How to Clean Your Bong with Isopropyl Alcohol and Coarse Salt

by Briana Hertenstein

Hand pipes covered in sticky resin? Bongs / water pipes reek of mildew? Our best bet: it’s time to give your babies a well-deserved wash, and you probably should’ve done it a while ago.

Along with the obvious cosmetic, aesthetic issues that come with using a dirty piece, there are hidden dangers that lay beneath. Mildew, fungi and bacteria are commonly found lurking within unkempt bong water. Inhaling these toxins can cause serious illnesses and irreparable damage - to avoid this, you (ideally) should clean/rinse your glass pieces after each use. It also helps avoid a thicker buildup, becoming a less time-consuming wash. 

So, you’ve let some time pass - changed the water a couple of times and start to notice a tar-like resin buildup. The following text provides a step by step how-to process in getting your pieces from dirt and mildew to brand new, using items you may already have at home.


WHAT YOU’LL NEED 

  • Plastic bag with zipper closure (large enough to fit entire glass piece)
  •  ¼ cup of coarse sea salt (potentially more as needed)
  • 90%+ Isopropyl alcohol (enough to fully submerge piece inside bag)
  • Warm water
  • Bath / sink / rinsing area

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Remove bowl piece and downstem, set aside
  2. Gently place water pipe into plastic bag
  3. Pour course salt first, then isopropyl alcohol into mouthpiece and/or water chamber
  4. Seal bag 
  5. HOLD TIGHT onto the top and bottom of the piece as you vigorously shake up and down for at least 2 minutes, letting the mixture set into all possible crevices
  6. Let sit (fully submerged) for at least 3 hours while returning every 45 minutes to give your piece another 1 minute shake (3-6hr soak time depending on amount of build-up) 
  7. After at least 3 hours have passed, residue has started to subside and the isopropyl mixture is brown in color - pour out the liquid (preferably into a toilet and flush it)
  8. Use a scrub-brush to remove the last of the build-up
  9. Rinse thoroughly with warm-hot water and let dry upside-down over a clean towel
  • Repeat process for bowl pieces and down stem in separate bags to avoid glass breakage.
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