What Happens if a Vape Goes in the Washing Machine?
Several things could happen if you accidentally put your vape in the washing machine, such as:
● Water damage - If you accidentally put a vape through a washing machine cycle, it’ll likely be exposed to lots of water and cleaning detergent. This could damage the device’s internal components.
● Heat damage - Washing machines can reach high temperatures, especially during a drying cycle. This heat could cause parts of the vape device to overheat, damaging it further.
● Explosion - The damage caused by placing a vape in the washing machine might also cause an explosion. Lithium-ion batteries can explode when overheated.
While you should never put a vape in the washing machine, accidents happen. If you’ve accidentally put a vape in the washing machine, what you do next could help minimise the issues this causes.
Will a Vape Still Work After Being in a Washing Machine?
If your vape has been through a washing machine cycle, you should not use it afterward.
Even if your vape appears to work after it’s gone through the washing machine, you still shouldn’t use it. This is because the device may have suffered damage from the washing cycle, meaning it could pose a safety risk.
If you’ve put your vape in the washing machine, we recommend to not use it and instead buy a new vape or device.
How Water Exposure Affects Vape Devices
Water can affect vapes in a few different ways - some of which we’ve listed below:
● Causes a short circuit - Water flooding into a vape could cause a short circuit. This can permanently damage the power source in the vape, making the device unusable.
● Corrodes device parts - Water can also cause certain parts of the vape to corrode. This can damage your device over time, so while you might not notice any issues immediately, you shouldn’t use the vape as its internal components could still be affected.
● Diluted e-liquid - Vapes will normally have a space where e-liquid is held. If water leaks into this space, it could dilute the e-liquid, compromising its quality.
Water damage can cause permanent damage, pose a fire risk, or cause an explosion. These are just a few key reasons why keeping your vape away from water is important.
Water Damage in Regular Vapes vs Disposable Vapes
We don’t recommend using a water damaged vape, if you have a rechargeable device with detachable, water-proof components, you may be able to recover some of these. However, it’s important to check with the manufacturer for accurate guidance.
If you’ve accidentally put a disposable vape in the washing machine, it’ll be unusable.
What to Do if You Put Your Vape in the Washing Machine
If you accidentally put your vape in the washing machine, there are a few things you can do to prevent the situation from getting worse.
You can try to stop the washing machine from going through its cycle.
Dispose of it Responsibly
If you’ve accidentally put a vape in the washing machine, most times it becomes unusable, meaning you’ll have to dispose of it responsibly.
You can return the vape to the manufacturer they came from if they offer a returns/recycling programme. Just tell the manufacturer that the vape is water-damaged before you return it.
Our recycling programme lets you recycle any brand of vapes in exchange for money off VEEV, ZYN and IQOS products. Learn more about this via our Vape Recycling Programme page.
You could also take the vape to an electronics recycling facility. Find out how by visiting this page.
Vapes contain parts that shouldn’t be put into general waste, so it’s important to dispose of them properly. If you don’t, this could impact the environment.
Is it Safe to Use a Wet or Damp Vape?
No, it is not safe to use a wet or damp vape.
Water can damage components in these devices, preventing them from operating as they should. If your vape accidentally goes in the washing machine, or experiences any other type of water damage, avoid using it and contact the manufacturer about what to do next.
Will a Vape Damage the Washing Machine?
If the vape has broken into separate parts during the cycle, it’s crucial to remove everything from the machine before using it again.
If you’re concerned about damage after accidentally putting your vape in the washing machine, contact your provider’s customer service to discuss this further.
How to Avoid Putting Vapes in the Washing Machine
There are a few ways to prevent accidentally putting your vape in the washing machine, including the following:
● Checking clothes and pockets before washing - Checking each item of clothing before you put it in the wash can help you catch any vapes thrown into your next washing load.
● Store your vape in a specific place - Storing vapes on a shelf, desk, bag, or anywhere that doesn’t risk it falling into your clothing can help you avoid it ending up in the washing machine.
Realising your vape is in the washing machine can be stressful, but with the right knowledge, you can manage this situation effectively and prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.
Smoke-free products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.
This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.
