Would you rather have a clean bong or dirty bong?
Knowing how to clean a bong properly is imperative if you want to enjoy the flavor out of your smoke.
With most bongs nowadays, there are so many nooks and crannies it can get a little intimidating come time to clean that sweet glass bong of yours with a honeycomb perc leading to 12 tree perc!
Don't worry, we have you covered.
Even, how to keep your dang glass clean longer.
Here's a quick formula:
- Add Coarse Salt
- Add Isopropyl Alcohol 90%
- Shake the Fuck out of it
- Done
Just use the table of contents to pop over to the section you need.
The Best Way to Clean a Bong
Glass beaker bongs or plastic bongs, it doesn't matter.
To clean a bong you need to utilize 90% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) and coarse salt to break down all of the gunk in your bong, leaving it nice and clean.
The Supplies You'll Need to Clean a Dirty Bong
- 90% Rubbing alcohol - for tougher jobs you can use nail polish remover
- Coarse Sea Salt or Epsom Salt
- Paper Towels
- Hand Towels
- Ziploc baggies
- Bathtub or bucket
Step #1)
Take the pieces of your bong apart and rinse it out with hot water to break down the gunk and to get any of the low hanging fruit out of there.
Step #2)
Place your downstem and bowl in a Ziploc baggies with alcohol and let them soak in the solution.
Step #3)
Pour a mixture of rubbing alcohol and salt into the bong.
You need to pour in enough mixture to where it's full but not so overflowing that alcohol is spilling out of the opening where your downstem goes.
In regards to the salt, add just enough salt to the mixture to where it doesn't dissolve in the alcohol.
If the salt dissolves, it’s not going to do its job as an abrasive to break down the residue in your bong.
Step #4
Cover up the hole at the base with a paper towel and then plug up the opening at the top of the bong with a hand towel.
Step #5)
Create a good seal on the bottom hole with your thumb, and use the palm of your other hand to create a seal on the top opening.
Then literally, shake the shit out of it!
Step #6)
Pour out all of the nasty alcohol solution and rinse the bong out with hot water. You may need to repeat steps 3-5 a couple of times depending on how dirty your bong is.
Step #7)
Add salt to the zip lock baggies with your downstem and bowl and shake the shit out of them. Make sure they are sealed tight!
Also, don't shake them while they are in the bag together, you run the risk of breaking the glass.
Repeat this process until they are sparkly clean.
Pro Tip: You may need to use a Q-tip with alcohol to clean hard to reach parts of the bowl.
How to Clean a Bong With Percs
If your bong has all kinds of loops and twists and percs going on if every direction, then shaking the shit out of your bong might not be a great idea.
Not that this method won’t work, but it’s hard to shake the bong enough to clean everything fully.
To clean a percolator bong, pour the isopropyl alcohol/salt mixture in the base as well as the perc in the tube and let the bong soak for a few hours to break down the residue.
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How to Clean an Ash Catcher Bowl
When it comes time to clean your ash catcher bowl, just follow these simple steps.
Step #1)
Place your ash catcher in a zip lock baggie and pour in some isopropyl alcohol
Step #2)
Let the ash catch sit in the solution for an hour or so.
Step #3)
Remove the ash catcher from the baggie and fill it halfway with an alcohol/salt mixture. Place your fingers firmly over both holes, and shake it silly until all of the debris washes out.
How to Clean Glass Pipes
Cleaning pipes can be easy or difficult, depending on how long you go in between cleanings.
If you keep a regular schedule, never letting it get too bad, it's a simple process that can be done in a matter of minutes!
If you take to long, well, it might require a bit of elbow grease.
The Materials You'll Need
- 90% Rubbing Alcohol For tougher jobs you can use nail polish remover
- Coarse Sea Salt or Epsom Salt
- Paper Towels
- Ziplock baggies
- Bathtub or bucket
- Q-tips
Step #1)
How to clean a pipe is simple, just place your pipe in a Ziploc baggie and fill the bag with alcohol. Let the pipe soak in this bag for an hour or so.
Step #2)
After it’s soaked for awhile, you want to shake the bag with the pipe in it. Don’t be aggressive with it, though, and make sure you've a tight seal on the zip lock.
Step #3)
Now, you should have most of the pipe clean. Next, you need to, use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to gently rub away any pesky residue. Make sure not to force the Q-tip through any of the holes in the pipe, as this is a quick way to break pipes.
Step #4)
Finally, rinse with hot water. You may need to repeat steps 2-4 until your glass is looking good as new!
If you accidentally break your pipe while you're cleaning it, we've got you covered. Check out this guide on buying weed pipes right here.
How to Clean a Dab Rig
Cleaning an oil rig is essentially the same process you use to clean a bong.
However, because concentrates burn off as a vapor, as opposed to the more combustible smoke of old, you’re able to reclaim some of that oil concentrate by just following a couple of steps.
It also doesn’t get quite as dirty as a bong that you’ve been smoking a more traditional tobacco out of, so you'll rarely have to let the piece sit for hours in 90% alcohol to get it clean.
Reclaiming Concentrate
The simple steps to reclaiming some of your concentrates are:
Step #1)
Fill your rig with a small amount of hot water
Step #2)
Shake the shit out of it
Step #3)
Pour water out onto a Pyrex dish or a baking dish
Step #4)
Finally, let the water evaporate out of the dish
*I shouldn’t have to say this, but do this process BEFORE you put any cleaners like alcohol in it.
After you have your reclaim, proceed to clean the rig as you would any bong.
Not impressed with your dab rig even after it's clean? You'll want to see the dab rigs that made our best under $50 list. Click here to check it out!
How to Clean a Dab Nail
- Store your dab nail in a bowl or Ziploc baggie.
- Pour 90% isopropyl alcohol into the bowl/baggie until your nail is fully submerged in alcohol.
- Let it soak for a while
- Remove nail from alcohol and allow it to air dry.
How to Dry Bong Resin Quick
Got a little bit of wet resin after you've worked so hard to clean your glass?
Easy.
Take a lighter to it and take a big inhale.
Fire is the number one way to dry out the resin, and you don’t need to wait around to smoke.
Get two birds stoned at once, dry the resin and get baked!
If you think it is too wet, or it slides down to clog the air intake.
Dig it out with a nail, or paperclip, and place it on a piece of paper towel.
Let it sit out overnight, and the paper towel will absorb the excess water.
By the next morning, it should be dry enough to smoke.
How to Keep Your Bong Clean
Let's face it, cleaning your bong is not something you want to be doing on a Saturday afternoon.
Instead, use these preventive measures to help ensure that it stays cleaner for a more prolonged period.
- Use Ash Catchers
The easiest way to keep your bong clean is by using an ash catcher. An ash catcher acts as a barrier, keeping the majority of debris out of your bong.
If you're not using an ash catcher, click here to be blown away.
- Keep Your Bong Empty
Keeping your pieces empty while you are not using it is a great way to keep it clean proactively.
- Frequently Change Water
This one is as simple as it sounds. Keeping fresh, clean water, in your bong at all times will not only help prevent bong water smell but also, contribute to keeping it clean.
- Add Lemon Juice to Your Bong Water
Adding a little bit of lemon to your bong water will help break down any residue, and keep the water smelling fresh 🙂
- Use Piece Water
There are new advancements in science and technology every day, and Piece Water is one of them. It’s an all natural H2O replacement that is proven to keep your bong cleaner!
How to Clean a Glass Bong Without Alcohol
The household solution we’ve highlighted here is entirely safe to use, especially on glass.
But, just because many people are comfortable with using isopropyl alcohol to clean their glass bong - doesn’t mean you are.
You might not have it around, or feel there is a more natural way to get the resin out. Good news! There is!
Next time you want to clean your glassware, but without alcohol, follow these simple steps.
Step #1)
Carefully submerge your glass in a large pot or saucepan.
It should be large enough that the glassware can lay flat.
Step #2)
Fill the pot with water until the pipe or bong is totally covered.
Step #3)
Increase heat to medium and watch carefully until small bubbles begin to move around the pot.
Do not let it boil, as this could agitate the glassware against the side of the pot until it cracks. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Step #4)
Remove from heat, and allow to cool until comfortable to touch. Using a clean rag, and a bottle brush, scrap the soften resin and grime clean.
Step #5)
Rinse with warm water.
Ever hit a gas mask? Click here to see the best gas mask bongs.
What Other Household Cleaners Can you Use to Clean Your Bong?
There are a hundred and one household items you can use to get the grime off your glass bong.
Try these hot tips below, using some very common products you likely have laying around your house:
Place your bong is a freezer bag, and then into the freezer overnight.
This hardens the resin until it chips off easily. Try switching out the usual solvents for lemon water, or vinegar.
A pipe cleaner, like the ones sold in craft stores, makes it easy to really get into the hard to reach corners of your bubbler.
Some chronic smokers swear by a can of Coke.
Simply pour Coke a Cola into the bong (after sealing the bowl off), and let it sit overnight.
In the morning, the gross sticky mess will have loosened, and you can then rely on the standard cleaning procedures to get it out.
What Cleaners Can you Use to Clean Your Bong?
With the rise of the cannabis industry, has also come the rise of supplementary products, like glass cleaners.
There is now a vast array of cleaning products for every smoking device you own.
Some are advertised for dab rigs, some for silicon devices and some for plastic, but most will work for any glassware you have.
In essence, the products replicate the abrasive salt and the cleaning power of the alcohol. They usually always smell lovely and come in bright, bold colors.
They work the same way as the old-fashioned bong cleaning method, but with a few added ingredients - it is faster and easier.
Check out your local dispensary, or an online headshop to see what they have in stock. Popular brands include 420 Power and Orange Chronic.
Your glassware will thank you. If this is the route you choose, you'll want to check out this guide on THCoverdose.com reviewing the best bong cleaners.
Conclusion
Smoke always taste best when being smoked through a clean piece glass! Hope this guide helps you keep all your glass clean from here on out.
What are some of your secret techniques when it comes to cleaning? Let me know if the comments section here!
And if you break your favorite glass bong while cleaning it, we feel your pain. To help ease the turmoil, check out the bong brands we recommend here.
Last update on 2021-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API