The Ultimate Guide: How to Clean Your Bong, Glass Pipe, and Bubblers

1969-12-31

Why Clean Your Bongs, Pieps and Dab Rigs?

When it comes to smoking, glass is one of the most preferable choices among all materials. Whether you are using a glass pipe, a bong, or a dab rig, it will get dirty after some time.

That's because gunk builds up over time from all the smoke and burnt materials. Not only that you may find your piece with a clogged airflow, but it will not taste as fresh as once it was.

More towards that, it can increase the chances of growing molds and bacteria, which is extremely harmful to health. That's why we would like to share with you a few tips on dealing with the mess.

clean dirty bong clean dirty glass pipe clean dirty bubbler clean sherlock bubbler ash catcher weed bowls perc percolator

There are a few significant hurdles you will find when it comes to cleaning a glass pipe or a bong.

A typical example is finding a dirty spot very hard to reach. It could be the inside of the glass pipe or the percolators of the bong.

That's why we would like to introduce the primary method by using the right solution and keeping it simple by following the rules of thumb: soak it, rinse it, and scrub it. This will help you clean most of the area of your glass pipes or bongs.

how to clean a dirty glass pipe clean a dirty glass spoon clean a spoon pipe clean a dirty bubbler

Choosing The Solution For Cleaning Your Pipes And Bongs

When it comes to choosing your perfect solution, there are two main combinations we recommend. Either uses isopropyl alcohol with salt or use white vinegar with baking soda.

Quick and aggressive: isopropyl alcohol with salt

If you want to speed-clean your dirty glass pipes, isopropyl alcohol with salt is the best option.

We recommend using any rubbing alcohol you could buy from a pharmacist or supermarket with at least 70% alcohol, preferably 91% of alcohol. The higher the percentage of the alcohol content, the quicker the cleanse you will likely get.

Salt, or sodium, acting as a rough medium, helps remove the tars physically and covers the tricky part of the gunk. However, when it reacts with alcohol, it creates bubbles of hydrogen gas and corrosive sodium ethoxide.

This process helps soften the tars, and the remaining solution is also great for cleaning the residuals. Any iodine-free table salt will work just fine. However, we highly suggest choosing acceptable salt over rock salt since more miniature salt can cover more areas.

However, using isopropyl alcohol can be a little dangerous. Inhaling alcohol with high percentage content is bad for health. In addition, 70% of alcohol is also highly flammable.

You will need to thoroughly rinse with water after cleaning with alcohol because the remaining alcohol on your gears can catch fire in the worst-case scenario.

Nobody wants to set fires on your bongs or glass pipes when you want to sit back and chill. What a disaster would that be just by imagining.

clean glass pipe clean bong clean dab rig clean weed bowl clean ash-catcher clean perc bong with alcohol

Ease of cleaning: ★★★★
Effortlessness: ★★★★
Health and Safety Hazards: ★★★★
Cleaning time: Short

Safe and house-friendly: white vinegar + baking soda

If health and safety is your main concern, you may want to look for these two items you can find in your house: White Vinegar and Baking Soda.

Vinegar is the perfect remover for resin and wax. It is also a natural deodorizer, while baking soda acts as a water softener.

Mixing baking soda with vinegar creates a frizzly reaction that produces gas, carbon dioxide, and a slightly abrasive solution.

The process helps to cut through any forms of grease and leave your bongs or glass pipes gleaming. It may not work as fast as using alcohol, but It's 100% safe with zero hazards. Also, unlike alcohol, it absorbs odors with no smells on your glass pipe.

vinegar to clean bong clean glass pipe clean bubbler clean sherlock bubbler ash catcher weed bowls perc percolator baking soda to clean bong clean glass pipe clean bubbler clean sherlock bubbler ash catcher weed bowls perc percolator

Ease of cleaning: ★★★
Effortlessness: ★★★
Health and Safety Hazards: None
Cleaning time: Allow at least 1 to 2 hours for soaking

Choosing The Gear For Cleaning Pipes And Bongs

Besides the cleaning solution, you may also require two other items to help you clean:

A Ziploc bag or a plastic food container: This is perfect for cleaning a glass pipe, bubbler, bowl piece or any attachments of your bongs and dab rigs.
Cotton tip or brush: Some gunks may be stubborn to come off, that's why you may need a little physical assistance.

Cleaning Your Pipes, Bongs and Dab Rigs Step By Step

Using a Ziploc bag for cleaning glass pipes, bong bowl, or other attachment

The tricky part to clean a bowl piece, an ash catcher attachment or any glass pipes such as glass spoon or bubblers with built-in ash-catchers is that the inside is where all the smoke tars build up, and it is almost to reach to scrub. Making use of a Ziploc bag or a plastic food container can save you a lot of time and efforts.

Simply put your piece into the bag or container then pour salt or baking soda. Give it a good shake so that it will cover most areas of the glass pipe. Pour some alcohol or vinegar solution, then seal the bag or container.

Leave it for soak for at least 30 minutes, if the attachment part or the glass pipe has been heavily used, it won't harm to leave it for soak a little longer. After soaking, give it a good shake and rub from the outside to let it fully immersed in the solution. Assist with physical scrub if needed.

Cleaning bongs and dab rigs

To clean a bigger piece such as any bongs or dab rigs, especially the ones with builtin percolators, or ash-catchers, you will need to pour solution from both ends to make sure everywhere is covered. Give it a gentle shake and refill the solution if you find tars on the inside hard to come off.

Final Thoughts On Smoke Gear Cleaning

The first thing we do recommend is not to leave your bong water overnight.

We would also recommend cleaning your glass pipes or bongs daily, the longer you leave it dirty the more difficult to clean. It only takes 10 minutes and you will appreciate it.

BACK