If you enjoy smoking herb or tobacco from a glass bong, you know how important it is to keep it clean and unclogged. A dirty bong can ruin your smoking experience by making your hits harsher, dulling the flavor of your smoke, and exposing you to mold and bacteria. Not to mention, it looks unsightly and smells bad.
Fortunately, cleaning a glass bong is not hard or expensive. You just need some basic supplies and a few minutes of your time. In this blog post, we will show you how to prevent your glass bong from getting clogged or dirty, and how to clean it properly when it does.
How to Prevent Your Glass Bong from Getting Clogged or Dirty
The best way to prevent your glass bong from getting clogged or dirty is to maintain it regularly. Here are some tips to keep your bong in good shape:
- Change the water in your bong after every smoke session. This will prevent the water from getting stale and contaminated with tar and debris. Stale water can also affect the taste and quality of your smoke, as well as pose health risks. You don’t want to inhale mold and bacteria, do you?
- Rinse out the pieces in hot water. This will loosen up any of the bigger chunks of resin that may be clogging up your bong. The hotter the water the better, but be careful not to burn yourself or damage your glass piece. Do not use hot water on a cold piece, as this can cause it to shatter. If your piece is cold, start with lukewarm water and slowly raise the temperature.
- Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners. If there are any large chunks of tar or resin that you can easily reach, simply knock them off with gentle scrubbing. If a chunk resists, that’s fine. You just want to get rid of the big, easily removed chunks now. For smaller pieces with tough, thick stains, like your slide or bowl, it can help to freeze the piece for 30 minutes. This loosens up chunks of resin and makes them easier to knock off. Be sure to dry the bowl before freezing.
- Clean your bong roughly once a week. Depending on how often you use your bong, you may need to clean it more or less frequently. But as a general rule of thumb, cleaning your bong once a week will ensure you get the safest, best tasting smoke. Cleaning your bong regularly will also make the process easier and faster, as there will be less buildup of resin and dirt.
How to Clean Your Glass Bong
When it’s time to clean your glass bong, you don’t need any fancy products or tools. All you need is:
- Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Purchase 90% isopropyl instead of 71% whenever available, though both will work. They can be found in the first aid section of your supermarket or pharmacy. Make sure the pieces are fully submerged in the fluid. Alcohol reacts with the tar and resin, making it easier to remove.
- Coarse salt. Salt isn’t necessary but it will help dislodge chunks of resin. It acts as an abrasive that scrubs away the dirt without scratching the glass.
- Resealable plastic bags. You’ll use these to contain your cleaning fluid while you soak the smaller pieces. Make sure that they can seal effectively. You can also use cups and bowls, as long as you can fill them with enough liquid to cover the pieces. However, cleaning may leave an unsavory smell to the cookware, making plastic bags the most convenient option more often than not.
To clean a glass bong, simply follow these steps:
- Separate all the moving pieces from the bong. Proper cleaning usually involves shaking and some scrubbing, which can damage delicate glass parts if you’re not careful. Separate each of the parts — the bong, the slide, and the stem — and set them aside to be cleaned separately. You may want to wear latex gloves, as the smell of resin can be hard to remove from your hands.
- Pour out the water if it’s a bong or bubbler. This will get rid of the old, dirty water and make room for the cleaning fluid.
- Fill your bong with isopropyl alcohol and salt, shake it up, then let it soak. Pour enough alcohol to cover the entire inside of the bong, then add a few tablespoons of salt. Plug the holes with your fingers or some paper towels, and shake the bong vigorously for a minute or two. This will help the alcohol and salt mixture to dissolve and dislodge the resin. Then, let the bong sit for a few hours or overnight to soak. The longer you soak, the easier it will be to clean.
- Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags with alcohol and salt. Put each piece in a separate bag, then pour enough alcohol to cover them. Add some salt as well, then seal the bags. Shake them gently to coat the pieces with the mixture, then let them soak for a few hours or overnight.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse with warm water. After soaking, pour out the dirty liquid from the bong and the bags. You should see a lot of resin and dirt come out with it. Then, rinse each piece thoroughly with warm water to make sure no alcohol or salt are left. You can use a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to reach any hard-to-clean spots.
- Let it dry until it doesn’t smell like alcohol. This may take an hour or so, depending on how much alcohol you used and how well you rinsed. You don’t want to smoke any alcohol residue, as it can be harmful to your lungs. Once your bong is dry and odorless, you can reassemble it and enjoy a fresh, clean smoke.
- Repeat if necessary. If your bong is still dirty after one round of cleaning, you may need to repeat the process until it’s sparkling and shiny. You can also try using different cleaning agents, such as vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, or commercial bong cleaners. However, these are not always as effective or safe as alcohol and salt.
Conclusion
Cleaning your glass bong is not only easy and cheap, but also essential for your smoking pleasure and health. By following these simple steps, you can prevent your glass bong from getting clogged or dirty, and enjoy smooth, flavorful hits every time. Happy smoking!
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