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If you enjoy smoking herb or tobacco from a bong, you know how important it is to keep it clean and fresh. A dirty bong can ruin the taste of your smoke, harbor bacteria and mold, and even cause respiratory infections. Fortunately, you don’t need to buy expensive or specialized products to clean your bong. 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)
Step 1: Disassemble Your Bong
The first thing you need to do is to take apart your bong as much as possible. Remove all the removable parts, such as the mouthpiece, the pipe, the bowl, and the downstem. Check for any damage or cracks on your bong and replace any broken pieces before using it again. Empty out any old water and herb residue from your bong and rinse it with warm water to get rid of any loose particles.
Step 2: Add an Abrasive and a Cleaner to Your Bong
Next, you need to add something abrasive and something cleaner to your bong base. The abrasive will help scrub off any stubborn stains and residue, while the cleaner will help dissolve and disinfect any dirt and germs. You can use coarse salt, rice, or baking soda as an abrasive, and isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, or dish soap as a cleaner. The stronger the alcohol or vinegar, the better.
Fill your bong base about halfway with warm water and add a generous amount of your abrasive of choice. Then add enough of your cleaner of choice to cover the rest of the water. You can also add some lemon juice or white vinegar for extra shine and freshness.
Step 3: Plug the Holes and Shake It Up
Now comes the fun part. You need to plug all the open holes of your bong with your hands, fingers, thumbs, or some paper towels. Make sure you have a good grip on your bong and that nothing will leak out. Then shake it vigorously for about five minutes or until you see the water turning brown and murky. This means that the abrasive and cleaner are doing their job.
Step 4: Rinse and Repeat
After shaking your bong well, pour out the dirty water into a sink or a bucket and rinse it thoroughly with clean water. Repeat the process as many times as needed until the water runs clear and your bong looks sparkling clean. You can also use some cotton swabs, pipe cleaners, bottle brushes, paper towels, dry cloths, or earbuds to reach any hard-to-clean areas and remove any remaining residue.
Step 5: Clean the Other Parts
Don’t forget to clean the other parts of your bong as well. You can use the same method as above for the mouthpiece, the pipe, the bowl, and the downstem. Just fill a ziplock bag or a container with some warm water, abrasive, and cleaner, and soak the parts for about an hour. Then shake them well and rinse them with clean water. Use some cotton swabs or pipe cleaners to get rid of any gunk inside the parts.
Step 6: Dry and Reassemble Your Bong
The final step is to dry your bong and its parts completely before reassembling it. You can use some paper towels or dry cloths to wipe them down or let them air dry on a rack or a towel. Make sure there is no moisture left inside your bong or its parts to prevent mold growth. Once everything is dry, put your bong back together and enjoy a fresh and smooth smoke.
Tips and Warnings
- Clean your bong regularly to prevent buildup of dirt and germs. Depending on how often you use it, you may want to clean it every few days or once a week.
- Be careful when handling your bong and its parts, especially if they are made of glass. They can break easily if you drop them or apply too much pressure.
- Be conservative with the dish soap if you use it as a cleaner. Too much soap can leave a residue and an unpleasant taste in your bong.
- Don’t use bleach or ammonia as cleaners for your bong. They are too harsh and can damage your bong and your health.
- Don’t use boiling water to clean your bong. It can cause thermal shock and crack your bong.
That’s it! You have successfully cleaned your bong with household items. Now you can enjoy a better tasting and healthier smoke from your bong. Happy smoking!
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