When the e-cigarette industry took off in 2008, Battery life wasn’t very good. Sure, some lasted longer than others, but it was extremely difficult to find a battery that could last long enough to get through a few hours, much less an entire day like today’s models.

There are things you can do to make sure you get the most life out of your battery.  Just follow these four simple steps to help extend the life of your Batteries.

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1. Store your battery properly

Due to the nature of batteries, this might seem obvious. But we can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard comments like the following:

“So, I was soaking my battery overnight in Windex…”
“It was only on the radiator for a weekend!”
“Storing my e-cigs in the beer fridge really brings out the flavor of Zero K!”
(One of the above actually happened. Honest.)

While storing a battery may seem like common sense, we sometimes get careless and forget how things like moisture, humidity and heat can dramatically affect their lifespan. (Yes, this means no vaping in the shower, buddy. Cut it out, already.)

Your best bet is to keep your batteries out of harm’s way (and out of children’s hands or pets’ mouths) by storing them in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources or open flames, and definitely not where they can be easily damaged.

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2. Charge often

We’ve heard it a thousand times – “Should I let my battery drain all the way down before recharging?” Nope. No you shouldn’t.

Older rechargeable batteries suffered from something known as “memory effect,” which meant that the device somehow “learned” your use/change habits, and reduced its overall capacity to reflect these patterns.

But, fret not frequent chargers! Newer rechargeables do NOT suffer from such limited technology, and actually perform better with numerous charges or “top-offs,” rather than by draining them down. It’s less stressful for the battery, and requires less power to get it back to full charge.

Don’t worry – topping off a battery with ¾ charge does not count as a “full charge cycle,” so there’s no reason to head out without topping off. Trust us, for a long night out, you don’t want to risk getting caught with a pocket full of dead batteries.

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3. Keep it clean

Look, if used properly, your cartridges and batteries are designed to work as cleanly as possible. But things happen. You might drop your e-cig. You might store your e-cig upside down in your pocket. You might even give the cartridge one too many twists when putting it on.

Over time, your batteries can either get dirty from everyday grime and minor juice leaks, or even become moist from naturally occurring condensation. (Hey, liquid + heat = vapor, meaning some of it is BOUND to end up in the nooks and crannies.)

If left unattended, your relationship with your e-cig is likely to be a short one. But a touch of SIMPLE maintenance with a Magic Eraser-type sponge and a dry toothbrush (no, not the one you’re current using) will make a huge difference in how your battery connects, and subsequently performs.

Just periodically brush the threads and contacts (gently) where your cartridge and battery hook together, and you’re done. If there’s any residual moisture or dirt, a quick swipe of a paper towel will take care of it quickly.

Steamsmoke