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The Ultimate Guide on How to Clean a Glass Pipe Quickly

In General
May 26, 2021
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If you’re a cannabis user who owns a glass pipe, you know how quickly they can get dirty. A build-up of materials can cause health risks, and increase the likelihood of burning inhales. Plus, dirty pipes just don’t look as nice clean ones do!

While there is no way to keep your pipe from getting dirty after use, it’s quick and easy to clean one. When it comes to how to clean a glass pipe quickly, you have a few great options that take very little time. 

So if you’re interested in glass pipe cleaning tips, look no further! Keep reading to find our ultimate guide on quickly cleaning your glass pipes. Your glass will thank you!

Why Does a Clean Pipe Matter?

Pipes have been a popular tool since humans first started smoking herbs, and that tradition carries on today. Easy to use and transport, glass pipes are convenient and come in an endless variety of shapes and colors, like the ones from here.

Obviously, everyone wants their glass to look and feel its best. But besides wanting your pipe to look nice, do you really need to clean it?

The answer is yes! Odds are, even if you’re a new user you’ve noticed how dirty a glass pipe can get. Even just a few smoke sessions can lead to a piece that is discolored and coated in old material. 

The longer you go without cleaning your pipe, the higher the health risks and the less enjoyable your smoke session will be. 

For starters, glass pipes with excess residue can cause your material to light on fire. Anyone who has taken a burning inhale knows how quickly it can bring a smoke session to a halt!

A build-up of material can also make it harder for smoke to pass through your pipe. This means that your piece won’t work as well, and you’ll only achieve relatively small hits. 

Burnt residue and ash can also be very harmful when inhaled, so keeping your pipe clean is an important part of keeping your lungs healthy. 

The easiest thing to do is simply make cleaning your pipe a habit. Start by doing so once a week, and increase or decrease as you feel is needed. Not only will your pipe look better, but your sessions will be better too. 

Quick and Easy Ways to Clean Your Pipe

Cleaning your pipe may sound like a chore, but it’s actually quite easy. Below are two quick ways to keep your piece in tip-top shape. 

Salt and Alcohol

This is one of the most popular methods for cleaning pipes, and for good reason. You can do this quickly, and with ingredients you most likely already have. 

To clean your pipe this way, you’ll need:

  • Kosher salt (1 to 2 tablespoons)
  • Isopropyl alcohol of at least 90%
  • A plastic sandwich bag
  • A small implement like a bobby pin, paper clip, or pipe cleaner

Begin by dislodging as much as the residue and material as you can. You can do this by gently shaking the pipe over a paper towel to catch anything loose that may be in the bowl or stem. 

Next, use the pipe cleaner or some similar item to remove any gunk and residue from the bowl that you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just focus on getting large bits and pieces. 

When you’ve removed loose debris, place your pipe in the plastic sandwich bag and add the kosher salt.

Next, add enough isopropyl alcohol to completely submerge the piece. Be sure to seal the bag completely. 

Now it’s time to shake! Gently shake the bag or a minute or two, being careful not to bang the pipe against anything that could damage it. 

As you shake, the alcohol works to break down grit and residue, while the salt acts as an abrasive to scrub your piece. 

Once you feel you’ve shaken the bag long enough, remove the pipe and rinse it very well with warm water. Take a look at your pipe to make sure there aren’t any stubborn bits still hanging around. 

If there are, simply use the pipe cleaner to remove them or repeat the salt and alcohol scrubbing. When you’re done, simply pat the pipe dry. You’re now ready for a new smoke session!

Pipe Cleaning Solution

If you happen to be at a smoke shop, you’ll likely spot a wide variety of retail pipe cleaning solutions. These are chemical mixtures made to clean your pipe easily. 

While how you use the solution depends on the brand, most often your pipe will soak in the solution for an hour or two before getting a good rinse. 

Retail pipe cleaning solutions are effective, but they typically cost more than the price of kosher salt and alcohol.

Some of these solutions can be drained from your piece and reused several times before losing their effectiveness, however. 

Most enthusiasts find that good old kosher salt and alcohol is too cheap and convenient a method to refuse, but the choice is up to you.

Just make sure to look into the reviews for any pipe cleaning solutions you see to ensure you get a quality product. 

Learn How to Clean a Glass Pipe Quickly

Today, glass pipes come in an endless array of designs and colors, allowing you to pick one that expresses you best. Naturally, you’ll want to keep your piece clean for better-looking and more enjoyable smoke sessions. 

The good news is that you can skip the expensive store-bought cleaning solutions for a few simple home ingredients. With what you already have in your cabinets, you can easily clean your piece. 

Knowing how to clean a glass pipe quickly is an essential part of using marijuana, so be sure to keep this guide in mind after your next smoke session. 

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