How to Clean a Glass Pipe After Smoking Weed

If you are reading this, chances are you are the proud owner of a new glass pipe or you have owned a weed pipe for a while and it needs a good cleaning. In this article, we are going to discuss the bets ways to clean your pipe, and which methods work the best. Depending on how often you use it, the frequency in which you should clean your pipe may vary, but it is always a best practice to clean it after every smoke. By keeping your weed pipe consistently clean, you will enjoy great smoke sessions for years to come. This cleaning guide can also be used with your glass blunt pipe.

Why Should You Clean Your Weed Pipe?

You’ve probably had a friend whose glass pipe looks like something died in it. News flash, it didn’t get that way overnight. If you are that friend, do not worry, this article will help you return your pipe to the pristine condition it was in the day you purchased it. When you smoke out of your pipe, residue and debris are left behind, this is from the ash and oils that are emitted when you burn your cannabis. Without a good cleaning schedule, these debris can begin to build up and alter the performance of your pipe. From the amount of bud that you can fit into the bowl, to how good the airflow is between the bowl and mouthpiece. This airflow is essential for a quality and smooth hit. 

How often should I clean my marijuana pipe?

As mentioned above, the best practice is to clean your pipe after every smoke session. But this may not be practical for everyone, after smoking you’re just trying to relax. If cleaning after every use is too much for you, setting up a routine where you clean it every few days to a week will work. If you are not a daily smoker, you can probably stretch he schedule out to every two weeks. At the end of the day, the decision is up to you, but keep in mind that the longer you go without cleaning it, the harder it will be to clean, not to mention the loss of efficiency of your pipe.

How to clean your cannabis pipe

There are handfuls of ways you can clean your pipe, and depending on how dirty it is, some ways may work better than others. Let’s take a look at some ways to clean and maintain your pipe. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list and there are too many methods to list every type.

Simple

The easiest way to clean your pipe, as long as it is not too dirty, is by using paper towels and Q-tips. You can use these tools to wipe away any ash that builds up in the bowl, and the Q-tip is helpful for getting into the small crevices. Using water can help soften some of the harder, built up debris.

Advanced

The best way to clean your pipe, no matter how dirty, is by using isopropyl rubbing alcohol. The alcohol is great at cutting through any buildup you may have in your pipe. You can use Q-tips or paper towels soaked in rubbing alcohol to cleanly wipe away grime. This is a great way to ensure that your pipe stays clean and looking brand new. If your pipe is heavily built up, you should first coat your pipe in either salt or baking soda, then allow your pipe to soak in Isopropyl rubbing alcohol or vinegar.

What if my pipe is really dirty?

For those who have a pipe that may have not been cleaned in a while and has some heavy build up, the best way to completely clean your pipe and basically hit the reset button is again by using isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Using a zip lock bag or bowl, fully submerge your pipe in the alcohol and allow it to sit for at least an hour. The longer you allow the weed pipe to soak in the alcohol the better.  Once you have allowed it to soak, remove the pipe from the dirty alcohol and discard it. You can rinse off the pipe and again use Q-tips and paper towels to get rid of any leftover debris. Anything that is still hanging on to the pipe, should come off easily with a minimal elbow grease. 

Is Isopropyl Alcohol Safe to Use?

Yes, Isopropyl alcohol is completely safe, as long as there is no standing alcohol in the pipe during use. If you are not sure if your pipe is ready for use, you can allow the pipe to sit out and dry. If that is not good enough for you, you can use your lighter to heat up the pipe and burn away any excess alcohol. 

Will this cleaning method work on other smoking devices?

Yes, these methods will work on any glass products, including glass blunts, and bongs. For bongs, you can fill up the water reservoir with the isopropyl alcohol and allow it to sit the same way you would with a pipe. You can use products such as weed pipe cleaners to get in and wipe the sides of your bong. 

Are there any alternative ways to clean a pipe?

Yes, there are, you can use almost any cleaning product you would use to clean dishes like dish soap. If you don’t feel like cleaning by hand, you can place your pipe on the top shelf of your dishwasher and allow the mix of heat and dish cleaner to do the hard work for you. 

I tried the methods mentioned, but my pipe is still dirty

Do not worry, your pipe just requires a few more steps to get it back to its glory. Before allowing your pipe to soak, first coat it in salt or baking soda. Make sure you cover all of the heavily built up areas. The salt or baking soda will help eat away at the debris and allow the alcohol to better work away the buildup.

Are there any substitutes for Isopropyl Alcohol?

Yes, if you do not feel comfortable using rubbing alcohol on your pipe, you can substitute it for vinegar. Most vinegar will work fine, but the best vinegar to use is distilled white vinegar. Most substances with an acidic or basic PH will work, but the stronger the acid or base, the more dangerous it is to use.

Is there anything else I can do to keep my pipe clean?

Yes, there is, besides maintaining a rigid cleaning schedule, you can invest in pipe screens. Pipe screens are an attachment you can get for your pipe that you insert into the bowl of your pipe. These attachments help to keep ash out of the bowl and mouthpiece and make it easier to discard burnt weed. Instead of trying to get the ash and build up out of the small crevices of your pipe, the screen keeps your weed suspended above the walls of your pipe. Pipe screens can easily be removed from your pipe for easy cleaning. To clean a pipe screen, you can run it under water and give it a good wipe down with a paper towel. Of course, just like your pipe, you can also soak the screen in isopropyl rubbing alcohol or vinegar. 

Conclusion

There are a bunch of different ways you can clean your glass pipe, and most of them will work to clean any smoking device that is made of glass. If you stay on top of your cleaning schedule, your job will be easier than allowing debris to build up and harden. Remember that the more you all your pipe to build up, the worse the performance will be. For consistent cleaning after every use, you should be fine with just wiping it down with a paper towel or Q-tips. But, if you are trying to restore a pipe that has gone a while without a good cleaning, allowing it to soak in alcohol or vinegar will probably work fine. For those pipes that have some heavy build up, coating it in salt or baking soda, and then allowing it to soak should do the trick. Keep in mind that the longer you allow your pipe to soak, the less elbow grease you should have to use. Give these methods a try, and let us know how they worked for you. Is there another method that we forgot to mention that works well for you?