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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[ChainSmkr]

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

LOL Nuck! You sound like my sister "I"m building up a resistance to germs!". I bet there is a bit of truth in that somewhere though. Why'd I get the germaphobe genes? (Don't answer that)

 

[so2late4me]

i clean mine with quick blast of steam from my shark. i just take the whole cart apart blast the filling/batting and both pieces of the cart inside and out then fill, reassemble and on with the show.

 

[Nuck]

LOL Nuck! You sound like my sister "I"m building up a resistance to germs!". I bet there is a bit of truth in that somewhere though. Why'd I get the germaphobe genes? (Don't answer that)

Hey chain, you got me thinking since I tend to avoid over doing the sterile environment for myself and my kids for that exact same reason, so I went looking.

You might not want to clean up your act - Los Angeles Times

Apparently your sister and I aren't totally crazy..well, at least we're not alone

 

[ChainSmkr]

Hey chain, you got me thinking since I tend to avoid over doing the sterile environment for myself and my kids for that exact same reason, so I went looking.

You might not want to clean up your act - Los Angeles Times

Apparently your sister and I aren't totally crazy..well, at least we're not alone

That was a good read. I'll make sure my sister never sees it Just kidding! I liked the term "protective germs".

 

[korruption]

Yea I have been washing them thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water after almost every use. At first I did not even think about the sanitation side of these things, but now I am a clean freak with it.

 

[waywardsister]

Nuck, I'm with you. Come on people - do you never put your finger in your mouth, or chew on a pen?

 

[StoneE4]

Nuck, add one more to your corner.
I just don't understand the "near-germophobe" mentality that so many people exhibit these days. What ever happened to the old saying, "You gotta eat a pound of dirt before you die."?
Maybe my attitude comes from the fact that I grew up doing a lot of camping (and still do) where you simply don't bother to make sure everything is cleaned with alcohol or some antibacterial solution or else you would spend more than half your time cleaning things instead of enjoying the wilderness around you. I'm sure my six years in the Marine Corps with a job that kept me in the field a majority of the time probably solidified my lackadaisical attitude towards gems.
Ever try to buy non-antibacterial soap in a store lately? Good luck with that. What the hell do people need that stuff for anyway? It's not like anyone is performing surgery in the kitchen, so what's up with all the antibacterial soap these days?
The most funny thing about this subject is that I probably average two colds a year while the "near-germophobes" I know seem to catch a cold every couple of months.
/rant

Anyway...
I probably don't vape as much as most people, but I usually trade out my carts after a day of using them. At the end of the week I give the ones I've used a cleaning. I add some dish soap to an old peanut butter jar, fill it up 3/4 of the way with water, throw in my carts, and give it a good shake for about a minute. I rinse everything off and let it air dry.

As to keeping my carts clean while vaping? I've never concerned myself with it. If I dropped my e-cig on the deck, I'd probably wipe off the mouthpiece. Other than that, I don't even think twice about putting it in my pocket, propping it up in my car's ashtray (no more ashes or butts in there) or putting it into my case and then popping it back into my mouth later on.

 

[dedmonwakin]

Hello, all.
Glad the my practices of carrying Alcohol prep pads inspired some to start carrying or plan to carry some. Besides bacteria, those of us who take proper measures to the best of our abilities, so that we may protect ourselves and others from accidental spills/leaks/or contamination of the liquid we carry are good practices.

In my previous post, I don't think I meant to come across as, "OCD." After intense training in Cross Contamination years ago, it burned an image into my head and pretty much changed my lifestyle to a degree. Only way I can explain it is, imagine your house being infested by flea's from your dog. Most people will exercise extreme caution to prevent that from ever happening again.

I don't go carrying a hanky in my back pocket so I can wipe down every surface I come in contact with....but I do use tissue to cut off the faucet and open the men's restroom door.......it's the men's bathroom, you have to see the logic in that! lol

Whoever said, they carry disinfectant wipes, such as Wet Ones....keep on carrying that. Depending on the type, I don't believe you should be using that on anything that will be entering your mouth, but I could be wrong. However, great for accidents!

Anti-bacterial soap....my thoughts on that, use any soap you like. Don't fall into the comparible organic is better hype. All scaretactics, all marketing.

Just don't use fragrant soaps on open wounds and your all good.

Numerous studies show that antibacterial soap is no more effective than ordinary soap in cleaning your hands.
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiol...bacterial.html


According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibacterial soaps are not necessary, but washing your hands thoroughly with ordinary soap and warm water is one of the most effective ways to ward off infection.
radio venezuela estudios a distancia at aorula.com

Currently, no evidence suggests that use of antibacterial soap containing 0.2% triclosan provides a benefit over plain soap in reducing bacterial counts and rate of infectious symptoms in generally healthy persons in the household setting

Antibacterial Cleaning Products and Drug Resistance | CDC EID

I'm not the cleanest person in the world or the most cautious.

 

[ChainSmkr]

8-o Yuck! In my household, trying to keep fingers away from your eyes, nose, and mouth; disinfectant wipes; and anti-bacterial soap are all good things. I figure there's plenty of exposure to germs and cooties outside (at work, schools, stores, in the general public etc) throughout the day to keep the balance. As far as keeping bits/pieces clean, it's important unless you enjoy spending your day in the bathroom. I've often wondered if the people blaming solely PG for this have ever considered that maybe it's time for e-cig laundry.

 

[Ramblin]

Ever try to buy non-antibacterial soap in a store lately?

Make your own poured glycerin soap. It's really easy and you can add your own favorite fragrances.