How to Clean Vape Juice & E-Liquid From Cloths & Fabric?

Vaping has become one of the popular methods for smokers to quit and slowly set the habit aside. NHS also advised that vaping is the most effective tool for quitting smoking which adds to the popularity of vapes among adults. However, unless you use a disposable vape kit, which will be banned soon due to environmental hazards, you may have encountered many of the issues of maintaining vape kits.

Vapes work with e-liquids or vape juice. Vape juice is an oily substance that leaves noticeable stains on clothing. If you accidentally got a few drops on your clothes while filling up the vape tank or if the tank leaks and spills all over your shirt, you don’t need to lose hope and throw your favourite clothes away. Just like cleaning that oily stain in your garage, you can easily clean it without leaving oily stains.

In this article, we’ll explore how to clean vape juice and e-liquid stains off different clothing and fabrics.

Cotton & Cotton Blend Fabrics

If your cotton shirt or trousers, you can easily remove it by gently blotting the stain away with a paper towel to get rid of excess vape juice. Then, rinse the stained area with cold water and continue blotting the stain a few more times.

Next, pour a few drops of liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergent on the stain and start rubbing it gently with your finger. After about 15 to 30 seconds of rubbing the stain, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and allow the detergent to do its magic and break down the oil. Then rinse the stain with cold water again.

If the stain is still there, repeat this process once or twice more. Afterwards, wash the clothes as you normally would, either by hand or in the washing machine depending on the laundry instructions on the label.

Polyester & Synthetic Fabrics

To clean clothing items made out of polyester or synthetic fabrics, start by blotting the stain with a paper towel to absorb as much excess e-liquid as possible.

Then, pour some rubbing alcohol or commercial fabric stain remover on a clean microfibre cloth and dab it on the stained area on your clothes. Next, allow the clothes to air dry. Alcohol usually evaporates after a minute or two but stain removers may take a bit longer to dry completely. This also prevents the formation of water rinks on the stained area.

Next, check if the stain is gone. If not, repeat the process once more and finish by washing the clothes as you normally would.

Silk & Delicate Fabrics

If you happen to spilt e-liquid or generally any other oily or colour stain on your silk clothes, you have to act fast to save it. Silk and delicate fabrics are sensitive and, of course, delicate. If you don’t clean the stain immediately, it won’t go away.

In case of spills on silk, don’t rub the excess vape juice. Instead, use clean paper towels or cloth and gently blot the stain to remove excess e-liquid. Then, mix a few drops of dish soap in cold water. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and start dabbing the stained area gently.

Next, rinse the area with cold water and blot it dry with a clean and dry microfibre cloth. Repeat if the stain is still there. If the stain is gone, wash the silk as per the label instructions and let it air dry away from sunlight.

If the stain persists, you can take the cloths to a professional dry cleaner. Hopefully, they can use certain chemicals and methods to remove the stain without damaging the fibre.

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Denim & Jean

Denim and jeans are easier to clean. Start by blotting the stain with paper towels to absorb all excess vape juice. Then make a baking soda paste by mixing baking soda with a little water. Apply the paste on the stain and rub it. Baking soda paste is a perfect, green cleaning solution for absorbing oil and is useful for cleaning vape juice stains.

Afterwards, rinse the stained area with cold water and repeat the process if the stain is still there. At the end, wash the clothing item according to the label instructions.

Wool

Wool is another fabric that you should clean immediately if vape liquid ends up on it. First, blot away the excess juice with a clean paper towel or cloth. Then, mix either wool-safe laundry detergents or very mild soap with cold water. Soal a clean microfibre cloth in the solution and dap the stained area gently.

Next, rinse the area with cold water to get rid of soap or detergent. This will avoid leading residues on the wool. You may need to repeat this process a couple of times to completely get rid of the e-liquid stain. At the end, lay the wool flat and let it air dry.

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Faux or Authentic Leather

Leather garments, whether faux or authentic, require extra attention and care when it comes to cleaning oily stains like vape e-liquid.

First, start by blotting the excess vape juice off the surface of the leather. Be careful not to rub the stained area or press hard when blotting to avoid pushing oil deeper into the leather.

Then, mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water. It should be warm and not hot water as hot water may damage the leather. You can also mix commercial leather cleaners with warm water to achieve the same effect.

Next, dampen a clean and soft microfibre cloth in the solution. Don’t soak it. Just dampen it a little bit. You can also pour the solution into a spray can and spray it on the cloth. Then, gently wipe the stained area by applying very light pressure. Also, avoid scrubbing the surface of the leather to prevent scratching or damaging it.

Afterwards, dampen another clean and soft cloth with cold water and wipe the soap residues off the leather. Avoid using too much pressure or too much water. Dry the area after cleaning it with a dry cloth. Avoid air drying, heat or sunlight.

After cleaning leather garments, you have to restore moisture to the surface of the leather. This prevents cracking and degradation of leather. To do this, use a good leather conditioner and apply it according to the instructions on its packaging.

Read More: Benefits of Nanocoating Solutions in Cleaning

Suede

If e-liquid ends up on suede shoes, bags or clothing, you have to clean it immediately to prevent the oily substance from getting deeper and leaving permanent stains. Start by blotting the vape juice away with a soft cloth or paper towel.

Next, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on the stained area to absorb the remaining oil. You can also sprinkle cornstarch to achieve the same effect. Leave it for a few hours or even overnight before brushing them away.

You may need to repeat this process a few times to get rid of all residues. If after a few tries, the stain persists, take the garments to a professional dry cleaner. Avoid cleaning the stain with water since suede is very sensitive to moisture and may leave permanent stains behind.

Velvet or Similar Fabrics

To clean vape e-liquid off velvet or velvet-like fabrics, start by blotting the excess juice away with paper towels by applying light pressure to prevent flattening the velvet pile.

Next, mix a few drops of mild detergent with cold water. Dip a soft microfibre cloth in the solution and dab the stained area gently. Afterwards, use a clean and damp cloth to remove soapy residues and allow the velvet to air dry completely. At the end, brush the surface of the garment to restore the texture.

Conclusion

Vapes are very popular and have become an effective quitting tool for smokers. Non-disposable vapes require maintenance and refilling, during which, you may end up having a few drops of oily e-liquid on your clothes. Cleaning vape juice stains is different for every type of fabric. We explore how to clean e-liquid and vape juice off several types of common fabrics and garments.

The information provided in this article can help you save your favourite clothing that was ruined by spills and leaks of vape e-liquid.