After a long winter of smoking your bong on the couch, it's probably looking (and tasting) quite dingy. Now that spring is here and we can enjoy some fresh air, it's the perfect excuse to breathe some life back into your favorite smoking pieces. What we're really trying to say is you need to clean your damn bong!
Keep it OG with the Classics
The classic way to refresh your piece is to directly fill it with some isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and salt. Some smokers prefer rock salt, which really grinds against stubborn resin in large pieces and bongs and can leave tiny scratches in the glass that collect bacteria. While iodine-free table salt is a reliable option, it also scratches your glass and can damage it long term. It simply makes it harder to get clean after many cleaning sessions.
Once your alcohol and salt mixture is inside your piece, plug all the openings and shake it as hard as you can. Once you think most of the residue has been knocked off, rinse thoroughly. Use warm water instead of hot. If the water is super hot, it can reactivate the stickiness of the resin left over instead of washing it away with the alcohol.
The New Wave
For an alcohol-free cleaning session, we love the Ooze Resolution Cleaning Gel. This natural clay-based solution breaks down resin on virtually any material other than acrylic and soft plastic. Even if you get sticky wax on your clothes, the cleaning gel will safely take it right off. Plus, this solution is reusable up to 10 times! Pour a hefty glob into your piece and swirl it around so the entire inside is coated in green gel, then pour the excess right back into the bag. Use a pre-soaked Micro Swab to scrub the downstem and in any tight corners. These slim cotton swabs are the perfect size for tight spaces, as well as cleaning your vape pens!
Res Gel is non-toxic, but we still recommend using gloves and avoiding contact with your skin for an extended amount of time. It has been known to ruin a manicure!
Get a Cleaning Kit
Silicone Res Caps are designed to provide an airtight fit over all openings, so you don’t need to plug the holes with your fingers, a plastic bag, or use any other “stoner hack” you may have heard of. Those are usually not the most efficient or convenient way to do things!
To clean your piece, plug up the downstem with one of the caps, give the gel pouch a shake to activate it, and pour about 1/3 cup of the gel right into the piece. Cover the last hole with a Res Cap and give it a shake! Make sure the blue gel reaches every angle, corner and perc. Let it sit for 5-30 minutes, depending on how gunked up your piece is. If there are many smaller pieces attached to your bong, dissemble them and let them soak in a container of the cleaning gel. Finally, rinse your piece out with warm water, and it should shine like the day you bought it.
To keep your piece clean and you healthy, it’s worth investing in tools that make cleaning easy. That way, you’ll be more likely to clean it frequently, and might even enjoy it!
