it makes no sense to me why I keep seeing people say they soak in vodka.

[smacuser]

Hot tap water.

 

[VapinWolf]

5 minutes in boiling water and my disposable atomizers work good as new. And it is cheaper than vodka (in most areas)

 

[granolaboy]

99.9% isopropyl alcohol ....

I got myself a box of medical alcohol prep pads, which are awesome for cleaning things up. A bottle of (nearly) pure iso can clean just about anything and leave it sanitized.

 

[Gowanus]

Ok...before any more misconceptions get thrown around...rubbing alcohol is not 'pure', it contains additives that make it unsafe for internal use in any form, grain alcohol from the liquor store, on the other hand, is safe to consume...however, pure grain alchohol is expensive, vodka is usually the cheapest substitute with the fewest impurities (not always the case). Long story short, if you're worried about what goes in your atty, buy some Everclear at the liquor store, a little can go a long way if you're careful with it, cheap, clear, unflavored vodka, is probably the best budget substitute. Rubbing alcohol will work, but it does contain additives that aren't safe to consume, and may leave a residue of those additives behind, but we're all adults here, so you can make your own decisions.

ETA Since this is the internet and I don't expect anyone to believe me, you can check the MSDS for rubbing alcohol, or go here... http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalcomposition/f/What-Are-The-Ingredients-In-Rubbing-Alcohol.htm

vape on,

Grimstar

I just wanted to thank Grimstar for coming to the table with facts I wasn't aware of. In fact, he may even have explained why my glass & stainless drip tip makes juice taste bitter, since I think I soaked it in isopropyl before putting it away. I actually just went and read up on surgical cleaning, and they don't actually use rubbing alcohol at all... everything is cleaned with water and heat really. So I'm now seeing the rubbing alcohol in a different light.

Everclear does seem like an ok option given the options available to the average consumer, and yeah boiling does seem like the best option for the things that can be boiled. Can't boil my battery housing though, and wouldn't want to get a vodka residue either. But I don't need it covered in bittering agent either.

I still don't think vodka's a great solution, although Everclear will probably do fine.

Is there some other evaporating, unscented, non-residue forming cleaning agent that's also safe to touch/inhale? maybe not.

 

[bjseggerman]

Do you know how much air it would take to kill you?? At least 50cc. It's alot

And it's not the air that kills it's the blood/oxygen it displaces

 

[Gowanus]

99.9% isopropyl alcohol ....

I got myself a box of medical alcohol prep pads, which are awesome for cleaning things up. A bottle of (nearly) pure iso can clean just about anything and leave it sanitized.

yeah medical prep pads are a great idea for cleaning anything but the coils... no bitterant or additives. Then just boil coils. kinda makes the most sense to me.

 

[Gowanus]

Do you know how much air it would take to kill you?? At least 50cc. It's alot

It's a lot easier to get an air bubble in your veins than you know. A great woodworker I knew lost his best friend after the guy cut his hand on the tablesaw... the cut didn't kill him, it wasn't even that bad. But he grabbed the airhose to blow the dust out of it and died within seconds.

 

[klynnn]

I use hot water for cleaning and drink the vodka. I have never soaked anything, I dryburn.

 

[Marc411]

All my toppers enjoy a good bath in hot soapy water, a little scrub with a tooth brush, a little cheap everclear (metal bowl floating in hot water) and a good hot rinse.

Always nice to start them out with a hot bath and a good drink.

 

[AndriaD]

I always use rubbing alcohol, because I'm a recovering alkie so there is never drinkable alcohol in my house and never will be. There is no problem using rubbing alcohol, because YOU RINSE IT WITH WATER BEFORE YOU TRY TO VAPE WITH IT!! Sorry for the caps, but I mean DUHHHH!!!!! Alcohol is water soluble so IT RINSES AWAY! I say again, DUH!!!!!!!!!

The only potential problem I can see is that rubbing alcohol may break down o-rings, but if the soak is short enough, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Andria

 

[Ryedan]

I use hot water for cleaning and drink the vodka. I have never soaked anything, I dryburn.

This ^^.

Except for de-greasing new equipment, I've never washed, rinsed or soaked any vape gear with anything other than water. Both VG and PG are antimicrobial. I dry burn regularly and rewick often.

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

I use Everclear, since I hate the taste of alcohol and luckily never acquired the habit. But I was scrolling the thread to see if anyone had mentioned that rubbing alcohol can denature any rubber in the coil, and I see that once again Andria D has proven that you should pretty much just ask her if you want to know anything. ;D

 

[AndriaD]

I use Everclear, since I hate the taste of alcohol and luckily never acquired the habit. But I was scrolling the thread to see if anyone had mentioned that rubbing alcohol can denature any rubber in the coil, and I see that once again Andria D has proven that you should pretty much just ask her if you want to know anything. ;D

Geez, maybe I'll just shut up then. I had no idea I was that obnoxious.

Andria

 

[crxess]

A Drunk Atomizer is a Happy Atomizer

 

[woodardjd]

Rubbing alcohol has lubricants. Vodka isn't pure, but it's clean enough to drink. I use Clear Springs PGA. Also mix 50/50 PG/PGA for atty flush.

 

[zapped]

and again with the food quality... I wouldn't want a surgeon to clean a scalpel with vodka and then use it on me, even though it's food safe. There's no reason to think that cleaning with rubbing alcohol means vaping it. But to suggest that vaping vodka is just fine because it's food safe seems irresponsible. I just saw in another thread someone suggest capsicum for throat hit... even though it's food safe, vaping that could cause some serious problems. People need to get off this food safe bandwagon and see things for what they are.

Surgeons used to clean their equipment with liquor. Look it up.

As for advocating the use of rubbing alcohol over vodka, I think youre a wee bit new here...... and to vaping...... to be telling any of us what we should or shouldnt do.

As others have mentioned, rubbing alcohol is a poison. Use at your own risk.

http://www.healthline.com/health/isopropyl-alcohol#Overview1

 

[zapped]

Geez, maybe I'll just shut up then. I had no idea I was that obnoxious.

Andria

You arent obnoxious at all hun, we lubs ya!

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

Geez, maybe I'll just shut up then. I had no idea I was that obnoxious.

Andria

Not at all. It was a botched attempt at a compliment. I've found you very informative. So sorry.

 

[zapped]

Happy Thanksgiving to you both by the way

 

[AndriaD]

Not at all. It was a botched attempt at a compliment. I've found you very informative. So sorry.

Thanks.. I *like* being informative, if it's helpful, so many here have helped me.... but I hate know-it-alls and I sure don't want to be one. I'm actually just an extended newbie, with a lot of time on my hands for hanging out in a forum.

Andria