When and How to refill cartos, how to clean them out?

[White Rabbit]

Just another thought and my worth folks.
1. You are putting that tip in and out of your mouth hundreds of times a day it gets germs on it folks and dried juice etc.
2. If the coil gets gunked up your draw will not be as smooth and burning the coil can damage the carto. I know they are cheap.
3. Take a good look at the filler after 4 or 5 refills, some of mine actually were turning black. Mold? Dirt? Dried juice? I then clean them.
4. If you want to change flavors, you just have to get that old juice out first.
There are probably more reasons to keep your equipment clean. Boiling only takes 10 to 15 minutes once a week and personally I find the taste improves, especially with thick juice.

 

[Element_Baz]

Just another thought and my worth folks.
1. You are putting that tip in and out of your mouth hundreds of times a day it gets germs on it folks and dried juice etc.
2. If the coil gets gunked up your draw will not be as smooth and burning the coil can damage the carto. I know they are cheap.
3. Take a good look at the filler after 4 or 5 refills, some of mine actually were turning black. Mold? Dirt? Dried juice? I then clean them.
4. If you want to change flavors, you just have to get that old juice out first.
There are probably more reasons to keep your equipment clean. Boiling only takes 10 to 15 minutes once a week and personally I find the taste improves, especially with thick juice.

Will be boiling mine, thanks for the info Rabbit!

 

[JoAnnW]

Just another thought and my worth folks.
1. You are putting that tip in and out of your mouth hundreds of times a day it gets germs on it folks and dried juice etc.
2. If the coil gets gunked up your draw will not be as smooth and burning the coil can damage the carto. I know they are cheap.
3. Take a good look at the filler after 4 or 5 refills, some of mine actually were turning black. Mold? Dirt? Dried juice? I then clean them.
4. If you want to change flavors, you just have to get that old juice out first.
There are probably more reasons to keep your equipment clean. Boiling only takes 10 to 15 minutes once a week and personally I find the taste improves, especially with thick juice.

You are right about that! It did improve the taste. To be honest, I didn't start boiling mine until I read your post about this in another thread... I forgot which but it was about filling it or something... Anyway after I boiled my carts and let them dry the way you suggested, rolling a piece of paper towel and stuffing it in.. the flavor was SO much better. Boiling is necessary if they contained thick and sweet juices. The filler bounces back and seems to absorb juice much better with the next filling. They definitely last longer and doesn't take much time.

Two sets of thumbs up for you Mr. Wabbit!!!

 

[cindycated]

Just another thought and my worth folks.
1. You are putting that tip in and out of your mouth hundreds of times a day it gets germs on it folks and dried juice etc.
2. If the coil gets gunked up your draw will not be as smooth and burning the coil can damage the carto. I know they are cheap.
3. Take a good look at the filler after 4 or 5 refills, some of mine actually were turning black. Mold? Dirt? Dried juice? I then clean them.
4. If you want to change flavors, you just have to get that old juice out first.
There are probably more reasons to keep your equipment clean. Boiling only takes 10 to 15 minutes once a week and personally I find the taste improves, especially with thick juice.

With all that PG, you probably wouldn't have to worry so much about mold while in use, but mold could grow during the cleaning process (got a skin rash from this once), like when you leave it soaking in an open container, or when you dry it without sufficient access to air (like upside-down on a counter, or worse, in sealed Tupperware). Soaking them in a lidded airtight jar with vodka and PG (or however you wanna clean them), and drying them fast (like in a dehydrator) or by the sun (which can help kill bacteria) would probably be a good idea, if you're worried about that. I clean them when I can't get decent flavor or vapor out of them anymore. The carbon crud that develops on the coil is very stubborn though (still haven't found a way to get that stuff completely off), so they're only worth cleaning if you're not expecting "good as new." And the filler loses a little of its density/absorbency with every cleaning too, so they may not vape as long. Cleaning them is a pain. That said, I'm still using some that are 6 months old (broke ). But cleaning 3 or 4 times would probably be more realistic for decent performance. Wabbit, if they're turning black on you, you may not be topping off often enough. Careful: once they burn, there's no way to get rid of that burnt taste (from burnt filler, not so much the coil). Best way to keep them alive is to top them off before they need refilling.


Looking forward to the T3s, where you can access the coil for maybe a little careful scraping with dental tools, or just easily replace the heads when they get too gunked up. Plus there's no filler - that and the coil are what makes it such a PITA to clean cartos.

 

[Dovahkiin]

One question. After you boil them/clean them is the pan dedicated to the cartos? or you clean the pan and then use it for food preperation?

 

[White Rabbit]

One question. After you boil them/clean them is the pan dedicated to the cartos? or you clean the pan and then use it for food preperation?

I only boil my cartos after maybe 1 week of use or if the draw gets tight. I use a stainless steel pan and after using it for carto boiling, I run it through my dishwasher which has a sani-cycle. We do use the pan for other cooking but only after the dishwasher of course.

I have only thrown out maybe two cartos. Ones that still do not taste right even after cleaning, I remove the filler and use it for drip testing my DYI flavors. All you need to do is take a sewing needle and work it around the center post for a few times to loosen the filler from the tube. Then carefully pick at the filler with the needle to remove it, leaving the center post. After that, you can just put maybe three or four drops into the carto avoiding the center hole and take a few puffs of the juice. That will only last for maybe 4 or 5 puffs and then you will get a nasty dry hit and must drip several drops. I would not use this for daily vaping, only for testing flavors.

After testing just rinse out the carto, blow through it to get out any water and drip another flavor or let it completely dry for use later.

 

[White Rabbit]

While we are on the subject of cleaning our equipment, I have another tip for everyone.

Cleaning Your Battery

Again, you hand goes around your battery hundreds of times a day. It is stored in your pocket, your purse, your car tray etc. It gets dirty folks. Wipe it off with something daily.

The battery connection at the top get full of juice and gunk. Video demos show to clean it with a toothpick, but I find that my toothpicks do not fit into the small grove around the post, so I use an old toothbrush every evening before I charge my battery. I have all manuals, which are sealed and I recommend this only for sealed batteries. I put a little water on the toothbush, pat the toothbrush on a towel because you do not want it too wet. Then brush out the grove. I do this several times until the grove around the post shines again. Then I blow out any moisture, pat it with a kleenex, replace the carto or nano and vape away.

I guess you all now think I am a germ-a-phobic. (Dana Carvy Voice) Not the case, Not the case!

PS: I also wipe off my keyboard and mouse at least once a week with Clorox Wipes.

 

[Duster6524]

Could switch the water to rubbing alcohol, especially for those with autos out there.
(when cleaning threads)

 

[JoAnnW]

Could switch the water to rubbing alcohol, especially for those with autos out there.
(when cleaning threads)

I clean my auto's & manuals with alcohol & a soft toothbrush, used only for battery cleaning.

 

[Dovahkiin]

I use rubbing alcohol a toothpick, toothbrush, and a very small screwdriver (Eyeglass kit) Then blow with a can of air.