You can refill a cartridge mulitple, multiple times. Cartomizers can also be refilled multiple times, but they will eventually go bad and can be tossed in the trash. Usually when a cartomizer goes bad it will smell and taste burnt even after you clean it. Cartomizers are meant to be disposable and that's why they cost less than atomizers. Your atomizer will go bad long before your cartridges will, guaranteed.