue buildup.
Rinse the Coil: After soaking, rinse the coil head under running water to remove any loosened residue. This helps to flush out impurities from the coil.
Rinse with Distilled Water: Give the coil head a final rinse with distilled water to ensure all cleaning agents are removed. Distilled water helps prevent any mineral buildup.
Force Water Through the Wicking Holes: Blow air through the open side of the coil to force water out of the wicking holes. This step helps expel any remaining liquid trapped in the wick.
Allow to Dry Completely: Set the coil aside in a well-ventilated area until all water has evaporated. You can speed up the drying process by placing it in sunlight or using a heater, but it will still take some time.

Although the wicks may appear cleaner after cleaning, don't expect miracles. The coil head may offer slightly improved performance. However, you'll still need to replace it soon. Cleaning can provide a temporary solution, but it's not a substitute for replacing worn-out coil heads.

Cleaning Rebuildable Coils

Here's a step-by-step guide to cleaning your rebuildable coils:

Remove the Wicks: Begin by removing the wicks from your coils to prevent them from burning. This step ensures that the wicks remain intact for future use.
Light Dry Burn: If your coils are not heavily gunked up, a light dry burn can suffice. Pulse the fire button a few times to heat the coils and remove any remaining liquid. Allow them to cool down before proceeding.
Remove Atomizer from Mod: Disconnect the atomizer from your mod to avoid any accidental firing during cleaning.
Rinse Under Running Water: Hold the coils under running water to rinse off any residue or debris. This helps to loosen and remove buildup from the coils.
Brush Lightly: Use a toothbrush or a specialized coil cleaning tool to gently brush the coils. This helps to dislodge any stubborn residue and ensures a thorough cleaning.
Rinse Again: Give the coils another rinse under running water to remove any loosened debris from brushing.
Final Dry Burn: After rinsing, perform a final dry burn to evaporate any remaining water droplets on the coils. This step ensures that the coils are completely dry and ready for wicking.

Cleaning Your Mod

Cleaning your mod does not require many steps as you cannot disassemble anything by the battery. Here are the steps you can follow to clean your mod:

Wipe down the device: Use the cloth to gently clean the screen, fire button, and body. Avoid harsh rubbing on the screen to prevent scratches.
Clean crevices: Use a toothpick to remove dust and lint from tight spaces like the charging port and seams. Be very gentle with the micro USB port, as the pins are delicate.
Clean the threading: Use cotton swabs to remove e-liquid residue and oxidation. Push the swab down and spin it gently, repeating until clean. This ensures a good connection between the mod and the tank.
Clean battery connections: For mods with built-in batteries, wipe the 510 connection with a clean cloth. For removable batteries, inspect the connections for dirt and debris. Ensure the negative terminal spring is springy.
Inspect batteries: In terms of the Aegis Max mod, undo the battery cover and check for dents, tears, or venting hole blockage on the batteries. Replace damaged batteries and follow manufacturer recommendations for charging.
Clean spills promptly: Use a cloth to wipe away any e-liquid spills to prevent damage to the circuitry.
Fill properly: Avoid overfilling or letting your device run dry, as both can affect performance.

How To Clean A Vape Disposable?

Cleaning a disposable vape is the easiest all the cleaning is focused mainly on external surfaces and the mouthpiece. Let's take the Myle Meta Box Disposable as an example. This disposable has no removable parts like most disposables out there. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Wipe the External Surfaces: Using a soft cloth or cotton swab, gently wipe the external surfaces of the disposable vape, including the battery, cartridge, and mouthpiece. This helps remove any dirt, oil, or fingerprints that may have accumulated.
Clean the Mouthpiece: You can soak a tissue of Q-tip in warm, soapy water for a few minutes and insert it through the mouthpiece. This ensures that the mouthpiece is clean and hygienic.
Avoid Internal Cleaning: Since disposable vapes are not intended for disassembly, it's best to avoid cleaning the internal components. Attempting to clean the atomizer or battery may damage the device or render it unusable.

Check These Vape Cleaning Reddit Thread

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Remove Vape Juice From The Pod?

To remove vape juice from your pod, begin by disconnecting it from the device and emptying any remaining liquid by pouring it out. Then, rinse the pod thoroughly under warm running water. For a deeper clean, you can use a small amount of mild dish soap. Once rinsed, shake off any excess water and let the pod air dry completely before refilling it.

How Do I Clean A Vape Pen Mouthpiece?

Cleaning a vape pen mouthpiece is easy. Disassemble the mouthpiece and use a soft cloth or cotton swab dampened with warm water to gently wipe its external surfaces. If the mouthpiece is detachable, you can soak it in warm, soapy water for a few minutes before rinsing it thoroughly and allowing it to dry completely.

Always Use A Clean Vape

Proper maintenance of your vape, be it pods, mods, or disposables, is required to maximize its lifespan and ensure a satisfying vaping experience. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can prolong the life of your device and enjoy consistent performance.

Remember, disposable vapes may have a limited lifespan so taking care of them does not require much effort. However, taking care of your mods and pods can make a significant difference in how long you can make your device last. So, implement these cleaning techniques today to get the most out of your vape and continue enjoying your favorite flavors with every puff.

Back to blog