Vape Went Through the Washing Machine? What to Do Next

If your vape went through the washing machine, don't turn it on, take a test puff or plug it in to see whether it still works. Take it apart, remove the pod or tank and any removable battery, wipe everything dry and leave the parts in open air at room temperature for at least a full day. Then check for warning signs before you use it again. A refillable device that shows no swelling, heat, smell or corrosion may work normally once it's completely dry. A disposable vape is different: the battery is sealed inside, so you can't dry it or check it, and the sensible move is to stop using it and recycle it.

This guide covers nicotine e-liquid devices: disposables, pod kits, vape pens and box mods. The same steps apply if you dropped your vape in water, whether that was a sink, a toilet or a pool.

Can You Still Use It? Quick Answers by Situation

What happened	What to do first	Can you use it again?
Disposable vape through a full wash cycle	Don't charge it or puff on it. Bag it and take it to a battery recycler.	Not recommended. The battery is sealed in and can't be dried or inspected.
Pod kit or vape pen through the wash	Remove the pod, dry the device for at least a day, then fit a new pod	Possibly, if it passes every check below
Box mod with removable batteries through the wash	Take the batteries out right away and dry the mod and cells separately	The mod possibly. Replace any battery with a torn wrap or corroded ends.
Vape dropped in water for a second or two	Pull it out, switch it off and dry it the same way	Worth testing once it's fully dry and shows no warning signs
Water-rated mod, such as the ARMOUR ULTRA	Dry the outside and replace the e-liquid in the tank	The mod is built for immersion; the tank and coil aren't covered by the rating
Any device that's swollen, hot, hissing or smells burnt	Stop. Don't charge it. Keep it away from anything flammable.	No. Recycle it.

What to Do Right After Your Vape Goes in the Washing Machine

A vape is a battery wired to a heating element, with e-liquid and a cotton wick sitting next to both. Water and detergent can bridge the battery contacts or the charging port, so the first thing to do is make sure nothing powers on.

1. Don't fire it or charge it. A wet circuit can short. Pressing the button or plugging it in "just to check" is the one thing to avoid.
2. Switch it off if it has a power button. Use the off or lock function described in your device's user manual.
3. Take it apart. Remove the pod or tank, the coil and any removable batteries. Leave sealed parts sealed. Don't pry open a disposable or a device with a built-in battery.
4. Drain and blot. Gently shake water out of the pod slot, charging port and airflow holes, then pat the outside dry with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.
5. Let it air-dry. Leave every part in open air at room temperature until it's completely dry, inside and out, before you check it. Stand the device with the charging port facing down so water can drain out.
6. Throw out the e-liquid that was in it. Wash water and detergent can get into a pod or tank through the fill port or airflow holes, and you can't tell by looking. Start again with a new pod or coil and fresh e-liquid.

Don't speed things up with heat. A hair dryer, oven, microwave, radiator or hot car dashboard can damage the battery and warp plastic parts and seals. VAPORESSO's manuals tell you to keep devices away from water and extreme temperatures, and give 14–113°F as the storage range.

Warning Signs That Mean Stop Using It

Check the device carefully after it dries and again during its first charge. Stop using it if you notice any of the following:

• The body looks swollen, or the pod or battery door no longer fits the way it did.
• It gets warm or hot when you aren't using it or charging it.
• You hear hissing or crackling, or smell burnt plastic or chemicals.
• There's white or green crust, rust or discoloration on the charging port or pod contacts.
• It fires on its own, or keeps firing after you stop drawing.
• It won't charge, or it charges and then dies far faster than before.
• The lights flash an error that won't clear. Our guide to why a vape pen is blinking explains the common patterns.
• Liquid seeps from the device body rather than the pod. If it's only the pod, see our guide to leaks and how to stop them.

Some problems take a few days to show up. Water can corrode contacts slowly, so a device that seemed fine can start draining faster, firing unevenly or producing weaker vapor than it did at the same settings. If vapor production drops even with a fresh pod or coil, the device is the likely cause.

If you see any of these signs, don't charge it again. Put it somewhere it can't touch anything flammable and recycle it as described below. Our rules of vape battery safety cover the basics of handling a damaged battery.

How to Test Your Vape Once It's Dry

1. Look before you power it. Shine a light into the charging port and the pod slot. Both should be dry and clean, with no residue or corrosion.
2. Fit a fresh pod or coil. Fill it with fresh e-liquid and give the new coil about 5 minutes to soak before the first puff.
3. Charge it with the cable that came with it, on a hard, non-flammable surface, and stay nearby. VAPORESSO's manuals say not to leave a charging device unattended.
4. Take a short test puff. Check that it fires only when you draw or press the button and stops when you let go.
5. Keep an eye on it for a day or two. If any warning sign appears, stop. Don't keep retrying a device that fails.

What If a Disposable Vape Went Through the Washing Machine?

If a disposable vape went through the washing machine, treat it as finished, even if it still lights up. The battery, coil and e-liquid are sealed in one housing, so you can't drain the inside, dry the battery or replace the soaked wick. Any water and detergent that got in through the mouthpiece or airflow holes stays in there with the e-liquid.

Don't throw it in the trash either. Like any device with a lithium-ion battery, it belongs at a battery or e-waste collection point (see the disposal steps below).

A washed disposable is also a good reason to look at refillable devices. With a pod kit, the part that soaked up water is a replaceable pod, and the battery body can be dried and checked. Our guide on switching from a disposable to a refillable pod system walks through what changes.

Pod Kits, Vape Pens and Mods: What You Can Save

Refillable devices come apart, which gives you more options than a disposable.

• Pods and coils: replace them. Even after a pod dries, its cotton can hold detergent. On most pod kits the coil is built into the pod, so you swap the whole pod. XROS replacement pods, for example, fit the whole XROS series.
• Vape pens: on an e-liquid vape pen, take off the tank or pod, dry the battery section as described above, and fit a new coil or pod.
• Mods with removable batteries: take the cells out straight away. Replace any battery with a torn or loose wrap, dents, or corrosion on the ends. If you're not sure, replace it.
• Tanks: the glass and metal parts can be washed, rinsed and dried like normal. Our guide on how to clean a vape tank covers the steps. Use a new coil.

Dropped Your Vape in Water?

If you dropped your vape in water, get it out fast and follow the same steps: don't fire it, switch it off, take it apart and let it dry fully before testing. A quick dunk usually lets in less water than a full wash cycle with detergent and spinning, but the battery contacts and charging port are still exposed, so the drying time and warning-sign checks still apply.

If it fell in a toilet, a pool or anything other than clean water, replace the pod or coil and the mouthpiece if it's removable, and wipe the outside with a damp cloth before drying it.

Do Waterproof Vapes Survive the Wash?

Some mods are built for water. The ARMOUR ULTRA and ARMOUR OCTA are certified to IP68, which VAPORESSO states as 1 meter of water for 30+ minutes, and IP69K for high-pressure washdown. VAPORESSO also notes that these certifications apply to the mod only and are based on standardized third-party lab conditions.

That has two practical consequences. First, the tank and coil aren't covered, so if water got into the tank, replace the e-liquid and the coil. Second, a washing machine adds detergent, heat and a lot of tumbling, which a lab immersion test doesn't reproduce. Dry the mod, check it for the warning signs above, and then use it. If your device often gets wet, a waterproof mod is worth considering.

How to Dispose of a Water-Damaged Vape

A vape you're not going to use again still has a lithium-ion battery in it. The U.S. EPA says lithium-ion batteries, and devices that contain them, should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Instead:

• Take the device to a battery recycler, an electronics recycler, a participating retailer, or your local household hazardous waste program.
• Put each device or loose battery in its own plastic bag.
• Cover exposed battery terminals with non-conductive tape, such as electrical tape.
• If the battery is damaged, contact the manufacturer for handling advice.

The EPA's guide to used lithium-ion batteries lists ways to find a drop-off point near you. VAPORESSO's manuals give the same instruction: the device and its battery should go to a collection point, not household waste.

How to Keep Your Vape Out of the Washing Machine

Taking care of your vape also means keeping it away from accidents like this one. Three habits help.

Check Every Pocket Before Laundry

A slim pod kit or pen is easy to miss in a jacket or a pair of jeans. Pat down each pocket as you put clothes in the hamper, not when you load the machine.

Give Your Vape a Drop Spot

Keep a small tray or bowl by the door you use most, and empty your pockets into it when you get home: keys, wallet, phone and vape.

Charge It in the Same Place Every Time

A dedicated charging spot on a hard surface means you always know where your vape is, and you're not charging it on a bed or sofa where it can get lost in the laundry pile.

FAQ

Will a Vape Still Work After Going Through the Washing Machine?

Sometimes. A refillable pod kit, pen or mod can work again after it dries out completely, but it may also fail later as corrosion builds up. Let it dry thoroughly, check it for warning signs, and test it with a new pod or coil. A disposable can't be dried properly, so recycle it.

Can I Charge My Vape to Check If It Still Works?

Not until it's completely dry. Charging is the riskiest thing you can do with a wet device, because water across the charging port or battery contacts can cause a short. When you do charge it, use the original cable on a hard surface and stay nearby.

How Long Should a Wet Vape Dry Before I Use It?

Let it dry thoroughly in open air at room temperature with the pod removed, then check it before use. Don't use heat to speed it up.

What If My Vape Went Through the Dryer Too?

The dryer adds heat and tumbling on top of the water. Check it closely for swelling, warped plastic, a loose battery door or a burnt smell. If you see any of these, don't charge it. Recycle it.

Can Water Damage a Vape Battery?

Yes. Water can short the circuit and corrode the battery contacts and charging port. The damage isn't always obvious at first, which is why you should watch for heat, swelling, fast draining or erratic firing for a few days after.

What Should I Do with the E-Liquid That Was in the Pod?

Throw it away along with the pod or coil. You can't tell whether water or detergent got into it. Refill a new pod or a cleaned tank with fresh e-liquid.