A glass bong is a great way to enjoy your favorite herb or tobacco, but it can also get dirty and clogged over time. Resin, tar, and bacteria can build up in the bong, affecting the taste, smell, and smoothness of your smoke. Not to mention, a dirty bong can pose health risks, such as infections, mold exposure, and lung irritation.
That’s why it’s important to clean your glass bong regularly and properly. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to do it with simple ingredients and tools that you probably have at home. We’ll also share some tips and tricks to keep your bong sparkling and shiny.
What You’ll Need
To clean a glass bong, you’ll need the following items:
- Isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher is best)
- Coarse salt (such as kosher or sea salt)
- Resealable plastic bags (large enough to fit the smaller parts of your bong)
- Cotton swabs or pipe cleaners
- Tongs or gloves
- Dish soap and warm water
Alternatively, you can use lemon juice and boiling water instead of alcohol and salt. This method is more natural and eco-friendly, but it may not be as effective for very dirty bongs. You’ll also need a saucepan and a stove to boil the water.
Step 1: Prepping the Bong
The first step is to separate all the moving parts from the bong, such as the slide, the bowl, and the stem. These parts are usually more stained and clogged than the rest of the bong, so they need special attention.
Rinse out the pieces in hot water to loosen up any of the bigger chunks of resin that may be blocking the airflow. The hotter the water the better, but be careful not to burn yourself or crack the glass. Use tongs or gloves to grip the piece if you can’t securely hold it. If your piece is cold, start with lukewarm water and slowly raise the temperature.
Knock off any large pieces of resin with cotton swabs or pipe cleaners. If there are any stubborn chunks that resist, don’t worry. You just want to get rid of the easy ones for now.
Place the smaller parts in resealable plastic bags. Make sure that they can seal effectively. You’ll use the bag to contain your cleaning fluid while you soak the smaller pieces.
Step 2: Cleaning the Slide and Bowl
The next step is to clean the slide and bowl, which are usually the dirtiest parts of a glass bong. Here’s how to do it:
- Fill your plastic bags with isopropyl alcohol until the pieces are fully submerged. Alcohol reacts with the tar and resin, making it easier to remove.
- Add some coarse salt to the bags. Salt acts as an abrasive agent that helps scrub away the resin from the glass.
- Seal the bags and shake them vigorously for a minute or two. The alcohol and salt mixture should reach every corner of the piece and dissolve the resin.
- Let the bags sit for some time, depending on how dirty your pieces are. You can leave them for a few hours or even overnight for best results.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Use cotton swabs or pipe cleaners to remove any remaining residue.
If you want to use lemon juice and boiling water instead of alcohol and salt, follow these steps:
- Boil some water in a saucepan and add some lemon juice to it. Lemon juice has citric acid that helps break down the resin.
- Carefully pour the hot water/lemon juice mixture into the bags until the pieces are fully submerged.
- Seal the bags and let them sit for some time. The heat and acidity should loosen up the resin from the glass.
- Pour out the hot water/lemon juice mixture and rinse the pieces with warm water and dish soap. Use cotton swabs or pipe cleaners to remove any remaining residue.
Step 3: Cleaning the Bong
The final step is to clean the bong itself, which is usually easier than cleaning the smaller parts. Here’s how to do it:
- Fill your bong with isopropyl alcohol until it covers the stained areas. You can also add some coarse salt to the bong for extra scrubbing power.
- Cover the holes of the bong with your hands or some plastic wrap and shake it vigorously for a minute or two. The alcohol and salt mixture should reach every part of the bong and dissolve the resin.
- Pour out the alcohol/salt mixture and rinse the bong with warm water and dish soap. Use a bottle brush or a pipe cleaner to remove any remaining residue.
If you want to use lemon juice and boiling water instead of alcohol and salt, follow these steps:
- Boil some water in a saucepan and add some lemon juice to it.
- Carefully pour the hot water/lemon juice mixture into the bong until it covers the stained areas.
- Let the bong sit for some time. The heat and acidity should loosen up the resin from the glass.
- Pour out the hot water/lemon juice mixture and rinse the bong with warm water and dish soap. Use a bottle brush or a pipe cleaner to remove any remaining residue.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to make your glass bong cleaning easier and more effective:
- Change the water in your bong after every smoke session. This will prevent the water from getting stale and full of bacteria and mold.
- Deep clean your bong roughly once a week or more often if you use it a lot. This will ensure you get the best flavor, smell, and smoothness from your smoke.
- For smaller, routine cleanings, you can just rinse out the bong quickly with hot water and dish soap.
- For smaller pieces with tough, thick stains, you can freeze them for 30 minutes before cleaning. This will make the resin brittle and easier to knock off.
- Do not use boiling water on a cold piece, as this can cause it to shatter. Always let the piece warm up gradually before exposing it to high temperatures.
- Do not use abrasive or harsh chemicals on your glass bong, as they can damage or scratch the glass. Stick to natural or gentle ingredients like alcohol, salt, lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda.
Conclusion
Cleaning a glass bong is not hard or expensive. You just need some basic ingredients and tools that you probably have at home. By following these simple steps, you can keep your glass bong clean and safe, and enjoy your herb or tobacco to the fullest.
