How to Clean A Bong in 11 Simple Steps

Would you drink a day-old milkshake that has started to curdle or eat a tepid bowl of tomato soup that has been sitting out far too long? Chances are, if you are imagining just how gross that would be, your answer is no. So you shouldn’t want to take a hit off a dirty cannabis bong no matter how much you crave that almost instant high. 

Taking a few minutes or more to thoroughly clean your bong is preferable for many reasons. Not only does the marijuana taste more pure and flavorful, but if you clean your bong regularly, you won’t have to worry about what bacteria is growing in all those hard-to-clean bong nooks and crannies. Our method of how to clean a bong is thorough and will help you avoid bong mold and mildew. Dab rigs are very similar to bongs, although the method of cleaning dab rigs may be slightly different.

Think about it -- if you were to leave the standing water in your marijuana bong after a smoke session, you chance all sorts of bacteria and mold growth sprouting. Nobody wants to ingest any fungi or harmful substances when they take a bong rip. 

How Often to Clean a Bong

Routine cleanings really depend on how often you use your water pipe. Let’s be honest -- has your bong ever been cleaned in the history of its use? You might not want to admit the answer to that question out loud. 

We recommend cleaning your bong once a week or after every couple of uses to avoid any sort of mold from building up. Stoners that light up frequently may want to make a bong cleaning schedule to prevent themselves from forgetting. Replacing your bong water after every use is the best way to keep your bong clean in the long run.

So, what’s the best way to clean a bong, you might ask? We’ve detailed an easy-to-digest guide on how to clean a bong in 11 simple steps. 

Bong Cleaning Supplies

As with anything cleaning-related, you’ll need to gather the necessary supplies to clean your bong. We have a few easy cleaning options with items you may already have lying around the house. Most people default to rubbing alcohol when cleaning their bong, but it isn’t mandatory. There are lots of alternatives to use if you’d prefer to clean a bong without alcohol.

Select your preferred bong cleaning agents: 

• Rubbing alcohol that is 90% alcohol or greater, with coarse salt or Epsom salts
• Vinegar with baking soda or rice 
• Lemon juice with coarse salt or rice 
• Bong cleaner like Formula420 or Piece Water - If you are a regular stoner, you may have a specific cleaner for bongs just lying around. 

You’ll also need some cannabis bong cleaning supplies: 

• Plastic bags that can be sealed or some sort of plastic container with a lid
• Barbed pipe cleaners, q-tips, or a bottle brush
• Rubber bong plugs or cotton balls 
• Clean water (some avid stoners swear by using filtered water) 
• Sink, tub, basin, or large container
• Latex or dish gloves 

Steps to Clean Your Bong

Once you’ve gathered your marijuana bong cleaning materials, assess the amount of resin buildup in your bong. Then, follow these 11 steps to clean your sticky bong and make it shine just like new.

Step 1: Pour out the tainted bong water from your last weed smoke session. 

Put on latex or dish gloves to avoid bacteria from the sitting bong water getting on your skin. As an added bonus, the gloves will help protect your hands from getting too dry with all the washing. Do not use this old, dirty bong water to clean the bong. This used water may have bong mold or a layer of film on it, depending on how long it’s been sitting there. It most likely is a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria. Marijuana users recommend dumping the used bong water in the toilet rather than the sink to avoid spreading bacteria. 

Step 2: Disassemble the bong pieces carefully. 

The best way to clean a bong is in separate pieces. Be careful as you take the cannabis bong apart, so you don’t break it. Some bongs are made of glass, so be especially cautious if you have a glass bong.

Step 3: Place the bong mouthpiece, bowl, and pipe in separate containers or plastic-sealed bags. 

Make sure each piece has its own container so there is less chance of anything breaking. 

Step 4: Add the cleaning solution of your choice to each of the separate containers or bags. 

Pour a few tablespoons of the abrasive -- coarse salt, rice, or baking soda -- into each plastic bag or container. Add the base cleaning solution --  rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or lemon juice -- and fill each container and bag so the bong pieces are submerged with the combined cleaning agents. 

Step 5: Add the cleaning solution to the base of the bong. 

Follow the same process as above, but for the main part of the bong. You’ll want to pour the abrasive cleaning agent in and then add the solution of your choice. This will not go in a sealed bag or container, but you can soak it in a sink, basin, large container, or tub. 

Step 6: Shake each bag or container and the bong separately for at least five minutes. 

To ensure that the cleaning solution does not escape, make sure all plastic bags or containers are sealed tightly. When you are cleaning the stem of the bong, you’ll want to plug any holes either with your hands, rubber plugs for bongs, or cotton balls before shaking vigorously. Put your favorite song on, pretend you are a fancy cocktail-crafting bartender, and shake away. 

Step 7: Rinse with warm water, and assess the bong and all bong parts for residue that has clung to the pieces. 

At this point, the cleaning process may be enough to remove the water stains and any resin buildup on the bong. If you are satisfied with the cleanliness of your cannabis bong, feel free to skip to step 10. For a deeper clean, continue with step 8. 

Step 8: If necessary, repeat steps 4 to 6. 

Otherwise, a spot cleaning can be done with a spiky pipe cleaner, bottle brush, or q-tip to get in all of the bong’s tiny crevices. Remember, the best way to clean a bong is to be meticulous whenever necessary.

Step 9: Clean the bong with warm water.

Give your marijuana bong one last good rinse, and you should have gotten all the stains and residue clean, preventing mold growth. 

Step 10: Air dry or towel dry the bong for quick use. 

If you aren’t planning on lighting up your bong right away, let it air dry to make sure all the water dries. If you want to hit the bong instantly after cleaning, make sure you properly towel dry all the pieces to ensure that no mold grows. 

Session

Step 11: Enjoy a marijuana bong session by yourself or with your fellow stoners. 

Now that your bong is clean, enjoy a relaxing high and taste all of the delicious terpenes that were being masked by your dirty bong. 

We recommend that you clean your bong frequently to avoid a much more time-consuming deep cleaning or worse have to completely repurchase a new cannabis bong. The more often you clean your bong, the less often you have to spot clean, and you’ll be confident that mold won’t grow. Plus, as you get used to the process, you’ll be able to clean a bong fast and get right back to toking.

You don’t need a disgusting bong that becomes an eyesore in your home. There are plenty of easy ways to clean a bong that you will find online, but it is more important to be thorough and detailed when caring for your cannabis supplies. When you follow these 11 steps to clean your bong, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that it’s clean and ready to use for an enjoyable stoner sesh anytime the mood hits.

How often do you clean your bongs? Visit our EarthMed dispensary near Des Plaines, or hit me up on social media, and let's spark up a conversation about it!