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Your beloved smoking piece is not unlike your car. You use it on the reg, love it to death and, maybe, you’ve gone so far as to name it. Also like your car, there comes a time when you’ll need to clean your pipe, bong or bubbler. It’s a task you put off for various reasons — it’s gross, tedious and, let’s face it, downright annoying — but it’s also a tenet of cannabis stewardship. Without regular cleaning, pieces build up with residue that leads to clogging and unsavory flavors.
Now that you’ve thoroughly celebrated 4/20, the time has come to get serious. Below, we’ve taken the liberty of putting together a guide to help you clean your glass or ceramic pipe (or bong or piece — you get the point) for better efficiency and longevity. We’ve also thrown in a few products worth investing in that are sure to lend a hand along the way. Before you toke up, follow these steps.
Supplies
You can’t clean your pipe without the proper supplies. Make sure you’ve got these basic goods on hand before you get started.
- A resealable plastic bag
- Paper clip or metal wire
- Isopropyl alcohol cleaning solution
- Table salt or baking soda
Step-by-Step Instructions for Cleaning Your Pipe, Bong or Bubbler
Now that you have everything you need, follow these steps to make your pipe look good as new.
Step 1: Put your pipe in the resealable plastic bag with the cleaning solution.
Shake out the bowl to remove any remaining flower or ash that can be quickly cleared away. From there, place the pipe in the bag and fill it with the cleaning solution until it’s fully submerged. We recommend using Session Goods’ cleaning solution because it’s an isopropyl alcohol-based solution that’s incredibly effective, and it contains floral hints of rose and citrus.
Step 2: Add a little salt to the mixture — approximately a teaspoon is perfect.
Sure, you love salty snacks when you’re stoned but salt is also a gritty substance capable of penetrating nooks and crannies that a sponge can’t reach. Add some salt to the mixture and ensure it goes inside the pipe where you’re trying to remove a lot of the built-up residue.
Step 3: Let the pipe soak overnight for approximately 12 hours.
This step is easy but it’s also essential. The combination of salt and cleaning solution needs time to soak, not unlike the dishes you let soak in the sink whenever you’re too lazy to scrub them clean. Allow the solution to soak for at least 12 hours, which is why we recommend doing so overnight.
Step 4: Shake it up!
Once the solution has had a chance to soak for the allotted time, give the bag a shake to loosen the remaining residue. The water will turn brown and foggy (yeah, gross) but pretty soon your pipe will look shiny and new.
Step 5: Wash the piece under hot water.
After soaking and shaking, remove the pipe from the bag and run it under hot water. It should be nearly spotless, but a paperclip or pipe cleaner will flake away any remaining, stubborn resin. Just remember to treat the glass with care and avoid scratching it if possible.
Step 6: Let it dry.
Leave your pipe in a dry place to evaporate any remaining water. This shouldn’t take long but it’s essential if you don’t want your weed to get wet or worse, clog up the system again. Once it’s dry, you’re free to toke to your heart’s content, until it needs another cleaning.
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