Are you expecting a new bong under the tree this year? If you want to make the most of what Santa left you, you must keep the bong clean. It won’t take long for a new, pristine bong to become a cesspool; luckily, it won’t take long for you to clean it, either!
What Do I Need To Clean My Bong?
Cleaning a bong doesn’t require a lot of specialized equipment. You probably have what you need around the house!
- Coarse sea salt
- 99% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
- Two large resealable storage bags
- Rubber stoppers or bong plugs sized to your mouthpiece and downstem
- Towel
Remove The Bowl & Downstem
Take the bowl and downstem out from the bong and place each in its own resealable bag. Placing them in separate bags makes sure that the two pieces won’t damage or break each other when you shake them up; it also makes the cleaning more thorough.
Place The Bowl & Downstem In Bags With Rubbing Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol – better known as rubbing alcohol – and salt are the best ingredients; you can buy a bong-specific cleaning solution, but that’s unnecessarily costly. Pour a handful of coarse salt into each resealable bag and add rubbing alcohol until you’ve fully submerged the bowl and downstem. Shake the bags.
Pour Out The Old Bong Water
Start the process of cleaning the bong itself by pouring the old water out of your bong into the sink. If you use a bong regularly, changing the water every day will prevent an excess resin from bong smoke building up on the glass; it also maintains the flavour and smoothness of the smoke.
Pour Salt & Alcohol Into The Bong
Next, pour coarse salt into the bong, coating the bottom of the base. Pour about ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol into the bong and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
Plug The Holes
Plug the openings of the bong mouthpiece and downstem with your rubber stoppers or bong plugs. Standard rubber stoppers will be good enough, but you can purchase standard-size plugs and caps from a local head shop.
Shake Your Bong
Once you have the openings plugged, shake it up! Much like what you did with the bowl and downstem, shaking is the best way to remove any resin that builds on the glass. Shake it well until you can see the resin starting to come off; once you’re happy with the amount that has come off the glass, pour out the alcohol and sea salt.
Rinse The Bong, Downstem, & Bowl
Once you’ve cleared most of the resin from your bong, downstem, and bowl, use hot water to rinse them off. Lightly shake the bong as you rinse to wash off the residual resin. If you find there’s still some resin after rinsing, repeat the steps until you’ve flushed it out completely.
If you have a bong with extra filters or features that are hard to reach, use pipe cleaners or cotton swabs to tackle any stubborn bits.
Wipe The Bong Down Or Let It Air Dry
All that’s left is drying the glass! If you need to use your bong immediately, you can wipe down the outside with a clean paper towel or dish towel. If not, leave it to air dry.
Why Is Cleaning My Bong So Essential?
A clean bong eliminates the risk of contracting a respiratory or lung infection. Stagnant bong water can provide many bacteria and fungi with a lovely meal and a home. Yeasts and other microorganisms may also grow in the water you leave in your bong. None of these should be getting in your smoke!
Cleaning your bong also ensures a smooth experience, something you probably have a bong for in the first place! When it’s clean, the percolator – the part that contains the water – can work at its best, helping you get the smoothest smoke possible.