How Should I Clean My IQOS?

10/1/2024

Congratulations. By coming here, you have taken an important step toward extending the life and maintaining the quality of your IQOS device. Let’s get started.

How do I know when it’s time to clean my IQOS Holder?

  • Did you just finish a pack of HEETS sticks? If so, it’s time to clean. You should clean your device after every 20 uses—which means after every pack.

  • If you’re detecting a bitter or other unusual taste, it’s time to clean the holder.

  • Not sure what that smell is? An unusual smell is another sign it’s time to clean. 

  • Having trouble getting the HEETS stick to fit? Something may be stuck in the holder—probably tobacco residue. Time to clear it out. 

How do I properly clean my IQOS holder?

You will need an IQOS cleaning tool and cleaning stick. What’s the difference? The tool has two parts: a longer side for the heating blade and a shorter side for the cap. The cleaning stick is a dampened, single-use cotton swab. It cleans the lower part of the heating chamber.

  1. If you have just used your IQOS, wait about 30 seconds for the blade to cool down.
  2. Remove the cap of the IQOS holder by sliding it upward.
  3. Uncap the IQOS cleaning tool and tap it lightly to remove any tobacco residue.
  4. Insert the cleaning tool straight down into the holder until it touches the bottom of the heating chamber. Do not twist it until it reaches the bottom. Twisting it before it’s fully inserted can break the blade, and we don’t want that to happen.
  5. Once the tool is all the way in, very gently twist it 2-3 times in one direction (clockwise or counterclockwise, but not back and forth). 
  6. Carefully remove the tool from the holder (pulling it straight up without twisting it).
  7. Lightly tap the holder and tool to shake out any tobacco residue.
  8. Insert the IQOS cleaning stick into the heating chamber.
  9. Clean the bottom of the heating chamber with circular motions. (Remove any residue that has collected at the bottom of the chamber and on the walls surrounding the heating blade, but do not let the cleaning stick come into contact with the blade itself.)

You have just cleaned the IQOS holder.  Nice job!

Are you more of a visual learner? Click below for a video on how to clean your device.

Now it's time to clean the cap.

How do I clean the IQOS cap?

  1. Use an IQOS cleaning stick to clean the inner part of the cap, starting from the top.
  2. Clean the lower part using a cleaning tool. Insert it from below without applying force and twist it in one direction 2-3 times.
  3. Remove the tool and tap the cap to shake out the tobacco residue.

How do I clean the contacts points in my IQOS?

In addition to cleaning the heating chamber and cap, do not forget to clean the contact points. These are the metal areas on the bottom of the holder and inside the charger. When you put the holder in the charger, any dust or tobacco particles on the device’s contact points may prevent the holder from charging. IQOS contact points are easy to clean. 

To clean the contact points of the holder, use any soft, dry, lint-free cloth or napkin to gently wipe the holder contacts.

Cleaning the contacts inside the IQOS charger is a little more involved, but not much.

  1. Remove the holder from the charger.
  2. Remove the magnetic door panel located on the charger.
  3. Locate the small square window on the door.
  4. Take a cleaning stick and thoroughly wipe the contacts through this window.

Congrats, you have just finished cleaning your IQOS.

These thorough instructions may make cleaning your device sound difficult. Trust us, it’s not. You’ll get the hang of it in no time, and it shouldn't take more than a minute.

Additional IQOS cleaning tips:

  1. When cleaning the holder, make sure you do not accidentally start heating the device.
  2. Do not use detergents to clean your IQOS. You can easily damage the electronics in the device.
  3. Do not allow the holder to come into contact with water.
  4. Do not allow the cleaning tool to come into contact with a hot blade. This can damage both the cleaning tool and your device.

How do I clean the IQOS cleaning tool?

The IQOS cleaning tool does not require any special care. Just tap it after use to get rid of any tobacco residue. If some stubborn tobacco residue remains after you’ve tapped the cleaning tool, use a cleaning stick to get rid of it. Do not wash it with water. If it remains wet, moisture can damage the electronics in the holder.

What do I do if the taste changes—and not in a good way?

If, after cleaning your IQOS, you still feel the taste is not as it should be, it may be because the device has been used for a very long time, or the holder has rarely been cleaned. In this case, in addition to the steps above, try rinsing the cap thoroughly with clean water. Do not use soap or any other detergent. Be sure to dry the cap completely before placing it back on the holder. 

What is the automatic cleaning feature?

You’ve discovered our stealth helper. Automatic cleaning is invisible to you and will happen all on its own after 20 sessions. It is performed only when the holder is inserted into the charger and no HEETS stick is present. It takes around 30 seconds. The function is NOT indicated by LED lights, so don’t expect the device to light up. It is not a replacement for manual cleaning.

IQOS is the first and only tobacco heating system authorized by the US FDA as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product.*

*This does not mean that IQOS is risk-free or that the FDA has approved or endorsed IQOS.