Vape Hygiene: Why Regular Cleaning Is Essential And How To Do It

Keeping your device clean is a very important part of the vaping process. As you enjoy your favourite e-liquid flavour(s), residue and a general build-up of dirt occurs within your device. This can greatly reduce the quality of your flavour experience. 

This is why it is essential to learn how to clean your vaping device properly. When you let e-liquid accumulate between refills, your coil and wicking material will get coated in layers of old and congealed e-liquid. When you refill your tank with fresh e-liquid, the old e-liquid gets reheated as well, overwhelming the pure flavour of your fresh e-liquid. 

How To Clean Your Vaping Device

Cleaning your device weekly is an easy but essential step you should incorporate into your vaping routine. It will leave your device looking great, ensure that it does not build up gunk, and prolong its lifespan. 

You will need the following to clean your vaping device:

• Paper towel / tissue paper / kitchen roll
• Warm water
• Antibacterial cleaner / washing up liquid
• Cotton buds
• Isopropyl alcohol

We will go over the different components of a vaping device to give you the proper cleaning instructions, no matter what type of device you have or how your device is built.

Vape Tanks

Vape tanks are the parts of your vape that hold your e-liquid and usually also the part you put in your mouth. Therefore, it is usually the part that has the most potential to attract germs and the most important part to keep clean regularly. Luckily, you can clean your tank in about a minute.

Ideally, you should clean your tank thoroughly whenever you change out your coils. Simply follow these steps:

1. Unscrew all the pieces that make up your tank. This includes the mouthpiece or drip tip, glass section, coil, bottom section, and top section. Be sure to check where all the rubber o-rings are so you do not lose any while doing this.

2. You can rinse each individual part under warm water at a tap or soak all the components in a bowl filled with warm water and washing up liquid.

3. Use a paper towel, kitchen roll, or tissue paper to thoroughly dry all the components. Leave them to air dry for a while as well to make sure they are completely dry before you use them again.

4. Screw the parts back together, prime your coil, and fill your tank with e-liquid to get back to vaping!

It is important to note that if you have used an e-liquid with a very strong flavour, like menthol blends, you will need something stronger to remove the flavour entirely. To do this, you can soak the components in isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to rinse it in water afterwards and let it dry thoroughly.

Vape Pods

Vape pods are really easy to clean and the process takes only a few seconds. The cleaning method you use will depend on the type of pod you have, so you will have to determine that before taking a look at which you will need to follow.

Vape Pods With Built-In Coils

If your vape pod has a built-in coil that cannot be replaced, you cannot really clean the whole pod, mostly the inside part where the e-liquid is kept. Cleaning this type of pod simply involves wiping the mouthpiece with a kitchen towel and some antibacterial cleaner, as well as wiping the area with the magnets with a damp kitchen towel to remove any e-liquid build up.

Vape Pods With Replaceable Coils

It is recommended that you clean this type of pod whenever it is time to replace the coil. You just need to follow these steps:

1. Remove the coil from the pod. You should do this over a sink or a stack of paper towels as any e-liquid residue that is left in the pod or coil will start to come out.

2. Rinse your pod in warm water. This will remove any dirt and e-liquid remnants from the pod. You can use some washing up liquid, but make sure that you rinse it out thoroughly before you move on.

3. Use some paper towels to dry the pod. Flick the pod in between drying it to remove any excess water that might still be inside the pod. Do this over a sink to avoid extra cleanup or spills. Make sure it is completely dry as leftover water will affect the taste and quality of your e-liquid.

4. Prime your coil, refill your pod, and vape away!

Vaping Devices

Just like any piece of equipment builds up dirt, gunk, and residue, your vaping device does as well. You can clean this like you would clean your phone, remote control, or any other handheld electronic devices. 

Spray some antibacterial cleaner on a cloth or piece of kitchen towel and wipe your whole device down. This will keep your vape device looking its best and keep it as hygienic and clean as possible. 

Pod Kits

You can clean the outside of your pod kit just like you would clean the outside of a normal vaping device – with some antibacterial cleaner on a piece of kitchen towel. However, pod kits have an extra area you will need to take care of, which is the recessed section that holds your pod.

This area is known to gather a buildup of gunk and e-liquid over time. It is very important to clean this out as it affects your device’s performance and it can potentially end up damaging your device. 

Use a damp cotton bud to clean up any e-liquid residue from this section. Be sure to get around to all the components and let the device air dry before you use it.

510 Connections

510 connections refer to the threads that most vapes use to screw your tank to the battery of your device. You should definitely keep this section of your vape clean as the build up of e-liquid can cause it to drip down into the battery, damaging it and potentially breaking it. Other dust and particles can build up along with e-liquid residue, creating connection problems with the tank and the battery which can cause your device to short circuit. 

Luckily, 510 connections are really easy to clean. Take a paper towel or cotton bud and use it to clean any debris or e-liquid inside the 510-space. Keep wiping until the connection looks shiny and brand new!

Drip Tips

Drip tips are components of some vapes that act as a mouthpiece, so they need to be cleaned regularly as they tend to build up lots of germs. You can usually just rinse your drip tip under warm water if you practise regular cleaning. If your drip tip is in particularly bad condition, you can soak it in warm water with washing up liquid. Rinse your drip tip thoroughly and dry it off with a paper towel before you re-insert it into your vape tank.

Rebuildable Coils

Most vapers make use of pre-made coils, but more serious vapers who want to customise their vaping experience fully or who like to tinker and craft like to make their own coils. Rebuildable coils are easy to clean, and you will be back to vaping in no time.

1. Once you notice that you are not experiencing the same flavour anymore, you can disassemble your rebuildable to spot your coil and wicking material. 

2. Remove the cotton and throw it away. 

3. Reattach the rebuildable coil to your device and start to press the fire button until your coil is glowing. Keep pulsing the coil, allowing it to cool for a few seconds in between before firing your device again. 

4. Take a pair of tweezers and gently strum your coil to remove any build up. Fire your device in between to check how its glow looks. Once you can see the orange glow clearly, without any build up showing around your coil, you can move on to the next step.

5. Line your coil up correctly and add a new piece of cotton.

6. Add your e-liquid and wait 2-5 minutes to make sure your coil is fully wicked. Then, you will be ready to vape again. After a few puffs, you will be able to experience the full flavour profile of your favourite e-liquid.

Cleaning your vaping equipment and hardware is crucial for enjoying vaping to the fullest. If you do not clean your vaping equipment regularly, you will experience worse flavour, worse performance, and you can potentially damage your device. The process of cleaning your vape device and components should be quick and easy, so there really is no reason to skip this step. Keep your vape clean, hygienic, and in top condition for the best vaping experience.