Did you know that a dirty bong plays the perfect host to a number of bacteria, fungi, and pathogens? Continuing to smoke from a bong that has developed its own harmful ecosystem can lead to respiratory problems like strep throat.

If you love and use your glass bong, you need to know how to clean a glass bong. Besides the health issues a dirty bong can pose, they’re simply gross to look at and gross to use.

There are a number of ways to clean a glass bong, most of which involve cleaning agents and tools that you probably have lying around at home.

Let’s take a look at several different ways that you can clean a glass bong so that it looks, smells, and functions like it’s brand spanking new.

Hey, What About Silicone Bongs?

Why are we focusing on glass bongs rather than including its newer cousin, the silicone bong? There are two reasons.

The first is that silicone bongs are remarkably easy to clean. You can put a silicone bong in the dishwasher and it will come out clean. They’re hard to break, so there’s not a whole lot of worry there.

The second is that while silicone bongs are easier to clean, they’re just not as good or long-lasting. Glass bongs like the ones made by Grav Labs are more attractive, more durable, and possibly even safer to use. Just because something is a little more work doesn’t mean it isn’t the better option!

How to Clean a Glass Bong

Before trying any of these bong cleaning methods, make sure that you have disassembled your bong appropriately. Take out the bowl and down stem and set them aside in a safe place. These pieces will also need a thorough cleaning and probably have the biggest resin buildup of all the components.

Now, let’s take a look at three different methods you can use to clean your glass bong. Note that while the cleaning agents and methods may differ, you’re still going to want to have a pipe cleaner on hand for each of these methods. Using a pipe cleaner will allow you to scrape away at the stuck-on resin that doesn’t want to dissolve right away.

Boiling Water

If you know that your bong is sturdy, you can use very hot water to clean it. The risk-factor here is that if the water is too hot, the glass can crack and if the water isn’t hot enough, the bacteria and other funky stuff won’t 100% dissipate. However, if you don’t have anything else on hand, this method is worth a shot.

Fill a large stockpot (that is large enough to hold your bong) with water and bring it to a boil. Once the water is rolling, reduce it to a simmer so you’re still getting some bubbling action but it isn’t scalding hot. Having set aside the bowl and down stem, carefully place the bong into the hot water.

After half an hour, remove the bong and use your pipe cleaner to clean out the softened resin. Then, at a reduced temperature, soak your bowl and down stem in the pot. You can also add fresh lemon juice to the water to get a more well-rounded clean.

Salt and Warm Water

If you’re not interested in playing with boiling water but don’t have isopropyl alcohol on hand, there’s another solution that involves coarse sea salt and warm water.

First, grab a resealable plastic sandwich bag and fill it with warm tap water. If you don’t have a plastic bag on hand, you can use a bowl, but beware the lingering resin smell.

Next, pour about half a tablespoon of salt into your bowl and your down stem. Place the pieces into the bag and seal it, allowing it to sit for 30 minutes.

Then, put about one tablespoon of coarse sea salt into the bong, itself. Fill it about one-third with warm water.

If you have bong plugs, now would be a good time to break them out. If not, use your hands to create a seal over the mouthpiece and the joint.

Next, shake the bong for five to ten minutes. Pour the dirty water out into the toilet and repeat these steps if necessary.

Once you’ve got your bong and attachments looking clean, finish up with a pipe cleaner.

Salt and Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is the most tried and true of all the bong cleaning agents on this list. You want to find a brand that is 90% alcohol, although the minimum you can buy that will do the trick is 71%.

To complete this method, you’re going to follow the same steps as above with warm water and salt. The difference is that the alcohol is going to do a better job of cleaning than plain warm water will. Chances are, you won’t have to repeat the cycle as many times in order to achieve a good clean.

Remember to add the salt before you add the alcohol. If you dump your sea salt into a pool of alcohol, it’s going to dissolve before it performs any of the scrubbing action you need it to perform.

Keep Your Bong Clean for Better, Healthier Use

Knowing how to clean a glass bong is an important part of being a responsible smoker. Dirty bongs are breeding grounds for all sorts of living organisms that are dangerous to your health. If your glass bong is clean, you can rest assured that you’re not inhaling toxins and other unwanted substances.

Do you like to stay informed and up to date in all facets of life? Are you the kind of person that wants to make sure that everything is done the right way? Check out the rest of our posts and see what other information we have that can improve your life!