Keeping your bits clean-Mouth pieces, cartridges

[Ramblin]

It occurred to me that I had been filling and re-using the same three cartridges for a couple of weeks. With analog cigarettes, you pitch them in the trash and no worries.

After thinking that these items spent much time in my mouth on and off for about two weeks, it dawned on my slow brain that this might not be a good idea. So I soaked all of my mouth pieces, cartridge inserts in alcohol, swabbed the threads of the batteries (don't get your batteries wet!) with alcohol and generally gave all of the little pieces a bath to sanitize them. Good rinse in water and swabbed out with q-tips, fresh fillings. Good to go now and I won't have to worry about the creepy crawlies lurking in my bits and pieces.

After reading this forum and know what penny pinchers some of us are, I though I'd prod some members to action.

[ChainSmkr]

Originally Posted by Ramblin

I won't have to worry about the creepy crawlies lurking in my bits and pieces. I thought I'd prod some members to action.

I couldn't agree with you more. I like the way Rita referred to it best: "E-cig laundry" LOL

[jennydotz]

Glad Ramblin started this thread, I have some Qs and comments.

1) Don't boil plastic carts, some parts melt. Most of you were probably smart enough to have figured that out, but I learned the hard way. I guess alcohol would be the way to go (and that answers that question).

2) I did boil a little plastic JC dropper bottle and it seems fine, but the smell from the Lorann's blackberry did not go away. I plan to phase out plastic and go with glass wherever I can

3) Q for teabag users, did you do anything special to the teabags (rinse, boil) before you used them? I can't get rid of the celestial seasonings tea smell--do you think that's OK to vape? I am done with the polyester furballs, I can't seem to keep the stray threads out of my atomizers

4) Once you open a gallon of distilled water, how long does it stay pure? Do you have to refrigerate it?

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by jennydotz

Glad Ramblin started this thread, I have some Qs and comments.

1) Don't boil plastic carts, some parts melt. Most of you were probably smart enough to have figured that out, but I learned the hard way. I guess alcohol would be the way to go (and that answers that question).

2) I did boil a little plastic JC dropper bottle and it seems fine, but the smell from the Lorann's blackberry did not go away. I plan to phase out plastic and go with glass wherever I can

3) Q for teabag users, did you do anything special to the teabags (rinse, boil) before you used them? I can't get rid of the celestial seasonings tea smell--do you think that's OK to vape? I am done with the polyester furballs, I can't seem to keep the stray threads out of my atomizers

4) Once you open a gallon of distilled water, how long does it stay pure? Do you have to refrigerate it?

The plastic bottles are great, but I've yet to get the smell of some flavorings out of them. Someone turned me onto this link. I've not gotten around to placing an order. Glass Bottles - Specialty Bottle

I'm not totally sold on the tea bags. They seem to retain a lot of the juice and don't wick dry like the original fillers do. So I end up throwing out juice when I change them out. I think I'm going to become a full time dipper or dripper.
Here is what I bought from Amazon.
Adagio Teas Paper Filters Amazon.com: Adagio Teas Paper Filters: Kitchen & Dining


Distilled water will stay pure for a very long time. Just keep it closed.

[katink]

How about using the 'fluff-balls' as many have been doing all the time... but cover it (or put it inside) a bit of a teabag? Could be 'the best of both worlds' perhaps - anyone tried this yet?

For the plastic parts (mouthpieces, empty cartridges, plastic bottles): I put them in warm/hot water with some dishwash-fluid, leave them in there for an hour (in a container with a lid on) - then rinse well in clean hot water. I think this cleans them enough.

[dedmonwakin]

I carry atleast 10 alcohol prep pads in my case. I'm pretty particular about putting anything back in my mouth that has been away from my mouth for an extended period of time. I'm the same way with drink bottles, if I don't drink my bottled beverages with in an hour, chances are, I won't continue to drink it.

Saliva by itself, kills much of the bacteria in your mouth, even many of the deadliest ones. But, salvia must be active(fresh) and with a continuous supply to clump, or kill bacteria. Bacteria transferred from saliva and lips to the cartridge will of course remain after saliva has dried.

If conditions are right, bacteria cells will begin to multiply by 2 in up to 20 minutes. There are up to 600 different species of bacteria in our mouths. So, if all 600 find the conditions suitable, multiply that by 2 multiplied by the total surface area, which would be hard to figure because of the many variables....but millions of bacteria can fit on the head of a needle, so you get the idea.

Again, as stated above, our own saliva is the first defense to bacteria when entering our mouths. But, our saliva can only handle so much.

The Alcohol prep pads, are nothing more that a precautionary measure for me and to slow bacteria growth. Any solution or heat used is only a disinfectant and not to be confused with sterilization. Plastic is highly pourous, and no cleaning agent or home heating technic can get down deep enough into the pores to eliminate bacteria.

Alchohol, boiling, detergents or rubbing the surface of contaminated areas with your fingers,(near blistering) can only do so much...so it's a good idea to replace the cartridge indefinitely after heavy usage. How long..I dunno.

[ChainSmkr]

Originally Posted by dedmonwakin

I carry atleast 10 alcohol prep pads in my case. I'm pretty particular about putting anything back in my mouth...

When I'm done vaping the e-cig could go in my pocket, in my purse, set down on a table or desk...all good places to pick up cooties before I vape again lol It's definitely different from pulling a fresh analog out of a pack to smoke. I use the disinfectant wipes on my mouthpiece - I should switch to the alcohol prep pads.

[ritalee76]

Good idea @ the alcohol prep pads! Will be adding those to my little case.

For the idea section: I use medicine thingies that put the medicine in daily sections to keep my cleaned stuff organized and dust-free. Works great and stores neatly in a drawer.

-rita

[ChainSmkr]

Originally Posted by Ramblin

The plastic bottles are great, but I've yet to get the smell of some flavorings out of them. Someone turned me onto this link. I've not gotten around to placing an order. Glass Bottles - Specialty Bottle

I don't like the leaching either. I bought some glass dropper bottles from Midwest Vapor. I love them!

I also got a glass syringe elsewhere but it never worked right and eventually jammed so I'm using disposable syringes now. I really wanted a glass one tho

[Nuck]

You ever think that maybe trying to make everything unnaturally sterile just makes your body more susceptible to bacteria over the long haul?

PS. I like dirty