The Best Way To Clean a Bong
1. How to Clean a Bong With Bong Cleaner
What’s the best way to clean a bong? With bong cleaner of course!
Remove your glass bong accessories (downstem, pull-out, etc.), set them aside, and empty the bong water out of your water pipe. Next, pour your bong-cleaning solution into the chamber of the water pipe. Avoid spilling it on any external finishes or decals. Add some coarse salt if your cleaner doesn’t have cleaning crystals or anything abrasive. This will help remove any ash or resin from the walls of the bong.
Shake your water pipe to clean it with the bong cleaner. You can cover the mouthpiece and joint to keep the bong cleaner inside, but we recommend a set of Silicone Cleaning Caps. They make cleaning much easier, and you can use them to transport your water pipe with water inside of it!
Once you’ve shaken your bong for several minutes, rinse it with water. Ensure you’ve rinsed out any traces of the cleaning solution before refilling the water chamber!
Which Bong Cleaner Should I Use?
Learning how to clean a bong at home? A bong cleaner has everything you need to get started.
If you’re looking for the best bong cleaner, try Red Eye Glass® Instant Cleaner or GEAR Premium® 1-Minute Instant Cleaner. These high-powered liquids feature a bong cleaning solution designed specifically for glass and include cleaning crystals to access hard-to-reach spots on your water pipe to remove unwanted resin and debris.
Red Eye Glass®
Instant Cleaner
GEAR Premium®
1-Minute Instant Cleaner
How to Clean a Bong With Household Items
2. How to Clean a Bong With Isopropyl Alcohol and Salt
Should I use isopropyl alcohol to clean my bong? You can, but remember to avoid any external finishes or decals! Isopropyl is a heavy-duty solvent which can damage decals and wear through certain finishes.
Remove accessories like the pull-out and downstem from your water pipe, and empty the bong water from the chamber. Add the isopropyl alcohol and add coarse salt for an even better clean.
Secure the openings of the joint and mouthpiece, and shake the bong for several minutes. Ensure the coarse salt has access to all parts of your water pipe including percolators or multiple chambers.
Pour out the isopropyl and salt and rinse out the inside with water. After you clean your bong with isopropyl, it can smell like alcohol so make sure you rinse it a few times! After that, refill the chamber with water and enjoy your fresh new bong.
3. How to Clean a Bong With Baking Soda
Cleaning out your bong with baking soda is eco-friendly and easy if you already have baking soda at home.
Take out the bowl and downstem and pour out any leftover bong water in the chamber. Since baking soda is not as strong as bong cleaner or isopropyl, you should pre-rinse with some warm water to remove as much buildup as possible.
Pour some hot water into your bong and add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Be careful not to overheat the water because boiling water can damage glass! Another option is to use vinegar instead of water for a little extra kick.
Cover the joint and mouthpiece holes of the water pipe and shake for several minutes. You should see the chamber walls of your water pipe coated with the baking soda paste. Let it soak for 2-3 hours, and then rinse off the paste with warm water. Refill the chamber when you’re done and voila, your bong is clean and ready for use!
4. How to Clean a Bong With Hot Water and Salt
If you want to know how to clean a bong with household items, this might be your best bet!
Remove the downstem and bowl and place them to the side. Pour out the bong water and rinse the inside of the bong to remove any excess residue. Heat your water, but be careful! Boiling water can damage your glass.
Pour the hot water into the bong and add some coarse salt for texture. That will help remove any unwanted particulates clinging to the inside of the bong. Seal the joint and mouthpiece openings with your hand or a set of Silicone Cleaning Caps, and shake the bong for several minutes.
Pour out the water and salt when you’re finished cleaning your bong. Once you’ve rinsed the salt out of the water pipe, refill the chamber with water and your bong is as good as new.
5. How to Clean a Bong With Boiling Water
When most people learn how to clean a dirty bong, they’re told to use boiling water.
Don’t do it.
High-quality bongs are made of 100% borosilicate glass for improved temperature resistance and durability. Unfortunately, they can still be prone to thermal shock. When you pour boiling water onto glass, it causes tiny air bubbles in the glass to rapidly expand. That can cause cracking or small fractures which will weaken your glass.
If you insist on using boiling water to clean your bong, do it as safely as possible. Slowly raise the temperature of your water pipe by running it underwater to reduce the risk of thermal shock. Also, avoid pouring the water directly on the joint or percolator.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Extra Tips
How to Clean a Bong Bowl
An easy way to clean a bong pull-out is to place it in a Ziploc baggie. Add bong cleaner and let it soak for several minutes. Shake gently and run the bong bowl under water to remove the cleaner when you’re done.
You can also add some coarse salt to the Ziploc baggie to make it easier to clean your bong bowl.
How to Clean a Bong Downstem
The best way to clean a bong downstem is to put it in a Ziploc bag. You can reuse the same baggie that you used to clean your bong pull-out!
Pour some bong cleaner into the bag and allow it to soak for several minutes. Gently shake the bag before removing the downstem, and rinse the bong downstem in water to remove any excess cleaner.
How to Clean a Silicone Bong
How do you clean a silicone bong? In the easiest way possible!
High-quality silicone bongs are made of BPA-free, food-safe material that can be washed in the dishwasher. Do a pre-rinse to remove any excess resin or ash, and then disassemble the water pipe before adding it to the dishwasher. Be sure to secure any small parts, especially if they are breakable like a glass bowl or a glass downstem.