First time cleaning seemed to work, advice?

[Burnaphatone]

So, lat night I decided to clean the two used carts I have been vaping out of along with the atomizer. I think I did it properly, but I would like to get some feedback from the pros.

I pulled the filter out of my cart and filled a glass with 91% iso high enough to where the cart and filer were fully submerged. Then I let them soak for 15min, and then I left them out to dry on a plate in a well ventilated area with a fan. I did the same thing with one of my attys and left them out over night to make sure all the iso evaporated. Today the liquid seems to taste just as good as when i put it in a fresh cart, but am I doing anything that could be improved? Thanks for the info ahead of time!

 

[markfm]

Typically do a thorough rinse with running tap water after the soak, then blow out a bit, then dry.

 

[pico]

I'm no veteran, but I've been doing the same thing but with Everclear instead of isopropyl. I swirl them around for about 15 minutes in a tiny glass bowl then dip them in and let the fluid run out the bottom(battery) end a few times. They seem clean with fresh flavor afterwards.

 

[AlmightyGod]

I don't think you are supposed to use alcohol...others recommend vodka or everclear...or even crest mouthwash...rubbing alcohol is poisonous...at least you rinsed & dried it well.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Isopropyl alcohol works fine and is much cheaper. The alcohol evaporates.

 

[Burnaphatone]

I don't think you are supposed to use alcohol...others recommend vodka or everclear...or even crest mouthwash...rubbing alcohol is poisonous...at least you rinsed & dried it well.

I am definitely not using rubbing alcohol. I am using isopropyl alcohol. I used to use it on other smoking devices (of the glass variety) and after a thorough cleaning with water and letting them evaporate I never noticed any left over residue. Thanks for all the responses, I am glad I can re-use my carts, my starter kit only came with 6 so I shouldn't have to order any more for a while with this method!

 

[JonnyVapΣ]

Been using Isopropyl Alcohol exclusively since day one. No issues as long as it's completely evacuated.

Additionally, I use a syringe with a small piece of hose on the end to plug my atties into to force the alcohol through. Works great.

 

[Dpowell]

I was not aware i was supposed to clean my empty carts! but i guess that makes sense. and i was told to clean the attys i was supposed to blow canned air into the small hole. ?

 

[player30]

I think you might want to have more than 6 on hand, in case you find them all gunked one day--just next time you hane to order something!

 

[mlinky]

I was not aware i was supposed to clean my empty carts! but i guess that makes sense. and i was told to clean the attys i was supposed to blow canned air into the small hole. ?

Hi fellow Kentuckian! Welcome.

 

[Xanax]

I am definitely not using rubbing alcohol. I am using isopropyl alcohol. I used to use it on other smoking devices (of the glass variety) and after a thorough cleaning with water and letting them evaporate I never noticed any left over residue. Thanks for all the responses, I am glad I can re-use my carts, my starter kit only came with 6 so I shouldn't have to order any more for a while with this method!

Isopropyl alcohol IS rubbing alcohol.

 

[DawnH]

So, lat night I decided to clean the two used carts I have been vaping out of along with the atomizer. I think I did it properly, but I would like to get some feedback from the pros.

I pulled the filter out of my cart and filled a glass with 91% iso high enough to where the cart and filer were fully submerged. Then I let them soak for 15min, and then I left them out to dry on a plate in a well ventilated area with a fan. I did the same thing with one of my attys and left them out over night to make sure all the iso evaporated. Today the liquid seems to taste just as good as when i put it in a fresh cart, but am I doing anything that could be improved? Thanks for the info ahead of time!

You did good! After the iso soak, I rinse under the tap water and squeeze out the filler til it's dry, let the cart dry overnight. I blow the atty onto a paper towel or napkin from the battery end to get as much liquid out as possible, then let dry overnight too. Haven't had an atty die on me yet from this. Also you can do a "dry burn" with your atty to thoroughly make sure it's dry and clean. I can't believe how much gunk gets on these!

 

[dormouse]

I prefer to use an ingestion-safe alcohol like vodka or grain alcohol (grain would be purer and better). And i am lazy with cleaning attys so I alternate two and every weekend the used one goes in the alcohol and I switch to the clean one after priming it. So I can take my time cleaning. I leave the used atty in alcohol overnight, then next day swish some of the jar alcohol through it to get out any dissolved stuff, shake out hard, lay to dry on paper towels.

And I just give up on the white stuffing - my M401 carts are very narrow and it's hard for me to ever get the white stuff right again. So now when my white stuffing starts acting bad or tasting bad, I toss it and cut a plain blue foam plug for that cart. I LOVE the blue foam. Wicks better for me, keeps its shape, easy to wash under running water because it stays the same shape, hardly ever get a burnt taste when it''s dry.

 

[Burnaphatone]

Isopropyl alcohol IS rubbing alcohol.

Yea idk why i was thinking they said hydrogen peroxide. Regardless, I have never had any issues using iso to clean anything else I was using to inhale stuff, so I am going to stick with iso since it evaporates so easily and leave behind no residue.

 

[Seabrook]

When I use filler, I use Everclear to soak, then I rinse it out and don't have to let it dry out, just refill. Following the highping cart mod, I also clipped about a third of the filler off to allow more juice in my cart.

 

[PepNYC]

If you are really confused take a look in the E-Cigarette Maintenance section. There are a lot of ways to clean an atty and cart to get you even more confused. You really have to find what works best for you. I personally use the iso alcohol soak for 10 - 15 mins. Then I scoop up the iso with the atty until I have a steady stream flowing from the bottom. Let dry thoroughly. I usually wait an hour or so because the iso evaporates very quickly. Then do a series of dry burns letting the atty glow red for about 2-3 seconds until the sizzling stops. Once that is done you are golden. The atty will work like brand new if not better. No need to use your expensive vodka or everclear. What a waste of booze! Shame on you guys

 

[tj1100cl]

I am definitely not using rubbing alcohol. I am using isopropyl alcohol. I used to use it on other smoking devices (of the glass variety) and after a thorough cleaning with water and letting them evaporate I never noticed any left over residue. Thanks for all the responses, I am glad I can re-use my carts, my starter kit only came with 6 so I shouldn't have to order any more for a while with this method!

isopropyl IS rubbing alcohol.

but there is nothing wrong with using isopropyl. i've been trying to find the thread with the dry burn cleaning technique, but i stumbled on the crest pro technique. it sounds like a lot of people like it, but within the thread about a half dozen times i read that people shouldn't use isopropyl because it's poisonous.

nicotine is much, much more toxic.

so is methanol. don't drink a drop of methanol. it will blind you.

grain alcohol and all liquor store alcohols are ethanol. ethanol with additives to make it poisonous, specifically to keep you from drinking it without paying tax on it, is 'denatured alcohol'. the additives usually also increase it's strength, so it may break down more than just the organics. it will mar plastic and soften paint.


isopropyl is an organic solvent that will dissolve oils like we use to vape. it will make you sick if you're drinking it or intentionally inhaling it, but typically won't harm you unless you're intentionally misusing it.

but isopropyl alcohol will evaporate, and faster than water. if you're really paranoid, you can hold one of your old, obsolete Bic lighters to it for about a half-second, and be sure that all the alcohol has burned off.


i've had some really burned up, caked on crud that i've let sit in a glass jar of 90% isopropyl overnight, then poked at it the next day with a qTip. anything that was hard will rub right off with the QTip. then rinse with a little fresh alcohol. wipe it dry, it looks brand new. there's nothing to worry about. and, it's the cheapest solvent out there, except water.


when's the last time you had your temperature taken by the doctor? what did they use to clean the thermometer, right before putting it in your mouth? ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL. (i hope, unless you go to Dr. Nick Riviera)

 

[hairball]

For stuck on stubborn crud and tastes that won't leave the atty, use white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar will eat it away. Rinse good in hot water. Let dry. If a slight tastes remain in atty, drip a couple of drops of unflavored no nicotine VG onto it and vape it off without inhaling. This generally will remove any of the remaining flavor out of atty.

For carts, take the filler out, rinse under hot water. Take empty plastic piece and rinse it as well. Use a qtip to dry the plastic piece. Take wet filler material and blot between a folded paper towel.

For cartos, get a basting bulb and pencil grips. Put pencil grip on end of basting bulb, insert battery end into the other end of pencil grip, squeeze air out of basting bulb, put carto into hot boiling water, and slowly release to draw the hot water through it. Then gently squeeze the bulb to squirt the water back through. Repeat this one more time with clean water. Turn upside down (battery connector up) on paper towel and let dry overnight.

 

[Seabrook]

For stuck on stubborn crud and tastes that won't leave the atty, use white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar will eat it away. Rinse good in hot water. Let dry. If a slight tastes remain in atty, drip a couple of drops of unflavored no nicotine VG onto it and vape it off without inhaling. This generally will remove any of the remaining flavor out of atty.

For carts, take the filler out, rinse under hot water. Take empty plastic piece and rinse it as well. Use a qtip to dry the plastic piece. Take wet filler material and blot between a folded paper towel.

For cartos, get a basting bulb and pencil grips. Put pencil grip on end of basting bulb, insert battery end into the other end of pencil grip, squeeze air out of basting bulb, put carto into hot boiling water, and slowly release to draw the hot water through it. Then gently squeeze the bulb to squirt the water back through. Repeat this one more time with clean water. Turn upside down (battery connector up) on paper towel and let dry overnight.

What an awesome idea, thanks HB. I also like the idea of the vinegar. I do green housekeeping at home w/baking soda, washing soda, vinegar and essential oils, etc. -- to eliminate more toxins in my home environment.

 

[PepNYC]

Here is a link to the method I use except I use isopropyl alcohol in lieu of hot water. This is the dry burn method.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/tips-tricks/69834-my-atty-resurrection-method.html

The vinegar sounds like an option too if it really works that good. I'll give that a try.