How To Clean a Vape Coil: What You Need To Do

Let’s be honest—vape coils don’t get nearly enough love until your vape starts tasting funky. If you’re chasing the perfect flavor and want your coils to last longer, you’re in the right place.

The part that box mod and sub-ohm vapers buy the most is a vape coil. After all, it’s the heart and soul of the vape device, but it’s also the part that needs replacing most often. That’s why in today’s blog, we teach you how to clean a vape coil so you can replace your coil less often than necessary, saving you money in the long run.

So yes—you can clean your coils. Let’s talk about when, why, and how.

Why Cleaning Your Vape Coil Actually Matters

Can you clean a vape coil? Absolutely. And there are some solid perks to doing it:

• You’ll get a better flavor experience, especially when switching vape juice.
• You’ll stretch out the life of your vape coils, which saves you cash.
• You’ll cut down on waste and annoying mid-week coil swaps.

But not all coils are created equal. There are replaceable vape coils and rebuildable coils for vape, and how to clean a vape coil depends on which kind you’re using. We’ll walk you through both.

And if you're curious about what type of coil is best for your setup, check out these reads when you’re done here:

• What are the Best Vape Coil Metal Types?
• The Different Types of Vape Coils Serious Builders Should Know

How To Clean Replaceable Vape Coils

Let’s set expectations first: cleaning replaceable coils (the ones that come prebuilt with cotton inside) can only do so much. Since you can’t remove the wick, you're not going to get a like-new result—but you can buy yourself a few extra days.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cheap vodka or high-proof clear alcohol
• A bowl or cup
• Distilled water (optional)
• A paper towel
• Sunshine or patience

Step-by-step: How to Clean a Vape Coil (Replaceable Type)

1. Drop your vape coil into a bowl of vodka and let it soak for at least three hours.
2. Rinse it gently with distilled water (or tap water if that’s all you’ve got).
3. Blow through the coil to get as much liquid out of the wick as possible.
4. Pat it dry with a paper towel.
5. Let it air-dry for several hours—sunshine helps.
6. Pop it back into your vape and see how it hits.

Remember, even a squeaky-clean replaceable coil won't perform like new, but it can hold you over until you grab a replacement.

How To Clean Rebuildable Vape Coils

Rebuildable coils (like those used in RDAs and RTAs) give you way more cleaning flexibility. The wicks are removable, and you’ve got more access to the metal part of the coil—aka the part that gets gunked up with sweet vape juice.

Quick Burn Method:

1. Remove the wick.
2. Fire the vape until the coil glows orange.
3. Let it cool.
4. Repeat if needed. This burns off the residue.

If your coil still looks grimy after the burn, try the deep-clean route.

Deep-Clean Method: How to Clean a Vape Coil (Rebuildable Type)

1. Take the atomizer off your mod.
2. Soak it in a bowl of warm water.
3. Run it under the faucet while brushing gently with a toothbrush.
4. Rinse and shake off excess water.
5. Reattach it to your mod and pulse fire to dry it fully.

Still not looking good? If the flavor’s off or the vape production is weak, it’s time to retire that coil.

Want to keep your rebuildable coils running smooth? Don’t miss:

• How Long Do Vape Coils Last and What Affects Their Lifespan?
• When To Change a Vape Coil: Signs You Need a New Coil
• How To Prime a Vape Coil: A Short Guide

Final Puff

Now you know how to clean a vape coil—whether you’re rocking a replaceable or rebuildable setup. With a little bit of effort, you can keep your vape coils fresher, longer—and that means more flavor and fewer replacements.

Whether you're just diving into coils for vape or you're a flavor fanatic chasing clean hits, this kind of maintenance will save you both frustration and money.

And if you want to get deeper into all things coils for vape, flavor optimization, and maintenance tips, be sure to check out the rest of our vape blogs. See you there!