I approach cleaning cartomizers more or less the way other people do with a few modifications. Mainly, I find cartomizers frequently do not work well, sometimes not at all, if they are boiled in water. Similarly I have had variable results with oven drying also, even using very low heat.
The method I use seems to work well, most cartomizers I clean are functional and give an acceptably clean vape, although maybe not quite as good as a brand new blank. I follow these general steps before I even start the cleaning process.
1) Not all carts can be cleaned and reused. I have had better success with blank carts that have the easy to remove rubber mouthpieces. I have also cleaned standard vendor prefills, but they are often harder to disassemble and the cleaned carts fail more than good blanks. Also, some flavors are really hard on the atomizers.
2) Never "burn" them dry. Once a cart is getting "weak", either top it off with the same juice or if you want to try to clean it, now is the time to stop using it.
3) Clean carts as soon as they get weak, don't accumulate a bunch just because it is tedious. If they sit too long almost dry the residual juice usually gums them up and cleaning is more likely to fail.
OK, so now you are ready to clean:
1) Carefully remove the rubber mouth end. Sometimes there are two gaskets. Once you can see fiber filling you are good.
2) Wash the rubber end caps under hot water rubbing them gently with your fingers, then rinse with a little 190 proof Grain Alcohol (AKA Everclear). These are usually easy to clean, and a good litmus test. If the rubber mouthpiece(s) are not easily cleaned or have gunk or bad discoloration that does not wash off easily, don't bother with the cart, just toss it. It is probably not worth trying to clean. Set aside to dry.
3) If hot water will not remove the stuff in the cart, boiling water is not likely to be much more effective but it often jacks up the interiors structure of the cart. Instead of boiling, with the hottest tap water you can stand, hold the cart open side up in the stream and flush copiously. I also frequently remove the cart from the water stream and "sling it" downwards (Don't throw it!, lol) to expel as much of the water as possible. Then blow as hard as you can, on both ends to get as much of the rest out. Continue this until the cart looks wet but without any obvious brown tint of juice remaining. Then keep doing it for a while.
4) After EXTENSIVE hot water rinsing and repeated slinging, sling the cart to remove as much water as possible. Again, blow as hard as you can, on both ends to get as much of the rest out.
5) I use a syringe or dropper to conserve 190 proof Grain Alcohol (AKA Everclear) but that is up to you. Fiber side up fill the cart with 190 proof alcohol. Let it stand a few minutes then sling this out as you did the water. Then blow, like before.
6) Repeat Step 5 a good 4-5 times at least. On the final alcohol wash, again blow out as much as you can.
7) The fiber should now look wet but also reasonably white.
8) I have had mixed results with even low temp hot drying carts. Just leave them uncapped to stand for at least a couple of days. They should be fine after that, longer the better. The alcohol displaces most of the water so drying at room temp is a little slow but works well without damaging the cart construction.
9) The final cart should look *reasonably* clean. Don't expect it to be snow white, and it's suitability also depends on what you vape, but I only do tobacco anyway. If it is a little on the dingy side, but "whitish" and not clearly discolored, it is probably OK.
10) No point in just filling a cleaned cart. Depending on the size (I am using 808s) add enough juice to wet it and taste it, you don't want to burn it at this point. I usually add about 10 drops then spin the cart rapidly between flat palms to sling the juice all around and get it wet. Then vape it a few times. If it tastes OK, fill it and enjoy. It may take a couple of good drags to get it "going" again, don't just toss it after one hit, but don't waste your juice filling a trashed cart. If you are getting vape and it is bad toss it. If it is good, congratulations.
How many times can you top up a low cart with one juice and keep vaping, and how many times can you clean it and reuse it? Good question. Depends on the make, the juice, the planetary alignment, who knows? I've had some good for only days, some still kicking after a couple of months.
The method I use seems to work well, most cartomizers I clean are functional and give an acceptably clean vape, although maybe not quite as good as a brand new blank. I follow these general steps before I even start the cleaning process.
1) Not all carts can be cleaned and reused. I have had better success with blank carts that have the easy to remove rubber mouthpieces. I have also cleaned standard vendor prefills, but they are often harder to disassemble and the cleaned carts fail more than good blanks. Also, some flavors are really hard on the atomizers.
2) Never "burn" them dry. Once a cart is getting "weak", either top it off with the same juice or if you want to try to clean it, now is the time to stop using it.
3) Clean carts as soon as they get weak, don't accumulate a bunch just because it is tedious. If they sit too long almost dry the residual juice usually gums them up and cleaning is more likely to fail.
OK, so now you are ready to clean:
1) Carefully remove the rubber mouth end. Sometimes there are two gaskets. Once you can see fiber filling you are good.
2) Wash the rubber end caps under hot water rubbing them gently with your fingers, then rinse with a little 190 proof Grain Alcohol (AKA Everclear). These are usually easy to clean, and a good litmus test. If the rubber mouthpiece(s) are not easily cleaned or have gunk or bad discoloration that does not wash off easily, don't bother with the cart, just toss it. It is probably not worth trying to clean. Set aside to dry.
3) If hot water will not remove the stuff in the cart, boiling water is not likely to be much more effective but it often jacks up the interiors structure of the cart. Instead of boiling, with the hottest tap water you can stand, hold the cart open side up in the stream and flush copiously. I also frequently remove the cart from the water stream and "sling it" downwards (Don't throw it!, lol) to expel as much of the water as possible. Then blow as hard as you can, on both ends to get as much of the rest out. Continue this until the cart looks wet but without any obvious brown tint of juice remaining. Then keep doing it for a while.
4) After EXTENSIVE hot water rinsing and repeated slinging, sling the cart to remove as much water as possible. Again, blow as hard as you can, on both ends to get as much of the rest out.
5) I use a syringe or dropper to conserve 190 proof Grain Alcohol (AKA Everclear) but that is up to you. Fiber side up fill the cart with 190 proof alcohol. Let it stand a few minutes then sling this out as you did the water. Then blow, like before.
6) Repeat Step 5 a good 4-5 times at least. On the final alcohol wash, again blow out as much as you can.
7) The fiber should now look wet but also reasonably white.
8) I have had mixed results with even low temp hot drying carts. Just leave them uncapped to stand for at least a couple of days. They should be fine after that, longer the better. The alcohol displaces most of the water so drying at room temp is a little slow but works well without damaging the cart construction.
9) The final cart should look *reasonably* clean. Don't expect it to be snow white, and it's suitability also depends on what you vape, but I only do tobacco anyway. If it is a little on the dingy side, but "whitish" and not clearly discolored, it is probably OK.
10) No point in just filling a cleaned cart. Depending on the size (I am using 808s) add enough juice to wet it and taste it, you don't want to burn it at this point. I usually add about 10 drops then spin the cart rapidly between flat palms to sling the juice all around and get it wet. Then vape it a few times. If it tastes OK, fill it and enjoy. It may take a couple of good drags to get it "going" again, don't just toss it after one hit, but don't waste your juice filling a trashed cart. If you are getting vape and it is bad toss it. If it is good, congratulations.
How many times can you top up a low cart with one juice and keep vaping, and how many times can you clean it and reuse it? Good question. Depends on the make, the juice, the planetary alignment, who knows? I've had some good for only days, some still kicking after a couple of months.
