Beginners Guide To Properly Clean Your Vape Tanks & Coils

Cleaning your vape device is crucial if you want to experience the best your device has to offer. Notwithstanding the evolution of vaping gear, from electronic cigarettes to vape pens, pods, mods, and especially tanks. Instead of disposable cartridges, vapers today use more advanced devices with transparent, reusable tanks. 

In general, vape juices do not stain atomizers, but residues and coil gunk can accumulate. Even high-profile tanks like the Aspire tank require cleaning since this will ensure that it functions well and lasts longer. By doing so, you can frequently use your vape device and expect a longer lifespan, better experience, and more value.

You may already know why it is essential to maintain vape tanks and coils regularly, but the chances are that you aren't familiar with how to do it. Remember, it makes no difference if you’re a seasoned vaper with several years of experience or a beginner. Whatever level you find yourself in the vaping journey, you can always learn new things about your device. 

So continue reading for tips on how to keep your kit and accessories in tip-top condition. 

Determining When to Clean

Here are the telltale signs to look out for to know when it’s time to clean your vape device. 

Change of vape juice flavor: It is typical for remaining droplets from the previously used vape juice to leave a unique taste behind. Cleaning is primarily done for this reason. In addition, it affects the subsequent vaping experience when you switch the flavor of vape juice. So, it will help if you clean it whenever you intend to change the e-liquid flavor. This ensures the preservation of the flavor and also protects the vape device.

At your discretion: If you stick to a particular vape juice, you may find yourself cleaning your vape occasionally. However, when you realize that you are not getting the expected performance, thoroughly clean your device.

Weekly Intervals: You can also make it a habit to rinse and clean the vape tank once a week. The best way to ensure a good flavor is to clean correctly and regularly. 

Identify Which Components to Clean

Depending on the type of vape, its parts may be simple or have some degree of complexity. Nevertheless, as it is a device you may carry for a reasonable duration, it will be helpful to possess some level of understanding of its parts. For instance, understanding the different components of the vaping device is crucial to cleaning RDA coils properly. Essentially all atomizers have these components; 

The Coil: A coil provides the heat needed to vaporize the liquid, so you get those great clouds. Vaping is more enjoyable when the coil is in good condition because a coil's quality greatly influences flavor.

The Tank: The purpose of the tank is to carry the vape juice. The coil connects to the tank lid through the tank. During the wicking process, the liquid absorbs and burns to release its flavor. At any multi-brand vape tanks store, you can find various tanks if you need a complete replacement.

Tank lids or top cap: It covers up the tank from above. It facilitates passage for the vapor, which goes through this portion to reach the drip tip. The drip tip connects to the tank by the lid. 

Drip tip: It refers to the upper mouthpiece-like section of the pod. It has a crucial role in determining the outcome of the flavor and allows you to inhale the vapor through the mouthpiece or drip tip. 

The Battery: The vape, an electronic device, is bound to have a battery that is the device's heart, serving as its power source. The battery controls the temperature and heating power of the vape. Remove the other parts, and clean them except for the battery. Even though it doesn't need cleaning, it's necessary to mention it so that you don't waste time finding a way to do it. 

Cleaning The Tank

As previously mentioned, the vape tank is one of the essential pieces of your device to clean. The worst mistake you can make is to buy a new e-liquid and put it in a tank that still has traces of the flavor of a previous e-liquid.

The tank is the portion of the vape device that stores the e-liquid, so it's always a good idea to clean it before you refill. The reason for this is that if you're switching your e-liquid, you don't want the sweet flavor to interrupt the rich nicotine flavor. 

That’s because the combination of these two isn't what you were looking for. Cleaning your vape tank is recommended for the prevention of such situations. You can do this in two ways.

Simple Rinse 

To rinse, all you need is a bowl of water, preferably warm. The warmer the water, the easier it is to dissolve the gunk at the corners of the tank's base. Certain tanks like the Voopoo tank are pretty easy to clean and do not hold much gunk.

• Remove the tank from the device.
• After you remove the tank, dispose of any remaining contents safely.
• Take the coil out
• Place the tank and its accompanying components, such as the top cap and drip tip into the warm water and let it soak for a while.
• Take it out of the water, clean off any stubborn residue; let high-pressure water run over it.
• Repeat the process of soaking and rinsing at least once or twice according to your discretion.
• You can either air dry the components or wipe them with a piece of cloth or paper towel.
• Ensure that the tank and other components are completely dry before reassembling them.

It shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to complete the entire process. Once that is done, you can vape again.

Deep Cleaning

This is necessary if the tank is filthy or has a lot of residues. Perhaps you will notice the faint smell of the previous juice you used still lingering in the tank. In that case, you will need to follow the second set of cleaning steps.

• Remove the tank from the device.
• Remove the coil from the tank.
• Dispose of all remaining contents of the tank.
• Place the tank and its accompanying components, such as the top cap and drip tip into the warm water and let it sit for a while.
• Scrub any challenging areas with a brush, sponge, or scrubber until the tank is spotless. 
• Afterward, rinse with water.
• You can either air dry the components or wipe them with a piece of cloth or paper towel.
• You may also repeat the process according to your discretion.

Note that even though all of the above are suitable for cleaning vape tanks, you should still thoroughly soak the tank in hot water and wash it afterward to ensure no cleaning products remain on the device.  

Also, be careful not to clean products with high acidic content as they may damage the tank.

Cleaning Vape Coils

It is essential to clean vape coils to prevent altering the flavor. Doing this will also prolong its lifespan or usage. However, regardless of how thoroughly you take care of your vape coils, they will eventually burn out and need replacement. 

Therefore, it is necessary to know whether your vape coils require cleaning or replacement, for instance, because it has run its course or you have burnt the wicks to a crisp. If you happen to use Freemax Coils, they’ll last up to five days, assuming you are a heavy user. Vape coils have a significant impact on flavor. The more you vape, the more often you'll need to replace it. 

You may want to consider putting out your wick if it remains dark and burned out. Any significant color changes should tell you it’s time to clean up.

If your coil's wick is burnt or is beyond repair, no amount of cleaning will make it function properly. However, if it has been overcooked or clogged with e-liquid residue, a good clean can restore the coil to proper function.

How to Change Vape Coils:

• First, remove the tank from the vape.
• Dispose of any e-liquid remaining in it.
• Unscrew the coil from the tank.
• Install the new coil.
• Screw the coil back in place.
• Attach the tank back to the vape.

Pod systems, however, get a new coil when you change the pod, so you do not need to change the coil separately. Instead, you automatically replace it once to change the pod.

• To remove an empty liquid pod, click and release it.
• Install the new one by clicking it in the place where you removed the old one.

Other Cleaning Methods 

Dry Burn

Alternatively, if you build your coils, you can dry burn the coil to clean it quickly. You can only do this once or twice before you need to clean it appropriately. For a few seconds, press and hold the fire button until the coil glows slightly red, burning off any remaining e-liquid. 

It is advantageous to burn dry when the coil is relatively new. Be sure to remove the cotton out of the coil before burning. But only do it lightly. Overdoing it is a bad idea. Allow to cool, remove the burnt residue, and then you can re-wick.

Note that dry burning does not remove a large amount of gunk.

Agitation

An excellent way to clean vape parts is by agitating them. The gunk or leftover e-liquid is induced to circulate within a container with the aid of agitation. The agitation method helps you clean coil parts perfectly, regardless of whether you clean other parts too.

It is necessary to put all the components of your tank or pod into the container. Then, using gentle agitation, the atomizer parts become clean and shiny again, just like when they were new.

You can get your coil to last longer by following these pro tips:

• Buy Quality Vapes - While coils have a relatively short lifespan, a good-quality coil stands a better chance of lasting longer. 
• Buy the suitable coil for the right device - It is safe and vital to use the suitable coil for the right device and set it correctly. For instance, using Geekvape Alpha Coils for designated vapes is appropriate as it was explicitly designed for that device. Vaping at high wattages often causes coil gunk. To avoid this, regulate the device properly.
• Observe how each vape juice affects your vape or coils - Certain vape juices may harm your vape coils. For instance, e-liquids that are thick and sweet will shorten the life of your coil. Over time, they leave remnants on the wick and cause it to stop absorbing juice. If you don't want to change your coil frequently, you should avoid them.

Takeaways

Keeping your vape tank and coils clean doesn't need to be time-consuming. Cleaning it once a week or month may be sufficient, depending on how often you use it. However, the more you do it, the better your vape device will perform since it will not be clogged with debris.

With the information provided above, you can now successfully maintain your vape device by cleaning your vape tank and changing or cleaning your vape coil to have an enjoyable vaping experience. 

By following all the tips provided, you will maximize your vaping experience every time you change vape juice, and your vape juice will produce the most flavor.