A glass bong is a great way to enjoy your favorite herb or tobacco, but it can also get dirty and smelly over time. The tar and resin that build up inside the bong can affect the flavor and smoothness of your smoke, as well as harbor bacteria and mold. That’s why it’s important to clean your glass bong regularly and properly, using safe and effective methods.
In this blog post, we will show you how to clean a glass bong using different ingredients and tools, depending on what you have at hand and how dirty your bong is. We will also give you some tips on how to prevent your bong from getting too dirty in the first place, and how to store it safely when not in use.
What You Need to Clean a Glass Bong
Before you start cleaning your glass bong, you will need to gather some supplies. Here are some of the most common items you can use to clean a glass bong:
- Isopropyl alcohol: This is the most popular and effective ingredient for cleaning a glass bong. It dissolves the tar and resin, and kills any germs or mold. You can use either 70% or 90% isopropyl alcohol, but the higher the concentration, the better. You can find it in any pharmacy or supermarket.
- Coarse salt: This is not necessary, but it helps to scrub off any stubborn chunks of resin or dirt. You can use any kind of coarse salt, such as kosher salt or sea salt. Avoid using table salt, as it is too fine and will dissolve in the alcohol.
- Vinegar: This is another alternative to alcohol, if you don’t have any or prefer not to use it. Vinegar is acidic and can break down the tar and resin, but it may not be as effective as alcohol. It also has a strong smell that may linger on your bong.
- Baking soda: This is another optional ingredient that can help to remove any stains or odors from your glass bong. Baking soda is alkaline and can neutralize the acidity of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Lemon juice: This is another natural ingredient that can help to clean your glass bong without alcohol. Lemon juice is acidic and can dissolve the tar and resin, as well as add a fresh scent to your bong.
- Bottle brush: This is a handy tool that can help you reach the hard-to-clean areas of your glass bong, such as the stem or the percolator. You can use any kind of bottle brush that fits your bong, or buy one specifically designed for cleaning bongs.
- Pipe cleaner: This is another useful tool that can help you clean the smaller parts of your glass bong, such as the bowl or the slide. You can use any kind of pipe cleaner that is flexible and soft enough to avoid scratching your glass.
- Saucepan: This is an optional tool that you can use to boil water for cleaning your glass bong. Boiling water can help to loosen up any stuck-on resin or dirt, but be careful not to expose your glass bong to sudden temperature changes, as this could cause it to crack or shatter.
How to Clean a Glass Bong with Alcohol and Salt
This is the most common and effective method for cleaning a glass bong. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Separate all the parts of your glass bong. Remove the bowl, the slide, and any other removable parts from your glass bong. This will make it easier to clean each part thoroughly.
- Rinse out the parts in hot water. Run hot water through your glass bong and its parts to remove any loose dirt or ash. The hotter the water, the better, but be careful not to burn yourself or damage your glass. If your glass bong is cold, start with lukewarm water and gradually increase the temperature.
- Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners. If there are any large chunks of resin that you can easily reach, simply knock them off with gentle scrubbing. If a chunk resists, don’t worry. You just want to get rid of the big pieces that could clog your bong.
- Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags. Put the bowl, the slide, and any other small parts in separate plastic bags that can seal tightly. You will use the bags to soak the parts in alcohol and salt.
- Fill your plastic bags with isopropyl alcohol and salt. Pour enough alcohol into each bag to cover the parts completely. Then, add a generous amount of salt to each bag. The salt will act as an abrasive and help to scrub off the resin.
- Shake the bags and let them soak. Seal the bags and shake them vigorously for a minute or two. This will help to distribute the alcohol and salt and dislodge the resin. Then, let the bags sit for at least 15 minutes, or longer if your parts are very dirty. You can also place the bags in a warm place to speed up the process.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse the parts with warm water. After soaking, open the bags and pour out the dirty liquid. Be careful not to spill it on yourself or any surfaces, as it can stain or damage them. Then, rinse the parts with warm water and dish soap to remove any traces of alcohol or salt. Use a bottle brush or a pipe cleaner to scrub any remaining resin or dirt.
- Fill your glass bong with isopropyl alcohol and salt and shake it. Pour enough alcohol into your glass bong to fill it halfway. Then, add a generous amount of salt to it. Cover the holes of your bong with your hands or some plastic wrap, and shake it vigorously for a minute or two. This will help to clean the inside of your bong.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse your glass bong with warm water. After shaking, pour out the dirty liquid from your glass bong. Be careful not to spill it on yourself or any surfaces, as it can stain or damage them. Then, rinse your glass bong with warm water and dish soap to remove any traces of alcohol or salt. Use a bottle brush to scrub any remaining resin or dirt.
- Dry and reassemble your glass bong. Use a clean cloth or paper towel to dry your glass bong and its parts. Make sure there is no moisture left inside or outside your bong, as this could cause mold or bacteria growth. Then, reattach the parts to your glass bong and enjoy a fresh smoke.
How to Clean a Glass Bong without Alcohol
If you don’t have isopropyl alcohol or prefer not to use it, there are other methods you can try to clean your glass bong without alcohol. Here are some of them:
Vinegar and Baking Soda
This is a natural and cheap method that can help to clean your glass bong without alcohol. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Separate all the parts of your glass bong. Remove the bowl, the slide, and any other removable parts from your glass bong. This will make it easier to clean each part thoroughly.
- Rinse out the parts in hot water. Run hot water through your glass bong and its parts to remove any loose dirt or ash. The hotter the water, the better, but be careful not to burn yourself or damage your glass. If your glass bong is cold, start with lukewarm water and gradually increase the temperature.
- Knock off any big pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners. If there are any large chunks of resin that you can easily reach, simply knock them off with gentle scrubbing. If a chunk resists, don’t worry. You just want to get rid of the big pieces that could clog your bong.
- Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags. Put the bowl, the slide, and any other small parts in separate plastic bags that can seal tightly. You will use the bags to soak the parts in vinegar and baking soda.
- Fill your plastic bags with vinegar and baking soda. Pour enough vinegar into each bag to cover the parts completely. Then, add a teaspoon of baking soda to each bag. The vinegar and baking soda will react and create bubbles that will help to loosen up the resin.
- Shake the bags and let them soak. Seal the bags and shake them gently for a minute or two. This will help to distribute the vinegar and baking soda and dislodge the resin. Then
