If you’ve just started using a vaporizer, your vaping experience should be pleasant and flavourful. But after a month or two, the vapor might not taste as good. If you vape a lot, you can stop this from happening by cleaning it regularly. Keeping it clean not only makes it work better but also makes the vapor taste better. Here’s a guide on how to clean your vaporizer.

Why is the cleaning of the vaporizer important?

Using a vaporizer for herbs is way better than smoking because it doesn’t burn them, so there’s no smoke and fewer harmful stuff. But even though vaping is cleaner, gunk can still build up inside your vaporizer over time. It might happen slower and not be as obvious, but it’s still there. Just like with other smoking gadgets, it’s smart to clean your vaporizer often for a few good reasons.

1. Better taste and performance

When you vape, tiny bits of the herb can stick to different parts of your device. They can clog up the heating chamber and air vents, and even stick to important bits like the heating coils. This can make your device work less well and make the flavors not as good. But if you clean your device regularly, you’ll get the best flavors and it’ll work like a charm.

2. Service life prolonging

If you let the important bits of your vaporizer get all gunked up with sticky resin and leftover herbs, and you don’t clean it often, it can make your vaporizer not last as long. In fact, if you ignore cleaning it, you might end up ruining it for good. Cleaning your vaporizer regularly is the best way to keep it working smoothly for years to come.

3. Clean vaporizing is healthier

When your vaporizer gets all gunky, it’s not just about the taste or how well it works. All that stuff inside can become a perfect home for bacteria and mold to grow. These little troublemakers can make your breathing feel off and even cause other health problems. So, keeping your vaporizer clean isn’t just about enjoying better vaping—it’s also about staying healthy.

When to clean?

You’ve got two options for keeping your vaporizer clean:

  • Daily Cleaning: This is a quick and easy routine you do every time you use it. It only takes a minute or two.
  • Deep Cleaning: This is a more thorough clean you do once every week or two. It’s also a good idea to do this when you switch between different types of herbs or concentrates. Doing this kind of cleaning ensures your vaporizer stays in top shape, so you can enjoy your sessions with a squeaky-clean device.

How to carry out the daily cleaning

Most vaporizers come with a little brush for regular cleaning. If yours didn’t, you can use a brush that comes with electric razors, as long as the bristles are stiff enough to tackle stubborn buildup. If you don’t have a brush like that, pipe cleaners or cotton swabs can work just as well.

Empty out the herbal chamber and use a brush or pipe cleaner to get rid of any leftover bits and buildup. Don’t forget to clean the mesh screen if your vaporizer has one.

Once the chamber and screen are clean, use a pipe cleaner to tidy up the mouthpiece.

Finally, give the mouthpiece and the outside of your vaporizer a wipe-down with alcohol wipes to sanitize them.That’s all there is to it—simple and effective!

How to perform a thorough cleaning

Dry herb vaporizer

To give your dry herb vaporizer a thorough cleaning, begin by gently taking it apart. While dry herb vaporizers may differ in their design, they generally have similar parts like the mouthpiece, battery, heating chamber, and mesh screen.

Before diving in, it’s a good idea to check the manual for instructions on how to safely disassemble the device for cleaning. This will help you avoid accidentally breaking anything and ensure you clean it effectively.

  1.     Shake and tap each part gently to dislodge any trapped plant material.
  2.     Use a brush or pipe cleaner to mechanically remove any residue from the parts.
  3.     Pay extra attention to cleaning the herbal chamber and mouthpiece since they’re essential for good performance.
  4.     If there’s a mesh screen inside the chamber, take it out and clean it too.
  5.     Remember, a clogged mesh screen can not only affect how well your device works but also the flavor of the vapor.

Once you’ve brushed off the residue, it’s time to use 99% isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to clean the herbal chamber, mesh screen, and mouthpiece. The alcohol is great for tackling stubborn residues that have built up over time. Just dip the cotton swab or pipe cleaner in the alcohol and carefully wipe down the chamber, screen, and mouthpiece until they’re squeaky clean.

Tip: If there are parts that are really dirty and hard to clean, you can soak them in a solution of 99% alcohol for about 20-30 minutes. After soaking, rinse everything with clean water and then dry it off with a paper towel. This works especially well for mesh screens that are completely covered in residue—they’ll look good as new afterward!

Next, take out the battery, give it a wipe, and clean the compartment where it sits. Finally, put the vaporizer back together and give it a wipe down from the outside. Your vaporizer will be clean and ready to use again!

Concentrate vaporizers

Cleaning concentrate vaporizers is crucial because concentrates can leave behind very sticky residues. These residues can be tough to clean, but with the help of isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs, you should be able to handle it. Just dip the cotton swab in the alcohol and carefully clean away the sticky residue from the parts of your vaporizer.

Check your device’s manual and take out all the parts to prepare them for cleaning.

  1.     Remove the mouthpiece and open the heating chamber.
  2.     Dip one end of a cotton swab into isopropyl alcohol.
  3.     Be extra cautious when cleaning the heating chamber, as the heating coil is delicate and can be damaged with too much pressure.
  4.     Carefully clean the heating chamber with the alcohol-soaked cotton swab. If needed, use a fresh swab and repeat until no residues are left.
  5.     Move on to cleaning the mouthpiece.
  6.     Don’t forget to clean any other parts included with the vaporizer, such as filters, glass tubes, or metal mesh screens. If they’re too sticky, soak them in an alcohol solution for about half an hour.
  7.     Open the battery compartment, remove the battery, and clean both carefully.
  8.     Allow a few minutes for the alcohol to dry out, then reassemble the vaporizer.

Following these steps will ensure your concentrate vaporizer stays clean and functions well.

Vape pens

If you’ve got a vape pen, follow these steps to keep it clean:

  1. Tap the pen gently to shake loose any herb residues. Do this over a desk to prevent small parts, like mesh screens, from getting lost.
  2. Refer to the manual to open the pen properly and access all the parts for cleaning.
  3. Use a small brush that often comes with the pen, or a pipe cleaner, to thoroughly clean the inside of the pen. If your pen has a removable heating chamber, take it out and clean it separately.
  4. Pay special attention to cleaning the threads, as they can trap plant matter and other residues. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and clean the threads, including the top part of the heating chamber. Once satisfied, use the dry end of the swab to ensure the threads are dry. Repeat this process with fresh cotton swabs and alcohol for all threaded parts of the vape pen.

Here’s a crucial step that can really boost your vape pen’s performance. Carefully remove the glass, ceramic, or metal mesh screen (depending on your pen’s model). Soak them in a glass of isopropyl alcohol for about 20-30 minutes. Gently polish them after soaking and allow them to dry thoroughly. Put your vape pen back together. 

With this done, your vape pen should work just as well as it did when you first used it.