Keeping your vape clean is one of the best ways to make your vape kit last longer and maximise your device's flavour and vapour production. But each device has different parts that need to be cleaned differently to make sure you're not causing any damage. We've put together a handy guide on how to clean your vape tank, with simple and fool-proof methods.
What is a vape tank?
A tank is the part of your vape that holds the e-liquid. It houses the coil, the vape's heating element that turns the e-liquid into vapour. The tank may seem like a pretty straightforward and simple part of a vape, but it is actually made of several different components that connect it to the rest of the device. A tank usually consists of a base, vape coil, glass/pyrex tube, top cap, and mouthpiece or drip tip.
How often should I clean my vape tank?
We recommend always having your tank filled with e-liquid to prevent any burnt tasting hits and prematurely burning out your coils, but having your tank filled with liquid for too long can mean that build-up can form pretty quickly, clogging your coils and wick and reducing the quality of your e-liquid flavour. This is why we recommend you clean your tank every time you want to change e-liquids, especially if you're going for a completely different flavour in your next refill.
There are a few different ways you can clean your tank, but they all start the same way. You'll first need to remove the coil and disassemble the tank as much as you can, separating the mouthpiece and any additional parts. While you're doing this, take note of how each part fits together and make sure you don't lose any of these pieces. Once you have all the parts laid out in front of you, you can begin cleaning your vape tank.
What should I use to clean my vape tank?
We recommend these 4 cleaning methods:
Standard soak
This method will work perfectly if your tank isn't too dirty to begin with. Start by taking each part of the tank and placing it under running water until all the debris and residue is washed out. Dry the parts with a clean paper towel and leave them somewhere safe to air dry overnight.
If you find that your tank needs a slightly deeper clean, you can add an extra step. Fill a small bowl or cup with clean water and microwave it for around a minute until it's warm. Make sure it's not too hot as hot water could damage your vape tank. While you heat up the water, rinse the vape tank under running water to clear off any residual e-liquid that you can.
Once the water is ready, place the tank in the warm water and let it soak until the water fully cools down. After the soak, rinse the tank one more time under running water before towel drying and letting it air dry overnight. Patience really pays off here so we recommend avoiding using hair dryers or other heating tools to speed up the drying process as excess heat can damage your vape. Once clean and dry, the tank is ready to be reassembled and refitted into your vape kit.
PG soak
A PG soak is a great method for those who find their old vape juice flavours bleeding into their fresh top ups. It involves soaking the disassembled tank in a bowl of unflavoured propylene glycol. If this sounds familiar, it's because PG is one of the main base ingredients used in e-liquids. It makes for a great cleaning agent as PG is an excellent flavour carrier, which means it can easily clear out any leftover flavour in your vape tank. To learn a little more about the ingredients used in e-liquid, check out our blog about VG and PG ratios.
Simply follow the same method for the standard soak, starting by rinsing the different parts of the vape tank under running water. After rinsing, place the parts in a bowl of PG and let it soak for 1-2 hours. Once you've soaked the tank just place it standing on a napkin and let it air dry. By using this method you can be sure you won't be tasting any stale flavours the next time you refill your vape with new e-liquid.
Cleaning agent soak
If you find that your vape tank has a substantial amount of residue and build-up, try incorporating a cleaning agent into the process. You don't have to go out of your way to buy a specific cleaner for your tank. In fact, you might already have some of these in your kitchen cupboard.
Baking soda is an excellent choice for deep cleaning your tank. Cheap vodka is also a great and accessible option to make sure your tank comes out squeaky clean. You can also use vinegar to clean your tank, but make sure that you rinse it all out thoroughly after the soak to avoid any lingering smells that could affect your e-liquid's flavour.
To use this method, simply soak the parts of your tank in a bowl of vinegar or vodka. If you're using baking soda, mix it in with some warm water and leave your tank to soak in this mixture. After letting the tank soak for at least 20 minutes, remove it from the cleaning liquid and thoroughly scrub each part with a toothbrush to remove both any excess residue and cleaning agents. Rinse the tank parts under running water and leave it to air dry on a clean paper towel.
Ultrasonic cleaner
You have heard of ultrasonic cleaners as those devices used to clean jewellery and other small precious metals. Nowadays, you'll see many vapers using it to clean their tanks and coils because of how thoroughly they're able to clean these parts.
To use an ultrasonic cleaner for your tank, fill the device up with water and place all the parts of your vape tank inside. You can also use a few drops of dish soap to help give a deeper clean. After letting it run - most devices will run for 10 minute cycles - remove the disassembled tank and let it dry overnight over a paper towel.
Conclusion
Whichever cleaning method you choose to use, we can guarantee that your vape will come out squeaky clean. All you need to do after the parts have dried is reassemble everything (coils, mouthpiece, and more), then replace it on your mod. Now that your tank is perfectly clean you won't have to worry about any stale flavours from vape juice build-up getting in the way of your vaping.
If you're looking for a new tank for your vape kit, we've got a wide range of the best tanks on the market here at Vaping 101. Feel free to shoot us a message if you're having trouble picking one and we'll help you find the best tank for your device. We've got you sorted for all your vaping needs, just top up your favourite e-liquid and enjoy the flavours to the fullest!
