{"id":46536,"date":"2019-07-22T21:32:10","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T21:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/weed-101-how-to-clean-a-marijuana-pipe\/"},"modified":"2019-07-22T21:32:10","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T21:32:10","slug":"weed-101-how-to-clean-a-marijuana-pipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/culture\/weed-101-how-to-clean-a-marijuana-pipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Weed 101: How to Clean a Marijuana Pipe"},"content":{"rendered":"

You just picked up a bottle of top-shelf weed from your favorite pot shop, shot down to your buddy\u2019s house, and now you\u2019re both ready to get lifted on some killer cannabis. But when your friend brings out her favorite pipe, the inside is caked with lumpy brown crud, and the mouthpiece sports a dark ring of mystery lining. Before even puffing from that gunked-up piece, you just know the smoke is going to taste like charred bog logs, no matter how sweet those new buds smell.<\/p>\n

Besides smelling and tasting like ass, a dirty pipe can pose as a health hazard, too. Just as cannabis can sprout molds<\/a> when grown in environments with poor air circulation, pipes filled with layers of old tar can do the same thing. Folks with mold allergies, compromised immune systems, asthma, or respiratory diseases risk getting sick if they hit from these unhygienic pieces.<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s the most effective way<\/u><\/a> to clean that bad boy? There are a few options, but we\u2019ll start with the simplest and safest.<\/p>\n

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Buds Resin Remover <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Bottles of Prepackaged Cleaning Products<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Cleaning out a cannabis pipe can be a pain. The tar stuck to the glass is weed resin mixed with ash. With marijuana, meaning the weed with lots of THC, the tar is an especially sticky oil, so simply scrubbing the pipe with a brush ain\u2019t gonna cut it.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, as legal weed has gone mainstream, several companies now offer special glass-cleaning products. These are usually liquids that require some soaking before the tar can be shaken or scrubbed clean. If you\u2019re health-conscious or eco-friendly, look for cleaning products made with natural ingredients (citric acid, vinegar, etc.). Try Formula 420<\/u><\/a>, Bud\u2019s Resin Remover<\/u><\/a>, Smoke Soap, Resolution Gel<\/u><\/a>, Grunge Off<\/u><\/a>, or Green Piece Cleaner<\/u><\/a>, to start.<\/p>\n

WARNING: <\/em>Not all cleaning products are created equal. Read the instructions from start to finish before even popping open the bottle. <\/p>\n

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Isopropyl Alcohol and Salt<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

One of the oldest and most reliable marijuana pipe cleaning methods is the ol\u2019 salt and alcohol trick. Mind you, this is the kind of alcohol sold in drug stores, not liquor stores. This method also works best with ultra-concentrated isopropyl alcohol \u2014 at 91 percent \u2014 as opposed to the more commercially ubiquitous stuff, which is just 70 percent.<\/p>\n

To do this, take salt (either regular table salt, sea salt, or even Epsom salt) and pour it into the pipe. Fill the pipe with around 10 to 25 percent salt. It doesn\u2019t require a ton of crystals either. Alternatively, some folks use sugar crystals in place of salt, and that\u2019s fine, too.<\/p>\n

After the salt, pour in the alcohol. Ensure there are still salt crystals present; if they all dissolve, the salt can\u2019t act as an abrasive to scrub off the tar. Plug any open ends on the pipe, then shake vigorously for a minute or so. Dirtier pipes will require more shaking (and possibly more than one round of salt and alcohol). We recommend pouring the brown goop into your toilet, since the alcohol-resin mix will leave a smelly residue if poured into a sink.<\/p>\n

WARNING: <\/em>Once the pipe is sufficiently cleaned, rinse it thoroughly with water to get all the excess alcohol and salt out of it. And rinse it well, otherwise you\u2019ll have replaced the acrid smell of ass with that of a phlebotomist\u2019s office, and no one wants a smoke sesh to remind them of their last hospital visit.<\/p>\n

Vodka and Microwave<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s no salt around, but you\u2019ve got a bottle of Svedka from the night before, try filling a cup or bowl with equal parts vodka and tap water, then stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute (or however long it takes to get hot). Afterward, dip the pipe in and swirl it around.<\/p>\n

WARNING: <\/em>Do not <\/em>place the pipe into the microwave. Some glass pipes<\/a> contain metallic paints or coloring. If microwaved, they\u2019ll spark and potentially explode. Besides ruining a perfectly good pipe, this method could also ruin a perfectly good microwave. Or a perfectly good house.<\/p>\n

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Boiling Water<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The most basic marijuana pipe cleaning method involves dropping the pipe into a pot of boiling water. Although cannabis resin can\u2019t dissolve in water (oil and water don\u2019t mix), the heat alone can melt the tar. The tar will likely remain in the pipe, but a quick swipe with a small brush or scraper (see below) should easily remove all that gunk.<\/p>\n

WARNING: <\/em>While thick pipes can usually survive boiling, thinner pipes may break. And never, ever try to clean a bong by pouring boiling water into it; the base will likely burst<\/u><\/a>. Additionally, placing a glass pipe into a metal pot can result in scratches, dents, or cracks in the pipe, so monitor your piece carefully.<\/p>\n