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If you enjoy smoking from a bong, you probably know how important it is to keep it clean and fresh. A dirty bong can ruin the taste of your herb, harbor harmful bacteria and fungi, and damage your health. But how often should you clean your bong, and what is the best way to do it? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and give you some tips on how to clean your bong properly.
Why You Need to Clean Your Bong
There are several reasons why you need to clean your bong regularly, such as:
- Improving the flavor and quality of your smoke. A clean bong will deliver a smooth and pure hit of your herb, without any unpleasant or harsh tastes. A dirty bong, on the other hand, will have a stale and bitter flavor, due to the buildup of resin, tar, ash, and other contaminants. These substances can also clog your bong and reduce its airflow, making it harder to draw smoke.
- Preventing the growth of mold and bacteria. A dirty bong can become a breeding ground for microorganisms that can cause infections and illnesses. Stagnant bong water, just like water in a puddle, can host all kinds of pathogens, such as E. coli, Strep, and black mildew. You do not want to inhale or ingest any of these substances. You’ll know that the water needs to be changed when it develops a top layer known as biofilm. Forming across the surface of the water, the biofilm could harbor any number of nasty germs.
- Removing potentially harmful chemicals. One of the benefits of bongs is that they filter out some of the toxins and carcinogens from your smoke, such as tar and ash. However, these substances can accumulate in your bong water and on the walls of your bong over time. If you don’t change the water frequently enough, you might end up inhaling more of these chemicals than you would otherwise.
How Often Should You Clean Your Bong?
The answer to this question depends on how often you use your bong and how dirty it gets. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should:
- Change the water in your bong after every use. This is the easiest and most effective way to keep your bong clean and fresh. By changing the water regularly, you will prevent the buildup of resin, mold, bacteria, and chemicals in your bong. You will also enjoy a better flavor and quality of your smoke. Ideally, you should use clean, fresh water for every bong session. If you don’t change the water frequently enough, the bong will be challenging to clean.
- Clean your bong thoroughly at least once a week. Even if you change the water every time you use your bong, you still need to give it a deep cleaning occasionally. This will help you remove any stubborn resin or stains that might have accumulated on the walls or in the crevices of your bong. A thorough cleaning will also disinfect your bong and make it look shiny and new.
How to Clean Your Bong Properly
There are different ways to clean your bong, but one of the most common and effective methods is to use coarse salt and rubbing alcohol as an abrasive and a solvent. Here are the steps to follow:
- Gather supplies. Before cleaning your bong, you’ll need to round up some supplies, including: a sink or basin; coarse salt (such as Epsom or rock salt); rubbing alcohol (preferably 91% or 99%); two large zipper storage bags; rubber stoppers or bong plugs; a towel; and latex gloves.
- Empty the bong and rinse it with warm water. While wearing your latex gloves, empty out your bong as well as you can. Pour out old bong water and remove any spent herb. Then give it a good rinse with warm water to remove any remaining solid particles.
- Disassemble your bong. Take it apart so that the individual pieces can be cleaned. Remove all movable parts, such as the bowl and the downstem. As you take your bong apart, check for any damage such as chips or cracks. You’ll need to replace any damaged pieces before using your bong again.
- Add coarse salt and rubbing alcohol to your bong. Next, you’ll need to add some salt and alcohol into the base of the bong so that they can work together to clean the inside. The salt will act as a scrubber, while the alcohol dissolves the resin buildup. You can also add some salt and alcohol to the bowl and the downstem, or put them in separate zipper bags with some salt and alcohol.
- Plug the holes and shake it up. Use rubber stoppers, bong plugs, or your hands and fingers to plug or block the open holes of the bong so that your abrasive and cleaner don’t cause a big mess. Shake it for about five minutes to get the best possible result. You can also shake the zipper bags with the bowl and the downstem inside.
- Rinse and repeat. Empty the cleaning solution into a sink and rinse it out completely with clean water. Repeat the cleaning process as many times as you need to, but once is usually enough. You can also use a small brush or a pipe cleaner to scrub away any stubborn resin or stains.
- Dry your bong. Use a towel to dry your bong and its parts thoroughly. Make sure there is no moisture left inside or outside your bong. This will prevent any mold or bacteria from growing in your bong. You can also let your bong air dry for a few hours before using it again.
Congratulations! You have successfully cleaned your bong and made it ready for your next smoking session. Enjoy!
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