A Clean Bong Is a Happy Bong: A Step-By-Step Guide to Cleaner Glass
Until the day a genie from a magic bong grants you self-cleaning glass…keeping your pieces clean is up to you.
But it’s a chore that comes with some major benefits, like better tasting hits and a longer lifespan for your bongs and bubblers. Plus, with these cannabis cleaning tips and step-by-step guides, you’ll be up and smoking in no time. So bust out your frilliest apron, and let’s get cleaning.
Why Cleanliness Matters
I mean, you don’t want to be gross. But beyond that, there are some legit, concrete reasons to prioritize clean glass.
Improved Performance & Flavor: If you’re paying for anything better than bottom-tier ditch weed, it deserves to be tasted and enjoyed. A dirty piece will ruin all those delightful terpenes and subtle flavors that make good weed worth its weight in gold. Clean pieces are the key, from bowl to chamber to mouthpiece.
Hygiene & Health: Bacteria, mold, and fungi can grow in neglected accessories, especially in water pieces. We’re talking real nasties like E. Coli, hepatitis A, streptococcus, mycotoxins, and black mildew. When you take a hit, anything in that bong or bubbler dive bombs your lungs which can cause strep throat, pneumonia, or lung infections. So here’s your rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t drink out of it, you shouldn’t smoke out of it.
Prolonged Lifespan: Your prize piece won’t be a prize anymore if it’s clogged downstem and has permanent brown staining. Regular cleaning will keep your bongs and pipes looking fresh-out-of-the-box for longer.
Dirty Pieces Are Gross: Just to reiterate.
Essential Cleaning Supplies
The Best Cleaning Solutions for Resin Buildup Removal
The primary culprit for stubborn stains on glass is a sticky resin that clings to the glass like an ex who won’t get the hint. So you’ll need something with more oomph than soap and water. These are our top recommendations.
Grunge Off Super Soaker Cleaner
Cleaning your pipes is seriously effortless with Grunge Off. It doesn’t have any abrasive additives, so it won’t ever scratch your glass. But it dissolves resin-like magic. Plus it’s reusable, so you can pour it right back in the bottle for the next time you have gunky glass.
And while it’s formulated for glass, it works with most surfaces.
Isopropyl Alcohol & Salt
Chances are you have some primo glass cleaning materials at home already. The old tried-and-true combo is isopropyl alcohol and coarse kosher salt. The alcohol helps to break down resin, and the salt creates friction that pulls any remnants away from the glass surface.
Pick an isopropyl alcohol above 90% to get the most effective cleaning power.
Distilled Water
Whatever you use to clean your piece, you’re going to need something to rinse your piece after. Tap water will leave water spots, giving you a less-than-sparkling finish on your newly cleaned glass. Hard water can even leave calcium or lime deposits. So stick to distilled water for the final rinse.
What About Boiling Water?
Some people like to pour boiling water into their bongs to loosen buildup, but it wouldn’t be our top recommendation. Dramatic temperature changes can damage glass. And while high-quality glass (ahem, like GRAV) can usually withstand the heat, it’s a risk you might not want to take with a prized piece.
Other Helpful Tools in Your Arsenal
There are a few more tools you may want to pick up for a well-stocked cleaning cabinet.
-
Pipe Cleaners or Cotton Swabs: If you need to scrub any stubborn stains in downstems, percolators, or bowls
-
Resealable Bags or Containers: For soaking your pipes.
-
Soft-Bristled Brushes: To scrub wider areas like bong necks. Look for something with a long handle for better access.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Guides for Pipes, Bongs, & Bubblers
How to Clean a Glass Pipe or One-Hitter
- Remove loose debris: Gently tap your piece on a rolling mat or other soft surface to shake out any ash or leftover plant matter.
- Grunge Off soak: Place your hand pipe or one-hitter in a sealable bag or a container with a lid and let soak. Lightly soiled pieces may come clean within a few minutes, while super dirty pieces can soak overnight.
OR ISO alcohol & salt soak: Place your pipe or one-hitter in a resealable bag and cover with isopropyl alcohol. Add a couple of tablespoons of coarse kosher salt. Shake it up so the salt agitates the resin, then let it sit for 30 minutes (or longer for tough stains).
-
Scrub (if necessary): If any nooks and crannies won’t come clean, use a pipe cleaner or cotton swab to scrub them away.
-
Final rinse & dry: Rinse with distilled water and let air dry.
How to Clean a Bubbler or Dab Rig
-
1Empty the used water & rinse: Remove any leftover water and rinse with warm water.
-
Fill with Grunge Off & soak: Pour enough Grunge Off into your bubbler or dab rig to submerge the downstem and inner chamber. Soak until the resin is dissolved.
OR fill with ISO alcohol and salt: Pour enough isopropyl alcohol into your bubbler until it’s about half full. Add a few tablespoons of coarse kosher salt. Cover any openings with your hands or cleaning plugs, and shake shake shake. Then let it sit for about 30 minutes.
-
Scrub (if necessary): Use a pipe cleaner or a soft-bristled brush to scrub any remaining resin.
-
Final Rinse & Dry: Rinse with distilled water and let air dry.
*Pro tip for super stubborn stains on hand pipes and small bubblers: Try putting small glass pieces or accessories in the microwave for about 30 seconds to thin the oils before the soaking step.
How to Clean a Bong
-
Empty the used water & rinse: Remove any leftover water and rinse with warm water.
-
Fill with Grunge Off & soak: Pour enough Grunge Off into your bong to submerge the downstem and inner chamber. Soak until the resin is dissolved.
OR fill with ISO alcohol and salt: Pour enough isopropyl alcohol into your bubbler until it’s about half full. Add a few tablespoons of coarse kosher salt. Cover any openings with your hands or cleaning plugs, and shake shake shake. Then let it sit for about 30 minutes.
-
Clean accessories: While your bong is soaking, repeat the process with accessories like downstems, bowls, or removable percolators. If you’re using the isopropyl alcohol method, give each item its own bag so you can shake it safely. If you’re using Grunge Off, you can soak items together in the same container.
-
Scrub (if necessary): Use a pipe cleaner or a soft-bristled brush to scrub any remaining resin from the glass.
-
Final Rinse & Dry: Rinse with distilled water and let air dry.
How to Clean Silicone Pieces
If your glass comes wrapped in protective silicone, you may want to give it a clean as well. Here are three methods you can use with GRAV’s food-grade silicone.
Hand Wash
Some silicone pieces are for external protection, so they aren’t getting as much direct contact with smoke and resin. For these pieces, hand washing with dish soap and warm water will do the trick. Scrub them with a soapy brush or toothbrush to get into all the little crevices. Then rinse well and let air dry.
Boiling Water
For pieces that get up close and personal with resin (like the silicone downstem on the GRAV Deco Beaker), a little heat may help. Start by hand washing your pieces before dropping them into a pot of boiling water. Let them boil away for a few minutes; then fish them out with a slotted spoon. Any remaining gunk should be loose enough now that a good scrub will finish the job. Then rinse and let dry.
Dishwasher
Quality silicone like GRAV’s is dishwasher safe. So if you have a big stash, you may want to go this route.
Keep in mind that some of those pieces are pretty small. You’ll want to secure them in the silverware compartment to keep them from flying all over the dishwasher while it’s running. And don’t run your silicone load along with last night’s dinner dishes, so you don’t get resin on the forks.
Preventing Resin Buildup & Odor
- Maintain your smoking accessories between cleanings to keep them cleaner, longer. Here’s your daily checklist to prevent a funky buildup that will ruin your vibe.
- Use screens or filters: This is a matter of personal preference, but a screen or filter can help prevent herb coming through your bowl to dirty up your bong water.
- Change the water regularly: Fresh sesh? Freshwater.
- Rinse after each use: Give pieces a quick warm water rinse after smoking to prevent excessive buildup.
- Store properly: Keep your pieces in a clean, dry place to avoid dust and bacteria growth.
Proper Storage for Fresh & Functional Accessories
We’ve all been guilty of leaving pipes anywhere and everywhere (on the car dashboard, in the shower, between the couch cushions). But there are some practices for keeping your gear safe and clean.
-
Avoid direct sunlight: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can discolor glass over time. So keep your pieces away from direct sun. Car dashboard = bad.
-
Store in a cool, dry place: Mold and bacteria love moisture, so store your pieces somewhere dry. In the shower = bad.
-
Keep clean glass away from dust and dander: A cabinet or in a protective case is the best storage choice for clean pieces, so they don’t get dusty or broken. Between the couch cushions = bad.
-
Let pieces dry completely before putting them away: So they can’t become a breeding ground for mold.
Start with the Right Glass
Before you break out the Grunge Off, there’s something you should know…high-quality borosilicate glass is easier to clean than cheap glass. Cheap glass is thin, meaning it can shatter during a vigorous shake.
GRAV’s designs are made to be functional and easy to maintain. And they’re made with hefty borosilicate tubing so they can handle all the cleaning you want to throw at them.
Find Your Ritual. Find Your Higher Self with GRAV.
Whether you smoke twice a year, twice a day, or smoking’s not even your thing, GRAV makes something that will elevate your ritual and help you find your higher self. From cutting-edge glassware to premium cannabis accessories, we craft tools designed for every kind of enthusiast. Explore GRAV’s best sellers or dive into our blog for expert guides and cannabis culture insights.
