A bong is a great way to enjoy your herb or tobacco, but it can also get dirty and smelly over time. If you want to keep your bong fresh and flavorful, you need to clean it regularly. But you don’t need to buy expensive or harsh chemicals to do that. You can use some common household items that you probably already have in your kitchen or bathroom. Here are some easy steps to clean your bong with household items.
What You’ll Need
- A bong
- Warm water
- Coarse salt, rice, or baking soda
- Isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, or dish soap
- Cotton swabs, pipe cleaners, bottle brushes, paper towels, dry cloths, or earbuds
- Lemon juice or white vinegar (optional)
- Latex gloves (optional)
Step 1: Empty and Rinse the Bong
The first step is to empty and rinse the bong with warm water. Pour out the old bong water and remove any spent herb or tobacco from the bowl and stem. Then give it a good rinse with warm water to remove any remaining solid particles. You can also use a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to loosen any stubborn residue from the bong parts.
Step 2: Disassemble the Bong
The next step is to take apart the bong so that you can clean each piece separately. Remove all movable parts, such as the bowl, stem, mouthpiece, and percolator if your bong has one. As you take your bong apart, check for any damage such as chips or cracks. You’ll need to replace any broken pieces before using your bong again.
Step 3: Add Coarse Salt and Alcohol to Your Bong
The third step is to add an abrasive and a cleaner into the base of the bong so that they can work together to scrub the inside. Coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol typically work best for this, but you can also use vinegar and rice or baking soda. The stronger the alcohol, the better. Ideally, you would use one over 90%.
Pour some salt into the bong and then fill it with enough alcohol to cover the salt. You can also add some salt and alcohol into a ziplock bag and put the smaller pieces of the bong inside. Make sure the bag is sealed tightly.
Step 4: Plug the Holes and Shake It Up
The fourth step is to plug or block the open holes of the bong so that your abrasive and cleaner don’t spill out. You can use your hands, fingers, and thumbs for this, or you can use some paper towels or dry cloths. If you’re using gloves, make sure they fit well and don’t have any holes.
Shake your bong vigorously for about five minutes to get the best possible result. You can also shake the bag with the smaller pieces inside. You should see the salt and alcohol mixture turn brown as it dissolves the resin and tar from the bong.
Step 5: Rinse and Repeat
The fifth step is to 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 until your bong is sparkling clean. You can also use a cotton swab, pipe cleaner, bottle brush, paper towel, dry cloth, or earbud to remove any remaining residue from the bong parts.
Step 6: Give Your Bong a Nice Shine
The final step is to give your bong a nice shine with some water and lemon juice or white vinegar. This will help remove any water marks and make your bong smell fresh. To do this, soak your bong for 10-15 minutes in warm water and half a lemon’s worth of juice or half a cup of vinegar. Then rinse it well with clean water and dry it thoroughly with a paper towel or dry cloth.
Congratulations! You’ve Cleaned Your Bong with Household Items!
You’ve just learned how to clean your bong with household items. Now you can enjoy your herb or tobacco with a clean and fresh bong. Remember to clean your bong regularly, at least once a week, to keep it in good condition. You can also dump the water after each use and rinse it with warm water to prevent buildup. Happy smoking!
