If you enjoy smoking herb or tobacco from a glass bong, you probably know how important it is to keep your piece clean and fresh. A dirty bong can ruin your smoking experience, making it harsher, less flavorful, and more harmful to your health. That’s why you should change the water in your bong regularly and deep clean it once in a while. But how often exactly should you do that? And what are the best methods to clean a glass bong? In this blog post, we’ll answer these questions and give you some tips on how to properly clean any type of glass bong.
Why you need to change the water in your glass bong
The water in your glass bong serves two main purposes: it filters out some of the tar and toxins from the smoke, and it cools down the smoke to make it smoother and easier to inhale. However, as you smoke, the water also collects a lot of dirt, bacteria, mold, and debris from the smoke and the environment. This can affect the quality of your smoke in several ways:
- It can make the smoke taste bad, stale, or musty.
- It can make the smoke smell unpleasant or funky.
- It can make the smoke harsher, causing coughing or irritation.
- It can increase the risk of infections or respiratory problems.
Changing the water in your glass bong regularly can prevent these issues and ensure you get the best possible smoking experience. It can also help extend the life of your glass bong by preventing buildup of resin and gunk that can clog or damage it.
How often should you change the water in your glass bong
The general rule of thumb is to change the water in your glass bong after every smoke session. This means that every time you finish smoking, you should pour out the dirty water and rinse your bong with fresh water. This will keep your bong clean and ready for the next time you want to use it.
If you smoke frequently or share your bong with others, you may want to change the water more often, such as before and after each use. This will ensure that you always get fresh and clean smoke, and that you don’t spread any germs or bacteria among users.
If you don’t smoke very often or store your bong away when not in use, you may be able to change the water less frequently, such as once a week or once a month. However, you should always check the water before smoking and make sure it’s clear and odorless. If it looks cloudy, murky, or discolored, or if it smells bad or funky, you should definitely change it before smoking.
How to deep clean your glass bong
Changing the water in your glass bong regularly is a good habit, but it’s not enough to keep your bong completely clean. Over time, resin and tar will accumulate on the walls and crevices of your bong, making it harder to draw smoke and affecting its taste and smell. That’s why you should also deep clean your glass bong once in a while, using some simple ingredients and tools.
There are different methods to deep clean a glass bong, but one of the most common and effective ones is to use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and coarse salt. Here are the basic steps:
- Separate all the moving pieces from the bong, such as the bowl and the stem.
- Rinse out all the pieces in hot water to loosen up any big chunks of resin.
- Knock off any remaining chunks of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners.
- Place the smaller pieces in resealable plastic bags filled with isopropyl alcohol and salt.
- Fill your bong with isopropyl alcohol and salt as well.
- Plug all the holes of your bong with paper towels or plastic wrap.
- Shake all the pieces vigorously for a minute or two to dissolve and dislodge the resin.
- Let all the pieces soak for at least 15 minutes or up to several hours for tough stains.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse all the pieces with warm water and dish soap.
- Dry all the pieces thoroughly with paper towels or air dry them until they don’t smell like alcohol.
You can also use other ingredients instead of alcohol and salt, such as vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, or commercial bong cleaners. However, alcohol and salt are cheap, easy to find, and very effective at removing resin and tar.
How often should you deep clean your glass bong
The frequency of deep cleaning your glass bong depends on how often you smoke and how dirty your bong gets. A good rule of thumb is to deep clean your glass bong roughly once a week if you smoke daily, or once a month if you smoke occasionally. However, you should also pay attention to the signs that your bong needs a deep cleaning, such as:
- The water turns brown or black quickly after changing it.
- The bong has a strong or unpleasant odor even after rinsing it.
- The bong has visible stains or buildup of resin on the walls or crevices.
- The bong is hard to draw smoke from or makes gurgling noises.
- The smoke tastes bad, stale, or harsh.
If you notice any of these signs, you should deep clean your bong as soon as possible to restore its functionality and quality.
Conclusion
Keeping your glass bong clean and fresh is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also of health and enjoyment. By changing the water in your glass bong regularly and deep cleaning it once in a while, you can ensure that you get the safest, smoothest, and most flavorful smoke possible. You can also prolong the life of your glass bong and prevent any damage or clogging. All you need is some simple ingredients and tools, and a few minutes of your time. Try it out and see the difference for yourself!
