It’s Probably Time to Clean It

If you prepare a stunning meal, you’re going to serve it on a clean plate. What if you extended that same line of thinking to your bowls of bud? Of course, there may be times when you dab and dash, but aiming to treat your cannabis devices as you would, say, your first set of adult dishware isn’t too daunting an aspiration. Quality cannabis and sesh gear cost money after all, so appreciate them for all they’re worth.

Cannabis is a complex plant; its intricacies are enjoyed for a myriad of reasons. To experience the full manifestation of a strain’s essence, clean equipment is key. Gunky resin buildup not only looks and tastes disgusting, often overpowering terpene profiles, but it also contains carbon byproducts that can be harsh on your throat and lungs. Nobody wants that. We want fresh. We want clean. So, let’s ditch that “lazy stoner” caricature once and for all by taking care of our things.

THE TRIED-AND-TRUE METHOD

As you can imagine, there are many opinions on the best and easiest ways to cleanse your cannabis setup. Some old-school smoking buffs swear by soaking devices overnight in warm water with a denture tablet, apparently?  Worth a try, but probably not something you have lying around. Consensus points to the following steps and all you’ll need is:

It’s worth noting that many opt for latex or other protective gloves to ensure that no gnarly goo sticks to your hands. Leaving that up to you, here we go.

STEP 1:  RINSE IT

Give your entire piece a warm bath to remove loose fragments. Either run it under a faucet or soak it for an hour – or even overnight if it’s especially dirty. If your apparatus has multiple pieces, separate them.

STEP 2:  MIX IT

Pour alcohol and salt into your bag or container. (Note: no water! Salt dissolves in water.) While the exact alcohol-to-salt ratio varies, ¼ cup of alcohol and 1-2 tablespoons of salt is a good starting point. The mixture should be slurry but still able to flow freely. Submerge your piece(s) into the mixture and close the container securely.

You could also plug any holed ends of pieces with paper towels, silicone plugs, or plastic wrap and put the alcohol/salt mixture into that restricted space.

STEP 3:  SWISH IT

Gently shake the bag or container, allowing the mixture to coat every crevice. Depending on the degradation of your piece, the timing varies. Try swishing for 3-5 minutes on the first go. Then, let it soak for 30-60 minutes, swishing every couple of minutes.

There’s no science to the shaking; I went for the maraca method, evidently…

CAN I THROW IT IN THE DISHWASHER?

At your own risk. It’s generally better to wash your pieces by hand so water, heat, and pressure don’t damage any delicate components. Best to check with the manufacturer before making that call or consider what you paid for that device. Is breaking your piece and the bank (and the dishwasher?) worth the one hour you’ll save? Doubtful.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Many sources promote boiling pieces in hot water. This method works, but you take the chance of cracking the glass or warping wood structures and ceramic glazes. It also does a doozy to your (stove) pot and the smell… it liiiiingers.

At the other extreme, some opt to stick their pipe, bowl, or bong in a freezer for 24 hours. This will loosen larger clumps of resin, but you’ll have to spend a long time scraping the rest, harming your devices and your soul.

Silicone pieces are increasingly popular because they won’t break. These devices can be frozen and then twisted to release most resin. You’ve got the geniuses of Reddit to thank for that one.

NON-TOXIC METHODS

If you prefer not to use alcohol or chemicals, try white vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice mixed with salt and warm water. It may take a few more rounds of cleaning but will eventually do the trick. Lemon juice and warm water can also help remove any unsightly water spots.