How to Clean Vape Pods: Step-by-Step Guide

If you own a pod vaping system, you’re well aware of the ways it can enhance your vaping experience. Pod systems are essential for enjoying high-strength nicotine salt e-liquids preferred by new vapers. These devices are compact, stylish, and affordable.

While pod systems are cheap to acquire, you might face pod burnout sooner than expected. To make the most of your pods and extend their lifespan, knowing how to clean them is crucial. A burnt taste doesn’t mean your pod’s coil is faulty; it’s often residue buildup. Removing the residue can restore the original flavor, allowing you to reuse the pod instead of discarding it.

This article will guide you through the essential process of cleaning vape pods.

On your mind before diving into vape pod cleaning procedures is the nature of the residue causing burnouts.

Exploring the Formation of Vape Pod Residue

Vape pod residue originates from insufficient vapor conversion of certain e-liquid ingredients upon heating. Any unvaporized components adhere to the pod’s atomizer coil, gradually building up into a thick layer that eventually coats the heating surface entirely. This build-up results in a caramelized or burnt undertone when vaping.

Vapers commonly refer to this residue as “coil gunk,” hindering the coil’s wick performance. With time, as the residue thickens, it may even begin to burn during vaping sessions. Consequently, you may encounter a consistent burnt taste with each puff, despite having sufficient e-liquid in the pod.

Tips to Prevent Coil Gunk Build-up in Vape Pods

Sucralose, a sugar-free sweetener, is the primary contributor to coil gunk in e-liquids, fueling the formation of residue. The prevalence of sweetened e-liquids, loved by many vapers, makes sucralose a prevalent ingredient in today’s vape juices. Therefore, encountering a sucralose-free e-liquid can feel somewhat uncommon.

If your e-liquid tastes noticeably sweet like candy, fruits, or desserts and leaves a sugary residue on your lips post-vaping, it likely contains sucralose. This sweetener, when exposed to heat, doesn’t vaporize cleanly but rather melts and caramelizes akin to sugar, forming a gunky layer on the coil that ultimately degrades its flavor.

To extend your pod’s lifespan and prevent premature burnouts, consider shifting to unsweetened e-liquids. This change will significantly slow down residue accumulation, allowing your pods to last several days, if not a week, before necessitating replacement.

If unsweetened e-liquids aren’t your preference, and you’re reluctant to make the switch, you may opt for a different…

Considering you are content with your current vape juice flavor and have no desire to change anything about your vaping experience, we now delve into the primary focus of this article: instructions on cleaning vape pods.

Step by Step Guide on Cleaning Vape Pods

Ever wondered about the importance of knowing the proper way to clean a vape pod? The burnt flavor is not due to any issue with the pod’s atomizer coil but is merely caused by e-liquid residue accumulation. By effectively removing this residue, your pod will boast a fully functional atomizer coil, akin to a brand-new coil.

In specific pod vaping setups where the atomizer coil is non-removable and part of the pod permanently, cleaning pod cartridges can be challenging due to restricted access through a single filling hole. Cleaning is simpler with a removable coil. Top pod systems with this feature include:

• Innokin Sensis
• Innokin EQ FLTR
• Innokin Kroma Z

Let’s delve deeper into the process of cleaning your soiled vape pods.

• Begin by filling a spacious bowl with very hot water. Avoid using boiling water as vape pods are crafted from plastic, and the goal is to prevent any degradation or melting of the plastic material.
• Open the filling hole of your vape pod. For pods with removable coils, take out the coil as well. Submerge both components in the water. Note that vape pods may float due to their hollow structure. Ensure they are completely submerged for effective cleaning.
• Swirl the pod and coil in the water to stir and dislodge residue. Allow the items to soak for a period before swirling again. Expect to see dark particles floating in the water or within the pod if it lacks a removable component

– Remove the water and add more hot water to the bowl. Periodically swish the pod and coil to break up the residue until dark flecks stop appearing in the water, indicating the coil is clean. For pods with built-in coils, rinse the pod under the faucet to remove flecks.

– Take out the pod and coil from the water, tap the pod on a paper towel to remove excess water, and let them air dry for several hours before using them again.

Are you struggling to remove residue from your vape pods using hot water alone? Consider cleaning them with alcohol instead. Vodka is an effective solvent, but it’s more costly than water; thus, you may want to clean several pods and coils at once. After cleaning, rinse them thoroughly to eliminate any remaining alcohol.

In some instances, dust and lint may accumulate in hard-to-reach areas of vape pods. Gently scrape such areas with a toothpick to remove the grime.

To elevate your cleaning routine, try using an ultrasonic cleaner for your pods and coils instead of hot water. This type of cleaner, typically used for jewelry, uses ultrasonic vibrations to clean coils thoroughly and quickly.

### Does Cleaning Always Fix a Burnt Vape Pod?

Before cleaning your vape pods, understand that cleaning only eliminates burnt flavor if residue on the coil causes it. A burnt taste may also result from a damaged wick, in which case, replacing the pod or coil is necessary.

The wick of a coil may burn if not adequately wet before vaping. This can occur when vaping with an empty pod or immediately after installing a new pod or coil. To ensure the wick is fully saturated, wait several minutes after replacing the coil before vaping.

Differentiating between coil residue and a burnt wick comes with experience. Residue typically tastes somewhat sweet, like burnt sugar, while a damaged wick creates a harsher flavor that may cause a burning sensation in the throat.