If you’re an avid smoker, you know how important it is to keep your glass pipe clean. My bubblers, glass bongs, and pipes need daily cleaning, and my dab rigs need about a weekly cleaning. It fluctuates on various items, depending on each vessel’s recent use.
Luckily, one of the best ways I have found to clean a dirty, resin-covered, and smelly glass bowl is inexpensive, quick, and easy.
A dirty bong can make for a harsh and unpleasant smoking experience, detract from the flavorful experience, and may even put your health at risk.
Over the years, I’ve tried many ways to clean glass, but I always come back to a tried and trusted method that is easily done with fairly common household items.
You really need three things: hot water, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and cooking / kosher salt.Â
We’ll take you through a quick step-by-step guide on how to clean your glass bong or pipe using our trusted method. Just like anything, the more you do it, the better you get at it. Happy cleaning!
How To Quickly Clean Your Glass Pipe or Glass Bong With Ease
Step 1: Prepare Your Bong for Cleaning
Before you begin cleaning your bong, clean out the bowl and empty any water. Then, rinse the bong with warm or hot water to loosen any debris, resin, or other buildup.
Step 2: Add Salt and Alcohol
Next, fill your bong or pipe with salt, and add enough isopropyl rubbing alcohol to cover the bong completely. Use a funnel if needed to contain the mess. For best results, use 91% isopropyl alcohol, but 70% will also work.
You can also place the glass piece in a Ziploc-style bag, zip it up, and shake the bag. Be careful the bag does not rip, especially with the sand. You might need to replace the alcohol more than once if the piece is especially dirty. However, this method also works very well, especially for glass spoon-style pipe or other smaller style pieces.
Step 3: Shake Vigorously
Shake the bong or pipe vigorously for 20 seconds or more if needed, making sure to get the salt and alcohol into all the nooks and crannies. Repeat this process as needed until the bong looks clean. As the alcohol gets dirty and turns black, dump it out and replace it with fresh alcohol and salt. Repeat the shaking process.
Step 4: Spot Clean Exterior
You will need to spot-clean any exterior areas that need special attention. Often, the bottom or underneath of the pipe, bong, or bubbler can be one of those pesky areas covered in resin. If it’s really caked up on the bottom exterior, try heating the resin spots with a lighter for 2-3 seconds and then using a bit of alcohol on a paper towel to rub it off.
Step 5: Rinse Thoroughly
Once your bong looks clean, rinse it thoroughly with hot water to remove any remaining salt and alcohol residue. Use a paper clip or straw brush to get into the harder-to-reach areas as needed.
Step 6: Make It Shine With Some Dish Soap
To give your bong an extra shine, you can put a tiny dab of dish soap into and onto the exterior of the bong. Rub it all over the exterior. Then rinse it off with warm water. This will also help to remove any lingering odors and make it sparkle.
Step 7: Clean the Sink Area
Finally, it is recommended to use alcohol to clean the sink area of any resin or mess that was created during the cleaning process.
Time For A Sesh
Your bong should now be sparkling clean and ready to enjoy a smooth and pleasant smoking experience without the harshness or unpleasant taste that comes with a dirty bong.
Helpful Tip:
As you use this simple glass pipe cleaning method, you will get better at your technique over time. But honestly, it’s hard to mess it up.
Cleaning Dab Rigs
Dab rigs may require extra technique and attention as the resin left behind can become very thick and much harder to work and also carries a greater degree of risk regarding staining and mess than with regular ash or weed resin. Typically, a dab rig may require more of a brush technique and even using the torch on the troubled areas. However, torching your glass could lead to cracking and fractures from heat stress, so it is not recommended or approach it with great caution.
I’ve been using this method for over 20 years, and it works like a charm every time. Adding the dish soap at the end can really bring out the shine.
You can certainly buy a cleaner from the local head shop or right on Amazon, but this is simple and the most cost-effective from my own experience over many years with many pipes of all shapes and sizes.
Discover the best techniques for cleaning your glass bubbler water pipe with a simple, cost-effective method. The process of using common household items is simple. Hot water, isopropyl alcohol, and salt to remove resin and build-up, ensure a smoother smoking experience. Regular maintenance is important for aesthetic appeal and health reasons, making your glassware look as good as new.
