Mastering Glass Bong Cleaning: Tips for Tough Resin Buildup
Introduction to Cleaning a Glass Bong
One of the most common questions we see and hear from users is ‘How do I clean a bong?’ which is a topic we have touched on previously. Most people seem to have a general idea of what they need to do to clean a glass bong, but often they are asking because they have already cleaned their glass, and resin buildup still remains. Some glass pipes can be harder to clean than others, and when there is serious resin buildup deep inside the piece where it cannot be reached by hand, we have to resort to other methods for effective bong maintenance!
Cleaning Tough Resin Buildup
When it comes to cleaning glass pipes and getting those tough stuck-on bits of resin buildup out of your rig, you might need a few tricks beyond the tried-and-true advice of ‘salt and alcohol.’ Some of the problem areas that are hardest to clean on a bong include things like downstems, which may be directly in contact with combusted plant matter and resin. If your downstem is removable, we recommend cleaning it separately from the rest of the bong. A good soak will help break up the stuck-on resin buildup, but for quick and thorough results, a pipe cleaner or brush will do wonders. Brushes help by mechanically agitating the resin buildup in a way that is both safe for the glass and effective for glass bong cleaning.
Tackling Complex Internal Percs Cleaning
Other problem areas include things like internal percs. Simple bong construction, like single perc straight tubes and beakers, tend to be relatively straightforward when it comes to cleaning glass bongs. Complex glassware has become very prevalent in modern times, with glassblowers creating intricate percs and pieces with multiple stacked percs. There may be resin buildup deep inside these areas that are not reachable by a brush, and may be difficult to soak as well. Additional tools like the Formula 420 Cleaning Plugs can help out by allowing you to seal up the piece. With your glass sealed and filled with a soaking agent, you can now physically rotate and agitate the glass to make sure that those internal sections are properly submerged for effective internal perc cleaning.
Using Specialized Cleaning Products
Sometimes, salt and isopropyl alcohol may not be sufficient to clean a bong! This is especially common if the resin buildup has been allowed to dry and harden. The outer layer can become a hydrophobic barrier, so no matter how long the piece is soaked, the residue may refuse to budge. In cases like this, it might be helpful to turn to specialized cleaning products like the Formula 420 cleaner line. Specifically, the Formula 420 Soak N Rinse. This targeted cleaner is formulated to work well without scrubbing and is also designed to break up and remove minerals as well. Most water used in bongs contains trace minerals, which may leave a hazy or spotty finish on your glass, but worse than this minor cosmetic issue, these minerals, along with the resin buildup from smoking, can create an amalgamation that can tightly adhere to the glass.
The Role of Time in Soaking Bong
If you find that these methods are not getting your piece cleaned to your satisfaction, it is important to remember that time is also a major factor in soaking bong. When a piece has been allowed to get very dirty, it is going to take more time to soak and break down. In cases like this, you may need to seal up and soak your piece overnight, or longer, for effective bong maintenance! If you do this, ensure that your seals are tight, and the piece is stored in a location and orientation that won’t lead to accidental leaks or messes. If you are soaking bong for longer than a few hours, you will want to periodically rotate and agitate the bong so that any dissolved resin buildup is allowed to separate from the glass, exposing the layers below to the cleaning agent.
The Joy of Clean Glassware!
There is no feeling quite like holding up crystal clean glassware, with light glinting and sparkling throughout the piece. Well, except for maybe hitting that freshly cleaned glass for the first time, all over again!
Our love and appreciation for glass and functional art drives us to collect and enjoy lots of different kinds of pipes and bongs, but they all share in the need for regular cleaning. Not just for aesthetics, but also for flavor, and even health. The best way to keep a piece from accruing hard-to-remove resin buildup is to regularly rinse and clean a bong. Even if you aren’t the type to rinse or clean daily, frequent water changes in your percolating rigs can help extend the time between needed cleanings. Frequent water changes in your bong mean it may be as simple as a quick rinse and shake, and your glassware will be clean and back to looking like the day it came out of the kiln!
Tools and Accessories for Bong Maintenance
Tako Glass has all the tools, specialized cleaning products, and even accessories like ash catchers, which can all work together to get your rig clean, keep it clean, and keep it smoking like brand new!
