How to Clean Your Bong, Bowl or Pipe

Nothing beats smoking weed from a brand new bong or pipe. Your new glass piece glistening on the coffee table before you is a sight to behold. The first few hits are crisp, clear, and smooth. But it doesn't take long for this transparent work of art to transform into a tar-stained mess. We're all guilty of neglecting our smoking accessories from time to time. Using your pipe or bong for a few days in a row is no big deal, but things start to turn ugly in a matter of weeks.

It's easy to determine when a glass piece is ready for a clean. Silicone and wooden pieces are a different story. Users of the latter can remain blissfully ignorant until they receive a lungful of tarred smoke. In this article, we'll discuss why it's essential to keep your smoking apparatus shiny and clean. Then, we'll explore the best ways to clean them.

WHY KEEPING YOUR SMOKING ACCESSORIES CLEAN IS SO IMPORTANT

There's a bunch of reasons to keep your smoking gear clean at all times. Aesthetics are a major motivation, especially when it comes to glass. What's the point of investing in an intricate glass rig just to let it stew in ash and tar? Respect the artwork!

Regularly cleaning your smoking gear will also lead to better-tasting hits. If you grow your own, you'll know how much time and effort is required to produce high-quality cannabis. It takes skill and patience to nurture a tasty terpene profile. Don't waste these exquisite tastes by smoking with a dirty bong or pipe.

A dirty bong won't just ruin the taste; the buildup of tar and resin will irritate your throat. Clean bongs offer buttery smooths hits that go down a treat. Overall, cleaner equipment makes for a more pleasant smoking experience.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR BONG, BOWL, OR PIPE?

How often you clean your smoking gear should depend on how frequently you use it. If you're blazing massive bowls every day, then tar and resin are going to build up fast. If you hit a pipe or bong once a week, it'll take longer for the residue to build up. With that said, leaving it dirty and unused isn't hygienic either.

The more often you clean your gear, the better. Give your bong or pipe a quick rinse after every smoking session to flush out some of the tar and resin. When the buildup starts getting severe, it's time to give your gear a proper clean.

WHAT IS YOUR PIPE OR BONG MADE OF?

Different materials require different cleaning methods. You run the risk of damaging your rig if you apply the wrong kind of cleaning agent or technique. Check out how to clean different materials below.

GLASS & METAL

Glass bongs and pipes are on the delicate end of the spectrum. Although they often look prettier, they're the most susceptible to damage. Glass pieces can be effectively cleaned using both alcohol and non-alcohol methods. However, you'll want to avoid boiling techniques. Metal pipes, on the other hand, are safe to boil.

SILICONE

Silicone bongs are the easiest to clean. These pieces are heat and cold-resistant and can handle (pretty much) anything you throw at them. You don't have to overthink things when cleaning a silicone bong or pipe.

WOOD

Wooden pipes can handle hot water, but harsh chemicals can damage them. High-proof alcohol can discolour wooden pipes and also leave behind residue. When cleaning a wooden piece, it's best to use softer agents such as vinegar.

HOW TO CLEAN A BONG, BOWL, OR PIPE

Now that you know what to avoid, let's get some cleaning done. Cleaning out your piece is an easy step-by-step process. To begin, you'll need to gather the following items. We'll discuss specific cleaners in each method.

EQUIPMENT

• Cleaning brushes/pipe cleaners
• Scraper/knife
• Plastic tub
• Cotton swabs
• Ziplock bag
• Micropore tape

ALCOHOL-FREE METHODS

Alcohol-free methods are effective at removing ash, tar, and grime. These techniques use less-harsh chemicals and require stuff you can find in your kitchen at home.

VINEGAR AND BAKING SODA

• Bong

1. Use a cotton swab to clean out the residue from the bowl. You might need to use a scraper if things get too sticky.
2. Rinse out your bong with lukewarm water over a sink.
3. Remove the bowl and place it in a Ziplock bag. Add a teaspoon of baking soda, a splash of vinegar, and fill the bag halfway with lukewarm water.
4. Shake the bag, then let it rest.
5. Now, back to the bong. Empty a teaspoon of baking soda into the mouthpiece. Cover the mouthpiece with your hand and the downstem hole with micropore tape; shake vigorously.
6. The baking soda will stick to the wet surface inside. Use a long cleaning brush to scrub the inside surfaces.
7. Next, pour in a tablespoon of vinegar and fill up the chamber with lukewarm water.
8. Cover the holes again and shake.
9. Pour out the solution and rinse the bong with lukewarm water.
10. Remove the bowl from the Ziplock bag and rinse under the tap. Use a cotton swab to remove any sticky remnants.

• Pipe

1. Run a pipe cleaner through your piece a couple of times to remove any blockages.
2. Fill up a container or jar with lukewarm water. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and an equal amount of vinegar.
3. Place your pipe into the container and let it soak for five minutes.
4. Remove the pipe and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
5. Repeat step one.

DISH SOAP

1. Fill your sink with lukewarm water. Add a squirt of dish soap to create a bubbly solution.
2. Use a cotton swab and scraper to remove residue from the bowl of your bong or pipe.
3. Carefully place your piece into the water and let it soak for 20 minutes.
4. Return to the sink armed with a cleaning brush or pipe cleaner.
5. If you're cleaning a bong, use a brush to thoroughly scrub the inside surfaces clean. Use a pipe cleaner to clean out the ownstem.
6. For pipes, run a pipe cleaner through the piece 3–4 times. Dunk your pipe into the water between each clean to flush out the stem.
7. Empty the sink and rinse your piece with lukewarm water.

BOILING WATER

Boiling water is an easy way to clean a piece. Remember, it's not suitable for thin glass pieces.

1. Place your bong or pipe into an empty sink. Clean out the bowl with a cotton swab and scraper.
2. Boil the kettle and fill up the bottom of the sink with boiling water.
3. Let your piece sit for 20 minutes, or until the water has sufficiently cooled.
4. Empty the sink.
5. Use a pipe cleaner and brush to remove tar and residue.
6. Rinse with lukewarm water.

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL METHOD

Isopropyl alcohol is a harsh cleaning agent. Use gloves when you're dealing with it, and avoid using it on wooden pipes. It also helps to have some coarse salt at hand when using this method.

• Bong

1. Remove the bowl and clean it out with a cotton swab and scraper. Then, rinse it under the tap.
2. Add a tablespoon of coarse salt, followed by a generous glug of isopropyl alcohol.
3. Cover the downstem hole with micropore tape and the mouthpiece with a gloved hand. Shake vigorously for a total of five minutes.
4. Empty the solution into the toilet and rinse the bong thoroughly with lukewarm water.
5. Soak a tissue with isopropyl alcohol and wipe down the bowl and downstem.
6. Soak a pipe cleaner with isopropyl alcohol and scrub the inside of the downstem. Rinse thoroughly.

• Pipe

1. Use a cotton swab and pipe cleaner to remove residue from the bowl and the inside of the stem.
2. Place your pipe into a Ziplock bag. Add a tablespoon of salt and enough isopropyl alcohol to cover the piece.
3. Shake the bag for five minutes, then let sit for a further 10 minutes.
4. Remove the piece and rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water.
5. Scrub out the bowl and stem using a pipe cleaner and brush.
6. Rinse thoroughly.

CLEANING BONG STEMS AND OTHER HARD-TO-REACH PLACES

It's important to thoroughly clean bowls, downstems, and other hard-to-reach places. Although we mentioned it above, it's worth repeating; you might get caught out by hidden residue. Disassemble your piece (if possible) before cleaning, and go to work with a brush and pipe cleaners to make sure your pipe or bong will provide clean and smooth hits.

IS IT TIME FOR A SMOKE YET?

Once your piece has been rinsed and dried, it's ready for action! Investing a small amount of time into thoroughly cleaning your piece is well worth it. The next few hits are going to be so damn smooth. Going forward, try and clean your piece as regularly as you can. Cleaning your bong or pipe after one or two sessions is easy and only requires a small rinse. If you let it build up, then you'll have to get scrubbing again!