There’s nothing like smoking out of a clean, smooth, pipe. Some people make a ritual out of cleaning their pipes daily while other like them more, let’s say, marinated. No matter how marinated you like it, you’ll still need to know how to clean a glass pipe effectively sooner or later. The longer you wait before cleaning your pipe, the tougher it will be to clean.

Below I’ll teach you how to make your own cleaning solution and at the end I’ll share with you a trick so you can smoke what you clean. If you want to save time then I suggest you check out some of the best bong cleaners out there right now.

Pre-Cleaning

Good pre-cleaning will make rest of the process go quicker. If you can take apart your piece into smaller pieces, do so, and rinse off as much of the gunk of as you can. Hot water will help loosen the resin and you may also want to consider using a pipe cleaner, test tube cleaner, or Q-Tips. After rinsing your glass it’s time to get your cleaning solution ready.

Bong Cleaning Solutions

There are many commercial cleaning solutions out there such as Formula 420 but we recommend that you make your own since it’s so easy and cheaper. In order to be most effective, cleaning solutions should have both an abrasive and a solvent.

Other Cleaners to Clean a Glass Bong

Res Gel

Res Gel is a revolutionary product that makes it easier than ever to clean your pieces except without the harsh smells, scrubbing salts and mess. Res Gel comes in an easy to pour pouch that doubles as a “Shake-a-Bag”. You can pour some of the gel into your bong and then open the top of the pouch and throw in your bowl or stem. Res Gel is environmentally friendly and won’t leave scratches on your glass like some of the scrubbing salts-based cleaners.

Res Caps

Also from Resolution, a great product to have so you don’t get any Res Gel, or any cleaner, on your hands: Res Caps. Res Caps are silicone covers that go over the mouthpiece and hole where the stem goes so you can clean your pieces without getting cleaner or gel on your hands. You fill your bong with cleaner, put the caps on all the openings of your piece, and then shake! You don’t get anything on your hands and your bong looks brand new!

Abrasive

• Rice
• Epsom Salt
• Sea Salt
• Table Salt
• Baking Soda

Solvents

• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Vinegar
• Lemon Juice
• Dish Soap
• Water

Some websites suggest using household cleaners such as OxiClean or CLR. We recommend not using them to avoid inhaling harmful chemicals.

Soaking Your Bong

The easiest way of soaking your pipe with the cleaning solution is to put it into a ziplock bag.

After you add your cleaning solution you’re going to want to let it soak for at least 30 mins before shaking it. Continue shaking and swirling until all the gunk has come off your bong or pipe and has dissolved into the liquid.

Final Rinse

Now you’re going to want to rinse your pipe with hot water. At this point, some people like to stick it in the dishwasher or pot of boiling water to sanitize. I don’t think it isn’t necessary because the high heat from the boiling water may make the glass fragile and you don’t want your dishwasher smelling like weed.

Congratulations! Now you know how to clean a glass pipe and you can sit back and smoke a smooth bowl out of your freshly cleaned piece. If you just cleaned a water pipe, don’t forget to use Rez Block to prevent resin from sticking and to make future cleaning easier.