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Use isopropyl alcohol and salt to get grim out of your weed pipe
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Pipe looking a little grimy? All it needs is some alcohol and salt to scrub away the gunk and get it gleaming again! We’ll show you how to clean any glass or metal pipe, plus how to handle pipes made from other materials like acrylic or latex, as well as how often you should be cleaning your pipe for purest, cleanest hits every time.
Cleaning Pipes with Alcohol and Salt
- Rinse the pipe out with hot water.
- Submerge the pipe in isopropyl alcohol and add 2 spoonfuls of salt.
- Shake and agitate the container to let the salt scrub the pipe.
- Let the pipe soak in the solution for 1-24 hours.
- Rinse and scrub the pipe with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
- Let the pipe air dry for 1 hour.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Cleaning Glass or Metal Pipes with Alcohol & Salt
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Rinse and place your pipe in a sealable plastic bag or container. First, rinse the pipe, one hitter, or bong out with hot water to knock away any loose debris or resin. Then, carefully put your pipe into a zip-top plastic bag or a container with a sealable top. The bag or container must be sealable so the alcohol and salt mixture doesn’t leak out. [1] X Research source- If your pipe or bong can be disassembled, take it apart and put the pieces, like the stem and bowl, into separate containers.
- You might also give it a quick initial scrub with a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to help the process along.
- This cleaning method works with any kind of glass or metal pipe. Don’t use it for acrylic, glass, wood, bone, ceramic, or plastic pipes.
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Cover the pipe with alcohol and add 2-3 tbsp (17-51 g) of table salt. Pour isopropyl alcohol, which helps loosen resin and kills bacteria, slowly into the bag or container until your pipe is completely submerged. Then, add a couple generous spoonfuls of table salt, which acts as a gentle abrasive. Give the container a gentle shake to make sure the liquid and salt enters the pipe. [2] X Research source- Feel free to use rubbing alcohol as long as it contains at least 70% isopropyl alcohol by volume.
- You might also use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or specialized pipe cleaning solutions instead of alcohol.
- Kosher or epsom salt work best, since these have coarser, large grains that are better at scrubbing.
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Seal the container and shake it for 1-2 minutes. Close the zip-top of the bag or snap the container’s lid into place to seal your pipe and the alcohol and salt mixture inside. Shake the bag or container back and forth vigorously for 1-2 minutes, so the salt starts to scrub the surfaces inside your pipe. [3] X Research source
- If your pipe is particularly dirty and has a lot of resin on the inside, feel free to shake it for longer to help loosen it. You won’t do any harm by shaking the mixture around more, but your arm might get tired!
- Be cautious if your pipe has any delicate pieces. For example, if it is a glass pipe with thin ornamental pieces of blown glass on it, shake the mixture very gently.
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Let the pipe soak for at least 1 hour, then rinse and scrub it. Leave the pipe alone in the mixture for about 1 hour, or up to 24 hours if it’s especially dirty. After, rinse it out again with hot water for 2-3 minutes to clear away the alcohol, and use a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to scrub away any stubborn gunk or resin. [4] X Research source Pour the alcohol and salt solution down the drain; it’ll be too dirty to reuse.- Repeat this process once or twice for a more thorough clean, or if your pipe is still dirty after the first cleaning.
- Once your pipe is clean, let it sit on a towel and air dry for about an hour before use.
Jorge Cervantes, Bestselling Marijuana AuthorIf you want the purest taste and best performance from your smoking pipes, keeping them clean is a must. A simple but powerful method is using isopropyl alcohol and salt. The alcohol breaks down the resin, while the salt scrubs off any stuck-on gunk. Let your pipe soak, shake up the mixture, then rinse well with warm water. Cleaning regularly not only improves your smoking sessions, but also makes your pipes last longer.
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Tips
- You may also boil metal pipes for 10-15 minutes to help loosen the gunk before you clean them. Just be sure it cools off completely before you touch it!Thanks
- If your pipe is too large to fit in a plastic bag or container, such as a big water pipe, simply fill it with alcohol and salt, then cover the holes and shake it. Let the solution soak inside it while the pipe rests on a plate.Thanks
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Warnings
- Avoid boiling glass pipes, since the movement of the water could jostle and break the pipe against the pot.Thanks
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Things You’ll Need
- Sealable plastic bag or container
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Table salt
- Pipe cleaners or cotton swabs
- Towel
- Hot water
References
- ↑ https://www.westword.com/news/ask-a-stoner-whats-the-best-way-to-clean-a-gnarly-bong-5120366
- ↑ https://www.thestranger.com/green-guide-fall-2019-winter-2020/2019/10/23/41765219/how-to-clean-your-nasty-ass-bong
- ↑ https://janest.com/cannabis-101/clean-pipe-bong/
- ↑ https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/how-to-clean-a-weed-pipe
- ↑ https://www.gearpatrol.com/home/a37530173/how-to-clean-a-bong/
- ↑ https://archives.boulderweekly.com/features/weed-between-the-lines/dangers-dirty-bongs/
About This Article
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