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 with resin or ash, 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 can use tap water, but purified water is better for preventing mineral buildup.
- Rinse out the pieces in hot water. This will loosen up any of the bigger chunks of resin or ash that may be clogging up your bong. The hotter the water the better, but be careful not to burn yourself or crack the glass. 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 ash 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.
- Clean your bowl and slide regularly. These are the parts that get the dirtiest and cloggiest, so make sure you clean them often. You can use the same method as for cleaning the bong, which we will explain below.
- Use a screen or a filter. This will prevent ash and herb particles from falling into the water and clogging the stem. You can buy metal screens or glass filters at any head shop or online store. They are cheap and easy to use. Just place them inside the bowl before packing it with herb or tobacco.
How to Clean Your Glass Bong When It Gets Clogged or Dirty
If you follow the tips above, you should be able to keep your glass bong relatively clean and unclogged. However, over time, some resin and ash will inevitably accumulate inside the bong, especially if you smoke a lot or use sticky herb or tobacco. When that happens, you will need to give your bong a deep cleaning. Here’s how:
- Gather your supplies. You will need some isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, coarse salt, resealable plastic bags, and some paper towels or rags. You can buy these items at any supermarket or pharmacy. Alternatively, you can use lemon juice and boiling water instead of alcohol and salt.
- 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.
- Clean the slide and bowl. Place these smaller parts in resealable plastic bags. Make sure they can seal effectively. You’ll use the bag to contain your cleaning fluid while you soak the smaller pieces. Fill your plastic bags with isopropyl alcohol and salt, enough to cover the pieces completely. Alcohol reacts with the tar and resin, making it easier to remove, while salt acts as an abrasive agent to scrub away stubborn stains. Seal the bags and shake them vigorously for a minute or two. Then let them soak for at least 15 minutes, or longer if they are very dirty. You can also use lemon juice and boiling water instead of alcohol and salt, but be careful not to burn yourself or melt the plastic bags.
- Clean the bong. Fill your bong with isopropyl alcohol and salt, enough to cover the stem and the bottom of the chamber. Plug the holes with paper towels or rags, and shake the bong vigorously for a minute or two. Then let it soak for at least 15 minutes, or longer if it is very dirty. You can also use lemon juice and boiling water instead of alcohol and salt, but be careful not to burn yourself or crack the glass.
- Rinse everything with warm water. After soaking, pour out the alcohol/salt mixture or the lemon/water mixture from the bags and the bong. Rinse everything with warm water to make sure no alcohol, salt, lemon, or resin are left. You can use a pipe brush or a cotton swab to reach any hard-to-clean spots. Repeat the cleaning process if necessary until everything is sparkling and shiny.
- Let everything dry completely. Before reassembling your bong and using it again, make sure everything is dry. Alcohol and lemon can leave a bad taste and smell if they are not fully evaporated. You can use paper towels or rags to wipe off any excess moisture, and then let everything air dry for an hour or so.
Conclusion
Cleaning a glass bong is not a difficult or expensive task. It will make your smoking experience more enjoyable and healthier. By following the tips and methods we shared in this blog post, you can prevent your glass bong from getting clogged or dirty with resin or ash, and clean it properly when it does. Happy smoking!
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