It’s easy to overlook the need to clean your bongs and pipes—until it isn’t. Gunk and resin eventually build up to such an extent that they can not only affect the flavor of your bud but also how well your unit works. It can be a bit of a drag, but taking the time to clean your bong every once in a while is well worth it. Here’s our quick guide on how to clean a bong.
Is It Time to Clean Your Bong?
If you’ve ever taken a rip from a dirty bong then you know just how much resin buildup can affect the flavor of your cannabis. A dirty bong can even be a health concern. Inhaling bacteria, mold, or fungi that have collected in the moist environment provided by the inside of your bong may eventually affect the health of your lungs.
So when should you clean your bong? Some experts recommend cleaning it at least once per week, but if you use it less frequently then such an aggressive approach may not be necessary. One thing’s for sure though. When you start to see a ring forming around the waterline of your bong, or when you start seeing floating gunk in your water after filling your bong up, it’s definitely time to give your unit a good cleaning.
How to Clean a Glass Bong
There are a number of different bong cleaning products on the market but most experts recommend a simple mixture of isopropyl alcohol.
Just empty out your bong, remove the bowl, and rinse it out with warm water. Then, add some 90% isopropyl alcohol and some coarse salt inside the bong. Plug the holes and shake it all up to get that grime loose on the inside. Shake it for about 5 minutes for best results. After, just dump out the mixture and rinse the bong out real well with warm water. If there’s still buildup remaining on the inside of the unit then you may have to repeat the process.
Wondering how to clean a glass bong without alcohol? There are multiple bong cleaning solutions you can use instead that you should be able to find online or at your local head shop or dispensary.
You also shouldn’t use alcohol to clean latex, acrylic or silicone bongs since the liquid can strip the material. Instead just use hot water and pipe cleaners to clean it out. Silicone bongs can also be cleaned with dish soap and warm water or be put into the dishwasher.
How to Clean a Bong Bowl
It isn’t just the bong itself that you’ll want to clean, but also the bowl. What are your options when it comes to how to clean a bong bowl?
The best is to use the same isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt method but inside a plastic ziplock bag. Just place your bowl inside the bag and fill it up with enough isopropyl alcohol to cover it completely, then add a tablespoon of salt. Shake the bag for about 10 seconds and let it sit for a few minutes. Make sure to rinse the bowl out well after you take it out of the bag.
How to Clean a Bong: Final Thoughts
Cleaning a bong might be a chore you’d rather put off, but regular cleaning of your bongs will not only extend their useful life but protect you from any bacteria or particulates that can accumulate in dirty bong water.
Now that you know how to clean a glass bong and how to clean a bong bowl, you can get back to enjoying the full freshness and flavor of your favorite cannabis. Come by our dispensary or browse our online menu right now to shop an impressive collection of potent cannabis flower and other cannabis goodies. We hope to see you soon!
