Have you noticed a strange taste in your vape or observed that it has lost its crisp, clear flavour? – This indicates that it is most likely time for a cleaning.
Maintaining and cleaning your vape gear is the greatest way to ensure that it is always working at its best. Over time, the residue left by your vape juice will build up to the point where it will begin to harm your coils’ performance and contaminate the flavour of your juice.
Unfortunately, there are a few typical offenders in e-liquid ingredients that may hasten the process. The e-juice base contains vegetable glycerin (VG), which is a component of the e-juice base and is responsible for vapour formation. Because it’s a viscous liquid, however, it can collect on coils.
Cleaning Vape Coils and Tanks
VG, on the other hand, is a key component of vape juice and isn’t nearly as dangerous as other ingredients. Flavorings have an impact on the residue left on coils, with black spices appearing to be the worst. Sweeteners, on the other hand, are the most prevalent flavour that clogs coils (often referred to as coil killers). Some e-liquid manufacturers go overboard with sweeteners to help increase the flavour of their drinks. So, if you desire a highly sweet-tasting juice, keep in mind that the flavour might not last long before you need to change or clean your coils.
We recently tried Naked 100 and Twelve Monkeys Origins, two well-known juice lines that reduce sugar while maintaining flavour, but there are plenty more out there.
As we’ve seen, a clogged coil can lead to poor flavour, reduced vapour production, and even a burnt-tasting vape. Other factors could be at play if it doesn’t taste just right.
Cleaning Vape Coils and Tanks
Juices that have been blended together
You’ve swapped juices, replaced your coil head, and drained your tank. Isn’t it meant to be all right?
No, the flavour of your old juice might sometimes persist and contaminate your new drink. Tobacco, coffee, licorice, and menthol flavourings are particularly vulnerable to this.
That’s why it’s typically a good idea to clean a tank completely before changing juices or coil heads.
Cleaning Vape Coils and Tanks
It’s a completely new tank with a completely new coil.
Even while fresh atomizers or tanks appear pristine and brand new, they may have a faint odour of machine oil. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more common for manufacturers to skip the extra step of properly cleaning the item after production, so you’ll have to do it yourself.
Whether you’re having issues due to a well-used coil, mixed juices, or a new (but not clean) tank, there are a few simple strategies to properly clean everything and have the best flavour experience.
What is the most effective method for cleaning a vape tank?
As the first step in cleaning your vape tank, remove the coil (we cover the cleaning of coils later in this article). After that, drain any remaining liquid from the tank.
Most tanks are made up of multiple components and can be completely dismantled for a thorough cleaning (for detailed instructions, consult the manufacturer’s handbook or website). Pay close attention to all of the pieces, especially the o-rings, as you disassemble the tank, and make a mental note of where everything goes. To keep the ingredients together, put them all in a small bowl and use one of the methods below.
Rinse on a regular basis.
This is the easiest and most common method of cleaning your tank, and it works best if it’s already clean.
Assemble the tank and thoroughly clean each component under running water (warm water is best) before drying with a paper towel. Allow to air dry until no obvious water or condensation remains. If your tank still doesn’t appear to be clean, or if it is already dirty, you’ll need to proceed to the following step.
Microwave for two minutes after half-filling a microwave-safe cup or bowl with water. As previously mentioned, rinse all parts of the tank while it’s heating. Remove the bowl/cup from the microwave and immerse all of the pieces in hot water.
Before continue, wait until the water has cooled. Remove all of the pieces one by one and rinse as before, then dry with a paper towel. As before, allow all tank parts to dry completely with no visible dampness. If you use a blow dryer to speed up the procedure, be careful not to overheat the o-rings and shatter them.
Rinse with PG to finish.
In place of water, Propylene Glycol can be used in the conventional rinse procedure (PG).
Fill a cup or bowl halfway with PG, then add all of the components for your tank and let it set for a few hours. After the timer has expired, remove all parts and place them on a paper towel to drip dry.
Propylene Glycol, a fantastic flavour transporter, effectively eliminates any remaining flavour. VG (vegetable glycerin) should not be used because it is a much thicker liquid that makes cleaning much more difficult.
Using a cleaning agent, rinse
If you need a deeper clean, you’ll get better results with a cleaning product. After that, clean them thoroughly to remove any leftovers, and always let them dry completely.
Vinegar is quite acidic and can be a good cleaning agent, but it must be washed thoroughly to avoid odour.
Ethanol is another really effective cleaning agent (grain alcohol). Isopropyl alcohol, on the other hand, should never be used in an aquarium.
Baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent for restoring the sheen of tanks.
Cheap vodka isn’t as common as it once was, but it’s still a good cleaning option.
Lemon juice mixed with water, according to some vapers, gives a decent clean. Others have recommended dish soap, but we don’t encourage it because it’s harder to clean up and any residue will harm your juice.
Ultrasonic technology is used.
An ultrasonic cleaner is the best way to go if things appear unpleasant and you need a thorough cleaning.
Ultrasonic cleaners are often used to clean costly metals and jewellery, but due to their exceptional efficacy, they have become the go-to cleaning tool for vapers. You won’t need anything special to clean your vaping equipment; any ultrasonic cleaner that can run 10-minute cycles will suffice.
Ultrasonic cleaners are very simple to operate; simply fill it with water and place your vape tank parts inside before turning it on. Additional cleaning chemicals or a little amount of dishwashing solutions are optional. After each usage, rinse your tank and allow it to dry.
What is the best method for cleaning coils?
Coils are more difficult to clean than tanks, and in some cases, it’s advisable to replace them totally.
Cleaning stock coils for tanks with a ring and absorbent wick housed in a metal shell differs from cleaning replacement coils for tanks with a ring and absorbent wick housed in a metal shell.
Coils for rebuildable atomizers like RDAs and RTAs, on the other hand, are considerably easier to maintain because the wicking material can be removed, the coil cleaned correctly, and then a new one installed.
The coils in the stock must be cleaned.
Every sub-ohm tank comes with a set of interchangeable stock coil heads that can be cleaned but not completely. Because the wick material is enclosed inside the coil head and wrapped around the coil, cleaning them out won’t completely revive them, but it might give you a few more days of smoking.
To clean your OEM coils heads, follow the steps below.
Allow your coil to soak in ethanol, vinegar, or cheap vodka for a few hours.
Rinse the coil head under the tap.
Rinse once more, but this time with distilled water.
Blow air through one side of the coil to force any excess water out of the wicking holes. Rep the procedure as needed.
Remove the coil and leave it to dry until the water has completely evaporated. The process can be accelerated by placing it in the sun or using a heater, but it will still take time.
Although this method may remove some of the worst dirt and make the coil head look brand new, there will still be buildup around the coil and your wicks will not be fully fresh. So don’t hold your breath for miracles; the coil head may still require replacement.
Cleaning Vape Coils and Tanks
Cleaning is done on coils that can be rebuilt.
Cleaning rebuildable coils in an RDA or RTA is not only easy, but it’s also something you should do on a regular basis for proper maintenance and best performance.
Follow these simple steps to clean your rebuildable coil:
Remove the wicks from your coil first, as you’ll need to replace them and don’t want to burn them in the process. You can do a short dry burn on the coil after removing the wicks by pulsing the fire button a few times on low power to remove the excess liquid and dirt.
Re-wick the coil if it works, and you’re good to go. If you’ve tried that and still believe it needs to be cleaned more thoroughly, try the following:
The wicks on your coil should be removed.
Lightly dry-burn your curls (low wattage, don’t let them glow too much).
Remove your device’s atomizer and set it away.
Put it in a tub of warm water to soak.
Brush the coil gently with a coil cleaning tool or a toothbrush.
If required, rinse the atomizer again.
Dry burn once more to get rid of any remaining water droplets.
Although we don’t encourage it, you can do the following using purified water or dishwashing liquid. If you’re going to use dishwashing solutions, make sure you clean and dry everything thoroughly.
Your coils’ life will be significantly extended if you follow the steps indicated above. If, however, you continue to notice that the performance is lacking or the flavour is off, it’s time to replace it.
What is the most effective method for cleaning a vape pen?
Depending on the configuration of the vape pen, cleaning it may be a little more difficult.
If your vape pen has a detachable tank, you can clean it using conventional vape tank cleaning instructions. Please wipe the battery area of the vape pen with a soft cloth with special attention. The charging ports and buttons should not be submerged in water, and they should be handled with extreme caution.
Cleaning an all-in-one (AIO) vape pen that only has one component will be significantly more challenging. Electronics and water do not mix well, so do not attempt to clean the entire item with water. Cleaning your all-in-one vape pen using a Q-tip is the simplest and safest method (cotton bud). Clean the interior of the tank area thoroughly with Propylene Glycol or distilled water. Go over it numerous times for the best effects, and then follow up with a dry Q-tip following the soaked one.
Changing the flavour of the e-juice
As previously mentioned, mixing e-juices is another factor that can make your vape taste terrible.
Combining your juices, or even different kinds of e-juice, isn’t a problem. This is especially true if the flavour profiles of both liquids are similar; the resulting mixture may taste excellent, but the original juice will eventually drain away, leaving only the new flavour.
Things may start to taste unpleasant if the flavour profiles of the old and new juices are significantly different. If you’re switching between several different liquids, it’s a good idea to clean your tank using one of the methods listed above. If you’re using a rebuildable, you might be able to get away with only cleaning and changing the wicks.
Strong-flavored items like tobacco, coffee, or menthol will last a long period in the tank. To get rid of the lingering aftertaste, try smoking basic e-liquid with no taste.
Following all of the tips above should hopefully help you get rid of that bad-tasting vape and attain top performance.