How to Clean a Bong: Maintaining Your Glass

For some travelers, a bong and plenty of flower is the best way to reach zen. Getting there uninterrupted, though, means cleaning your glass regularly. It may not be exciting, but it’s necessary. With our guide on how to clean a bong, you’ll see how easy it can be.

Cleaning your bong, step by step

Gather supplies

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and coarse salt is a tried-and-true combination for a reason. The alcohol is a strong cleaner, and the salt adds an abrasive factor that helps remove even the toughest gunk.

Whatever rubbing alcohol you already have on hand should do the trick, but 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol is especially effective. As for the salt, Epsom salt is best, but sea salt works in a pinch. Alternatively, if you prefer a product made specifically for cleaning bongs. Formula 420 is a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner that many consider the best in show.

Alongside cleaning supplies, you’ll need plastic storage zipper bags, paper towels or microfiber cloths, and pipe cleaners or cotton swabs. The plastic bags are for soaking your bong, bowl, and downstem, the pipe cleaners are for scrubbing hard-to-reach spots, and the paper towels are for lint-free drying afterward. Some folks also use wine corks to plug the downstem during cleaning, and rubber or latex gloves to minimize skin irritation.

Empty out the bowl

Remove anything that’s easy to brush out — like old flower or ash — from the bowl. This ensures a close clean without bits of flower interfering.

Prepare for cleaning

Remove all parts that can be taken off your glass piece. Rinse each of these bong parts under hot water to flush out any excess debris to speed along the cleaning process.

Add the rubbing alcohol or salt (or cleaner)

Mix your alcohol and salt in a ratio of three-to-one or one-to-one. A three-to-one alcohol-to-salt ratio means adding one-third cup of salt to one cup of alcohol, whereas a one-to-one ratio means using equal amounts of each. Ideally, you’ll use enough salt to get in all of your bong’s nooks and crannies.

Add your alcohol-salt solution (or bong cleaner) to your bong. Then, place all pieces in the plastic bag(s) and add plenty of solution — don’t get cheap here. Shake each bag with enough force that the solution thoroughly abrades each piece, but not hard enough to potentially break your glass (like slamming it on the counter).

From there, while plugging your bong’s openings, shake it vigorously to get the solution everywhere and abrade off buildup via the salt. Do the same with your plastic bags (no need to plug any openings since the bag does that for you). Shake for as long as necessary based on how much buildup there is — 30 seconds to five minutes is ideal. Got stubborn spots? Break out the pipe cleaners and get to work.

Rinse with hot water and let it dry

Once everything looks clean and clear enough for your liking, rinse your bong and its parts out with hot water. Use pipe cleaners again to clear out any residue that remains. Let everything air-dry for a while, then use paper towels or microfiber cloths to dry everything completely. You should be left with a bong (and parts) you can look through as clearly as the windows on your plane to paradise.

Can you soak your bong in rubbing alcohol?

Yes, you can soak your glass bong in rubbing alcohol, but you’re best off doing this only for an especially dirty bong. In that case, after you shake your bong while it’s filled with alcohol and salt, let it sit for about 30 minutes (or even longer if it’s really bad). Then, rinse and repeat if necessary, or move on to the final hot water rinse and drying steps.

How often should you clean your bong?

If you take hits from your bong every once in a while, give it a good salt-and-alcohol shake every couple of uses. If you’re a more frequent flyer, though, cleaning your bong every few days is ideal.

Is bong cleaner necessary?

No, bong cleaner isn’t necessary, but some people prefer it to alcohol and salt. If you do want to use a cleaner, choose one that’s non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for your bong’s material.

How to clean a bong made of silicone or metal

Since silicone and metal are different materials than glass, they have different chemical reactions to the products often suggested for cleaning glass. For example, the alcohol-and-salt method for cleaning a glass bong is a non-starter for silicone bongs — alcohol can weaken silicone’s structure.

To clean a silicone bong, place it in boiling water. A vinegar soak following a boil can help clean silicone bongs too, but this is optional. If boiling water feels a bit dangerous to you, freeze your silicone bong while it’s dry, then chip away at any frozen-on resin afterward. Looking for the simplest way forward? A hand wash with dish soap, hot water, and a scrubbing brush often does the trick, as does simply running your silicone bong through your dishwasher.

For metal bongs, the alcohol cleaning method for a glass bong is fair game. So are the boiling and handwashing methods for silicone bongs. One important caveat with metal, though: Always dry it immediately and thoroughly. If not, your bong could rust.

Tips for keeping your bong clean

Smooth sailing is more likely if you take these steps to always keep your bong clean.

Add new water before every session. As stagnant water sits in your bong, all the resin and other muck in it gradually sticks. Not to mention, it gets pretty gross. Swap out your water before every session for a cleaner bong each time (and in the long run).

Couple water with ice. This tip only works for bongs with an ice catcher in the neck. Add ice to these bongs for two benefits: a silky-smooth smoking experience and less resin buildup in your bong’s neck. As the ice melts, it brings resin into the base with it, meaning the usual buildup goes out when you dump your stagnant water.

Use a bong screen. These small filters go at the base of your bowl, below where you put your ground flower. They catch tiny particles that contribute to all that buildup in your bong. Swap out your current screen for a new one every three or so hits for best results.

Clear skies await at The Travel Agency

A clean bong, high-quality flower, and a state-of-the-art grinder make for blissful travels — and you can find all these items at The Travel Agency. Browse our menu to place your order, then visit us at our cannabis dispensaries in Union Square, Downtown Brooklyn, or Fifth Avenue for your one-way ticket to paradise. Our sanctuary can be yours too.