Like all things you use regularly, vape pens are prone to getting dirty over time, requiring regular maintenance to be kept at their best.
Vape pens are often not the cheapest, and anything that you’ve taken the time and effort to invest in should be looked after and respected if you want it to be a worthwhile purchase.
If you don’t look after your vape pen, it can lead to some harsh-tasting burns or a loss of functionality entirely, which is never good. To help you avoid this, we’ve put together everything you’ll need to know about how to keep your vape in shape so you can enjoy it to its fullest potential.
How Does a Vape Pen Work?
One of the first things you’ll notice about vape pens is that they come in every shape and size imaginable. In addition, specific devices are activated by an igniter button, whereas some are draw-activated, and some vaporizer batteries are removable, while others are attached.
Generally, most vape pens are powered by an electrical battery that activates an internal heating element, vaporizing the oil or dry herb and turning it into an inhalable vapor.
Why Should You Keep Your Vape Pens Clean?
The main reason that cleaning your vape is so essential is to preserve its lifecycle and let you get the most use out of it possible.
If you don’t regularly clean the interior of your vaporizer, it will begin to produce less intense or full hits, as residue and dirt will block the vapor path.
Cleaning your vape pen may not sound like fun, but it’s far easier and quicker than you might think – and the more you do it, the simpler it becomes until it is just another part of your regular vaping routine.
How to Clean Your Vape Pen: High There’s Step-By-Step Guide
Step #1: Understand the different parts of your vape pen
To keep a clean vape, you’ll first need to have a basic understanding of what the main components are.
Almost every vaporizer will be made up of a battery, tank, atomizer, mouthpiece, heating chamber, and button.
The battery heats the atomizer (at the touch of a button) within the tank, which turns it into vapor – which you can then inhale through the mouthpiece.
Step #2: Take the pen apart
Once you’ve grasped the essential parts that make up your vape, the first step in cleaning it is to disassemble it. Most vape pens are ‘threaded’, which means their parts screw together, but some models are snapped together.
If you’re unsure about how your specific vaporizer is disassembled, you can always look up the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step #3: Clean the tank
When cleaning the tank of your vape pen, the first thing to do is to ensure that it is completely rid of all e liquids or oils. To be certain the tank is clear, remove it and run it under warm water for roughly a minute to clear away any residue or leftover oil.
Following this, you can then use a piece of cotton cloth to dab the inside of the tank dry; we recommend staying away from paper towels as they can leave behind fibers as you wipe. You can then leave it to dry for about ten minutes before using cotton swabs/Q-Tips to absorb the remaining water.
Step #4: Clean the mouthpiece
The mouthpiece is one of the most common places for residue buildup as it is the vapor pathway between the chamber and your mouth.
Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest parts of a vaporizer to clean, as – if it is removable – you run it under warm water before using a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to dry it off and remove any stains, particles or build up.
Step #5: Clean the cartridge
When cleaning the cartridge within an oil vaporizer, you should ensure that the cart is empty of all oils and residue and that no water or alcohol is used to clean the wick.
Instead, use a cotton bud (ideally dipped in isopropyl alcohol), dab tool, or Q tip to rub the interior of the cartridge and remove any excess oils or stains until it is dry completely.
During this cleaning process, take extra care not to apply too much force to the heating coil within the cartridge, as it is one of the most delicate and easily breakable parts of a vape pen.
Step #6: Brush the battery
To make sure that your vaping device is in peak condition during a ‘deep clean,’ you can also give the battery a light brush to remove any particles or residue which may cause obstructions.
A light cleaning brush is an ideal tool for doing this as it will lightly remove all dust and dirt.
Step #7: Reassemble
Finally, put your vape back together piece by piece and enjoy. For more cleaning tips, you can always refer to your vape pen’s user manual for specific cleaning instructions and advice.
How Often Should You Clean Your Vape?
As a general rule of thumb – if you want to keep your vape pen in its best possible condition – we recommend that you clean it out at least once a week.
The best way to avoid a clogged or dirty vape is to incorporate cleaning into your routine after every use, but if you can face cleaning it every time, then once a week should be sufficient.
FAQs
What should I do if my vape pen is clogged?
If your vape pen gets clogged, you’ll need to clean it out to keep it fully functional.
To do this, attempt to warm the cartridge using a hairdryer (on the lowest setting possible). You can also try repeatedly rubbing the device in your hands to loosen any clogs or use a toothpick or q tip to unblock it and remove any bits of dirt gently.
How can I clean a flooded coil?
If your vape pen has a flooded coil, the first thing to do is flick it to eliminate any residual liquid. After this, blow through the coil to clear it out.
Next, remove the coil and leave it on a paper towel for a short while. Finally, reinsert the coil and turn the vaporizer on (but don’t inhale) to burn away any leftover moisture.
Which cannabis material makes a vape pen dirty?
Over time, whether you vape cannabis flower or concentrates like hash, wax, or oils, some amount of dirt and residue will gather within your vape.
Generally, concentrates are more prone to leaving marks, but dry herb can also eventually leave some stains or marks.
Is it safe to use rubbing alcohol on my vape pen?
Rubbing alcohol is one of the best ways to keep your vape in excellent shape.
However, you should remember only to use it sparingly – as just a tiny dash will be plenty to wipe away any residue and make sure your vape pen is kept in peak condition.
Wrapping Up
A vape pen can seem like a complex device, and in some ways it is – But complex doesn’t have to mean complicated, and with a little knowledge, some elbow grease, and a little rubbing alcohol, your batter will be primed to give you the best vaping experience it can. Happy smoking!