How to Clean a Glass Bong with Household Items or Natural Products

If you enjoy smoking herb or tobacco from a glass bong, you know how important it is to keep it clean and fresh. A dirty bong can ruin the flavor of your smoke, make your hits harsher, and expose you to harmful bacteria and mold. Fortunately, you don’t need to buy expensive or harsh chemicals to clean your glass bong. You can use some common household items or natural products that are cheap, effective, and eco-friendly. In this blog post, we will show you how to clean a glass bong with alcohol, salt, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and boiling water.

Why You Need to Clean Your Glass Bong

Every time you smoke from your glass bong, tar and resin build up inside the chamber, the stem, and the bowl. This can clog up the airflow, reduce the potency of your herb or tobacco, and create an unpleasant smell and taste. Moreover, if you don’t change the water in your bong regularly, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, which can cause respiratory infections and other health problems. Therefore, it is essential to clean your glass bong at least once a week, or more often if you use it frequently. You should also change the water in your bong after every smoke session.

How to Clean Your Glass Bong with Alcohol and Salt

One of the most popular and effective methods of cleaning a glass bong is using isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) and coarse salt. Alcohol dissolves the tar and resin, while salt acts as an abrasive to scrub away the stubborn stains. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Separate all the moving pieces from the bong: the chamber, the stem, and the bowl.
2. Rinse out the pieces in hot water to loosen up any large chunks of resin. Be careful not to use boiling water on a cold piece, as this can cause it to shatter.
3. Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
4. Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags. Make sure they can seal effectively.
5. Fill your plastic bags with isopropyl alcohol. Use 90% alcohol if possible, as it is more potent than 71%. Make sure the pieces are fully submerged in the fluid.
6. Add some coarse salt to the bags. You can use table salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. The salt will help dislodge chunks of resin as you shake the bags.
7. Seal the bags and shake them vigorously for a minute or two. You should see the alcohol turning brown as it dissolves the resin.
8. Let the bags sit for some time, depending on how dirty your pieces are. You can leave them for a few hours or overnight for best results.
9. Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no alcohol or salt are left behind.
10. Use a pipe brush or a cotton swab to scrub any remaining resin from hard-to-reach areas.
11. Dry the pieces with a paper towel or a cloth. Let them air dry until they don’t smell like alcohol.
12. Reassemble your bong and enjoy a fresh smoke.

How to Clean Your Glass Bong with Vinegar and Baking Soda

If you don’t have alcohol at home, or you prefer a more natural alternative, you can use vinegar and baking soda to clean your glass bong. Vinegar is acidic and can break down resin, while baking soda is alkaline and can neutralize odors and act as a mild abrasive. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Separate all the moving pieces from the bong: the chamber, the stem, and the bowl.
2. Rinse out the pieces in hot water to loosen up any large chunks of resin.
3. Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
4. Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags or cups/bowls. Make sure they can hold enough liquid to cover the pieces.
5. Fill your bags or cups/bowls with white vinegar. You can also use apple cider vinegar if you like its smell better.
6. Add some baking soda to the bags or cups/bowls. You should see some fizzing as the vinegar and baking soda react.
7. Seal the bags or cover the cups/bowls and shake them gently for a minute or two. You should see the vinegar turning brown as it dissolves the resin.
8. Let the bags or cups/bowls sit for some time, depending on how dirty your pieces are. You can leave them for a few hours or overnight for best results.
9. Pour out the vinegar/baking soda mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no vinegar or baking soda are left behind.
10. Use a pipe brush or a cotton swab to scrub any remaining resin from hard-to-reach areas.
11. Dry the pieces with a paper towel or a cloth. Let them air dry until they don’t smell like vinegar.
12. Reassemble your bong and enjoy a fresh smoke.

How to Clean Your Glass Bong with Lemon Juice and Boiling Water

Another standard method of cleaning a glass bong without alcohol is to use lemon juice along with boiling water. Lemon juice is acidic and can break down resin, while boiling water can sanitize your bong and remove any germs. However, be careful not to use boiling water on a cold piece, as this can cause it to shatter. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Separate all the moving pieces from the bong: the chamber, the stem, and the bowl.
2. Rinse out the pieces in hot water to loosen up any large chunks of resin.
3. Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
4. Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags or cups/bowls. Make sure they can hold enough liquid to cover the pieces.
5. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice into the bags or cups/bowls. You can also use bottled lemon juice if you don’t have fresh lemons.
6. Boil some water in a kettle or a saucepan. Use purified water if possible, as tap water may contain minerals that can leave stains on your glass.
7. Carefully pour the boiling water into the bags or cups/bowls. Be careful not to burn yourself or spill the water.
8. Seal the bags or cover the cups/bowls and shake them gently for a minute or two. You should see the lemon juice turning brown as it dissolves the resin.
9. Let the bags or cups/bowls sit for some time, depending on how dirty your pieces are. You can leave them for a few hours or overnight for best results.
10. Pour out the lemon juice/water mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Make sure no lemon juice or water are left behind.
11. Use a pipe brush or a cotton swab to scrub any remaining resin from hard-to-reach areas.
12. Dry the pieces with a paper towel or a cloth. Let them air dry until they don’t smell like lemon juice.
13. Reassemble your bong and enjoy a fresh smoke.

Conclusion

Cleaning your glass bong is not only easy and cheap, but also beneficial for your health and enjoyment. By using household items or natural products, you can avoid harsh chemicals that may damage your glass or harm your lungs. You can also experiment with different combinations of ingredients and find what works best for you. The main thing is to clean your glass bong regularly and change the water often, so you can always enjoy a smooth and flavorful smoke from your herb or tobacco.