Two Trusted Methods to Clean Your Glass Pipe

After careful consideration, perhaps even lots of time passed doing research, you’ve found the perfect glass piece to call yours. Maybe it has a nickname, or perhaps a dedicated space on your bedside mantel. It’s easy to become attached to something crafted so beautiful  but after you’ve broken it in and shared some sessions, it isnʼt looking (or hitting) quite the same way it once did.

At this point, it’s time to clean your glass pipe. Whether your prized piece is a water pipe, a glass bowl or bubbler; you might be looking at all those crevices and not sure where to start. But that’s why we’re here – we’ve got you covered no matter what kind of piece you may have.

Make sure to look for these different materials or parts on your glassware, as it can change how you approach cleaning your piece.

If your piece is full glass, you do not need to section any parts off during the cleaning process.

If you see anything with rubber or rubber grommets, be aware that they will dissolve in anything alcohol based and must be cleaned with soapy water separately. You will most likely encounter this underneath the sliding bowl component if you have a water pipe, or what’s commonly referred to as a ‘bong’.

If you utilize a metal screen on your bowl for your water pipe, bubbler or pipe it should be washed and dried separately, as it can react with store bought cleaners.

Small glass pipes, single hitters (or chillums as they are endearingly nicknamed), and hand-held bubblers can be cleaned within a ziplock bag or can be grouped together. Large water pipes should be cleaned by hand.

This method utilizes household ingredients, using a simple solution of isopropyl alcohol and sea salt. It’s by far the quickest method, and takes approximately 10-20 minutes if you don’t mind putting in a bit of elbow grease. Remember, this method is recommended only for glassware or plain ceramic pieces.

Step 1: Fill water pipe with isopropyl alcohol and coarse sea salt using a a ratio of 10:2, or ten parts isopropyl alcohol, to two parts salt.

Step 2: Use cotton or a paper towel to close off openings, so that the alcohol and salt mixture cannot escape from the openings.

Pro tip: Twist paper towel bundle like a screw into the mouthpiece and bowl opening until it is tight

Step 3: Manually shake your piece vigorously. Be sure to stay away from walls, tables, and people. Be sure to tilt your pipe to ensure that the solution reaches all the crevices.

Pro tip: If your pipe is extremely dirty, this method may leave some residue and will require a soaking period to fully clean. Scroll down to learn more about a soaking cleaning method.

For small pieces, like a portable pipe or one hitter, you can place the glass inside a plastic ziploc bag until fully submerged in your alcohol and salt mixture. Be sure to work the salt in the sides of the bowl to remove any built up tar. You then want to fill the bag with alcohol and shake vigorously for about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Unplug any openings that have been closed off, and drain the solution out and rinse. When cleaning with alcohol, ALWAYS rinse with cold water. Using hot water after an isopropyl alcohol bath has a high risk of shattering your piece.

Optional tools: bristle pipe cleaner, magnetic glass scrubber

This method utilizes specially made solutions to help clean your glassware, and requires anywhere from 60 minutes to an overnight soak. While some manual labor is removed for this method, we recommend letting them sit in a solution overnight to remove heavy build up. Itʼs important to rinse the solutions thoroughly with cold water because unlike alcohol, these solutions do not readily evaporate.

Pro Tip: This method is recommended for concentrate rigs, as the alcohol may not be as effective in removing reclaim build up.

Step 1: Choose your solution. We recommend either Purple Power or Resinate. Purple Power is a great go-to. You can re-use the same solution a few times before finally throwing it out. I opt for the larger 16oz bottle for this reason. Be warned, it will turn brown after your first use. You can discard, or continue to use; although it’s designed specifically to be used more than once. Resinate works similar to method one and includes an abrasive sediment to help fight thick build up. Resinate is a great solution for metal and ceramic pieces also.

Step 2: Use cotton or a paper towel to close off openings, so that the solution cannot escape from the openings.

Pro tip: Twist paper towel bundle like a screw into the mouthpiece and bowl opening until it is tight

Step 3: Manually shake your piece vigorously. Be sure to stay away from walls, tables, and people. Be sure to tilt your pipe to ensure that the solution reaches all the crevices.

Step 4: Place in ziplock bag, or somewhere to protect surfaces from leaks. After soaking at least 30 minutes, check to see if the cleaning solution has turned brown. This is a great indicator to track progress. If heavy build up has occurred, let sit overnight. Remove solution and rinse thoroughly with cold water.

You might be concerned with when to clean, or how often – but remember your glass can tell you when it’s time for a cleaning. Clear pipes may be obvious, but pieces that have a gold or silver fuming (indicated by a metallic sheen in the glass) will often change colors (gold turns green, silver turns blue) when there is enough build up.

If youʼre a regular user, keeping your glass clean on a schedule will ensure you have the smoothest hit and can enjoy the best flavors in your flower. Another way to reduce cleaning time is to use a glass screen or brass screen for your water pipe. Screens will eliminate any debris coming into your bowl or pipe while an ash catcher provides an extra level of filtration while making sure the water pipe stays cleaner for longer.

Are there any methods we missed? Something new you want to share? Reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know what your favorite methods are.