I use to use a cheap volka soak on my silica wicks; but now that I use cotton, I pull out cotton, pulse coils at 3.3 v until no more smoke comes off them, then use the smallest of those teeny, tiny GUM tooth brushes for between your teeth dunked in 99% alcohol. Thread the brush thru coils and back out again, use down sides, and brush lightly the top. Let dry (won't take long) and rewick with new cotton.