How do you guys clean your gear?

[Damios]

Hey guys so I am wondering what is the best way to clean all my gear after a mixing session.

As in all my syringes, measuring cups and what not.

I have a designated syringe for each flavor I have so I'm not trying to wash them to get the flavor out (which doesn't work no matter how much you wash them anyways, flavor concentrates are strong!!) but more so from a bacteria standpoint so that every thing is as sterile as possible for next time.

I was going to simply wash them all out with soap and water but after I washed a few of my mixing glasses I noticed that when they dry there is some mineral residue from the water if I don't wipe them dry.

I obviously don't want mineral residue going into my juices so whats the best way around this?

Simply washing everything with distilled water...? Seems like this could get expensive having to buy bottles of water every time I make juice just to clean everything.

I thought about using rubbing alcohol but I don't think the syringes would take kindly to that given they are made of plastic that is only meant to be used once...

 

[dead not sleeping]

Alcohol won't hurt the syringes, but don't know about the ink. You must have pretty hard water to be leaving residue. buy spring water if the other is too expensive. Try a few drops of rinse-aid ( liquid that you use in a dishwasher ) in the rinse water. Hot rinse water will evaporate faster.

If you are real worried about bacteria, you're gonna have to boil them for 3 - 5 minutes (boiling is not 'sterilization') or autoclave or pressure cook them. Some plastics don't do kindly to that, but a reasonably good quality syringe will stand up to it in a glass of water. 15 psi @60 - 90 minutes (250 deg) will sterilize completely, but the ink won't handle it. Everything else is just sanitizing. There's 5% bleach solution, but, no, don't do that, that's better for surfaces.

Anti-bacterial soap, and a good rinse you should be fine. PG is also a preservative, and bacteria won't like to grow in it.

 

[Damios]

Ya that's the other thing, since I am reusing the syringes, I really want the ink to stay intact and legible.

 

[dead not sleeping]

You can coat the ink with a flexible nail polish or poly, or just use packing tape.

 

[Milkhoney]

White vinegar will remove hard water spots. That's what I use in my dishwasher rather than the liquid you buy for that, works great. So vinegar diluted in water as a final rinse should leave no spots behind.

 

[HeadInClouds]

I'm lucky to have pretty pure tap water. Most things just get rinsed in hot water from the faucet. Stuff exposed to super-strong concentrates that stick around get a soak in rubbing alcohol. Some things (coils) will sit in there for days, if I don't get around to them, and I've never had a problem. They get a good water rinse after the alcohol, and they're good to go..... Well, Red Hots sticks around even through that, but it works for most everything else.

 

[Damios]

White vinegar will remove hard water spots. That's what I use in my dishwasher rather than the liquid you buy for that, works great. So vinegar diluted in water as a final rinse should leave no spots behind.

Hmm does this actually remove the mineral residue though? Or just make it appear to be clean?

 

[Damios]

PG is also a preservative, and bacteria won't like to grow in it.

What about VG? I'm making 100% VG juice.

 

[Damios]

You can coat the ink with a flexible nail polish or poly, or just use packing tape.

For some reason I don't feel comfortable coating something with nail polish that I'm using to make something I'm going to inhale.

 

[Huckleberried]

I'm lucky to have pretty pure tap water. Most things just get rinsed in hot water from the faucet. Stuff exposed to super-strong concentrates that stick around get a soak in rubbing alcohol. Some things (coils) will sit in there for days, if I don't get around to them, and I've never had a problem. They get a good water rinse after the alcohol, and they're good to go..... Well, Red Hots sticks around even through that, but it works for most everything else.

This is exactly what I've been doing. Whew!


Sent from the Cliffs of Insanity

 

[AmandaD]

I'm lucky to have pretty pure tap water. Most things just get rinsed in hot water from the faucet. Stuff exposed to super-strong concentrates that stick around get a soak in rubbing alcohol. Some things (coils) will sit in there for days, if I don't get around to them, and I've never had a problem. They get a good water rinse after the alcohol, and they're good to go..... Well, Red Hots sticks around even through that, but it works for most everything else.

The rubbing alcohol doesn't affect the rubber part of the syringe? Good to know - I'll start doing this then!

 

[Moodyfisherman]

For some reason I don't feel comfortable coating something with nail polish that I'm using to make something I'm going to inhale.

Secret is to only dip the tip of the syringe into the liquids....or use a 16ga blunt needle tip....then wash out with hot water and bada bing donell

 

[DebiK]

Secret is to only dip the tip of the syringe into the liquids....or use a 16ga blunt needle tip....then wash out with hot water and bada bing donell

I use a needle, so I don't worry about getting the syringe in the liquid.

 

[rowdyplace]

Good question. I just asked my son. He is a professional chemist (degree and job!) mixing and cleaning stuff all day. He says they use a product called alcojet for their glassware dishwasher - and alconox for hand washing some glassware.

Google these words and you you will find several sources and much more information.

I have been using 91% isopropyl alcohol. But that changes tomorrow when he brings me some of this stuff home.

He is filled with chemistry knowledge and can do hard math on a small note pad. He just refused to vape. (Darn non smoker...)

 

[rowdyplace]

OOps...

Admins - put me in time out for double posting...

 

[RocketPuppy]

I use a paring knife and score marks on my syringes. Good thing to do whole watching tv. I did a hundred in less than an hour episode.

 

[RocketPuppy]

 

[Dogeggs]

I use Milton fluid, the stuff you use for cleaning babies bottles. Leave it soaking in it overnight, give it a good rinse and then let it dry naturally. Careful not to get it on your clothes though, i got some drops on a Stone Island sweatshirt and they turned into pink dots

 

[Wingsfan0310]

I use hot soapy water followed by a good rinse, shake off the excess water and let them air dry.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[3mg Meniere]

I clean my syringes by sucking up plain pg in them and shooting it back out. I have a bottle of that, and am going to vape it some day when I get desperate. A bit of complex intermixing of flavors doesn't bother me.