It's sleek. It's shiny. It's stylish. It's your brand new vape device. However, after a couple of months of vaping, you may notice something different. Perhaps you're not getting that robust, spine-tingling flavor anymore. You know why? Your vape tank is dirty. To keep those taste buds happy, you have to show your device some TLC. Don't know what to do? Read on to learn everything you need to know when it comes to all your vape tank cleaning needs.

Signs That Your Vape Tank Needs Cleaning

As a new member of the vaping tribe, you probably don't know when or how often your device needs cleaning. Now, the first tell-tale sign that your vape isn’t as clean as it should be is when your flavor profile is noticeably lacking in the taste department. A foul taste often occurs when new flavorful e-liquid mixes with the residue of a previous one. This explains why the apple pie tastes like burnt toast and the summer strawberry reminds you of dirty gym socks. When this happens, it's time to reenter vaporizing bliss with a little elbow grease.

Get to Know Your Vape Device

Before we drop our tank cleaning tips on you, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with your vape device. It's a powerful little piece of electronic equipment, even though there aren't a lot of parts. This is good news because it means there isn't much for you to clean. Without further ado, the components include:

• Drip tip
• Tank lid
• Tank/box mod
• Coil
• Tank base
• Battery

Here's What Not to Clean

Let's briefly focus on the coil. It's your device's heating element that's also known as an atomizer. What it does is vaporize the e-liquid. The tiny gadget puts in a lot of work, and because of this, it's prone to damage and burns out fast. Replacing it is better than cleaning it, especially if you're an avid vaper. Here are the common reasons why coils quickly go bad:

• Engaging in frequent vaping
• Vaping at high wattages
• Vaping with overly sweet e-liquids

Deep Clean Your Tank With the Proper Items

Do you want to enjoy maximum flavor? Do you want to tantalize your taste buds? Of course your answer is “Yes.” With that said, collect the following items and get to cleaning:

• A bowl of warm water
• A new coil
• Cotton swabs
• 99 percent isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• Paper towels

How to Clean a Vape Tank in Seven Simple Steps

Consider setting a cleaning schedule; once a week should get the job done. This ensures you'll get the best possible flavor when you're vaping. It also keeps your device looking great. Here's the fast, easy and painless way to maintain your tank's freshness.

Step 1: Detach the tank from the mod. Empty the tank of any remaining e-liquid. Disassemble the tank and throw away the coil. Pro tip: Dampen a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and scrub inside the tank. The alcohol functions as a solvent and works wonders for breaking down e-juice deposits.

Step 2: Wash all the tank parts in warm water. If the tank is extra dirty, add some drops of dishwashing liquid. Don't forget to rinse.

Step 3: Grab a paper towel. Dry off each of the components. Make sure you towel off the inside of the tank. You can also let everything air dry for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 4: Open your new coil. Get a cotton swab and saturate it with e-liquid. Now, you prep the coil by swabbing it down with the e-liquid. Place the coil into the tank. Put all the tank pieces back together again.

Step 5: Go right ahead and fill that tank up to the brim with e-liquid. Then place the lid back on.

Step 6: Dip the cotton swab in alcohol and clean the contacts.

Step 7: Re-attach the tank to the device.

You're all done. We've taken the mystery out of how to clean a vape tank, you can now enjoy the decadent pleasures of a tasty e-liquid.

In between your vape sessions, visit us online and see what we have going on at Wickedly Hot Vapors. We have a great selection of vape tanks and other vape products. If you prefer, drop by our store and ask our team of professionals anything you want to know about vaping. If you have questions, we have the answers. 

Image: hurricanehank