How To Clean A Bong [5 Simple Steps]

This is your step by step guide to cleaning your bong!

Below you will find a step by step guide of how to clean your bong. First we start with what cleaning solutions, course material, and covering options you have. Then we take you on the step by step journey of how to clean your bong. Lastly, ways to keep your bong fresh in between cleanings!

How to clean your bong: getting started

Bong Cleaning Solution

This is where most people start with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to clean a bong, pipe or bowl. This has been a long time favorite, but we challenge you to use a more natural bong cleaning solution.

Course material

Sometimes shaking your bong solution or letting your water pipe soak for a bit will remove all of the residue, other times you’ll need to add a coarse compontent, like epson salt or a bristled cleaning brush.

Cover openings

Don’t start shaking with out covering the openings of your bong your pipe! Every smoker has made this mistake before. We’ll show you some cool tricks and fancy gadgets that can help.

Bong Cleaner (Choose 1)

91% Isopropyl Alcohol (most popular choice)
70% Isopropyl Alcohol (for lighter cleaning)
100% Acetone/Nail Polish Remover (for heavier cleaning)
Mile High Cleaner (All Natural)
420 Formula (Natural Options)
Homemade Oil + Baking Soda Mix (All Natural)

Coarse Material (Choose 1)

Epsom Salt
Bristle Brush
Coarse Sea Salt
Kosher Salt
Rock Salt

Because salt is coarse, when combined with the alcohol it is abrasive to the resin and bong residue, helping to get it even cleaner, faster.

Covering the Openings (Choose 1)

Cotton Balls
Q-Tips
Paper Towels
Saran Wrap + Rubber Bands
Res Caps

This is important for the next steps! Securely covering the openings of your bong helps make the process quick and spill-free.

How to clean a bong bubbler bowl pipe step one

Give Your Bong A Quick Rinse

Empty your bong water and rinse your glass with warm water. Try to remove as much debris as possible. You’d be surprised at how far just hot water can go cleaning your glass pieces. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have alcohol, this will at least help you hold out a little longer until you can get some bong cleaner.

Let’s See Some Results

Getting resin out of a bong can be tricky, especially if you’ve never done it before. This is where most people have questions on how to clean a bubbler, bong or water pipe. Start by pouring a medium amount of your cleaning solution into the bong followed by a handful of salt. We usually fill the bong up with alcohol slightly less than how much you would fill it up with water to smoke. You can also use a spoon to pour the salt down the chamber of your bong!

If you’re cleaning a bong without rubbing alcohol, try using extra salt, warmer water or nail polish remover.

How to clean a bong bubbler bowl pipe step two

How to clean a bong bubbler bowl pipe step three

Bong Cleaning Headache

Cover any openings with appropriately sized material. The goal is to keep the openings sealed and prevent leaking or spilling in the next step.

We use Res Caps to clean our bong. It is also featured in our “Pro Tips & Tricks” and “Stocking Stuffers & Stoner Gift Ideas“.

Alternatively, try cotton balls to cover the bowl/stem openings and a small hand towel for the main tube of the water pipe. Saran wrap and a rubber band is also a great solution.

Shake It, Baby!

After letting the alcohol solution soak, it’s time to shake things up. Firmly grasp the covered openings of your bong closed and shake the solution inside. The salt will act as a light abrasive to clean through the tough spots of your dirty bong. This is where Res Caps really come in handy!

Whatever doesn’t get clean after about a minute or so of shaking with alcohol and salt, use pipe cleaners to get in through the stem of the bong to get the rest of the resin off your glass piece.

How to clean a bong bubbler bowl pipe step four

How to clean a bong bubbler bowl pipe step five

Clean Bong, Here We Come

Empty the dirty solution and rinse with clean water. Rinse your glass water pipe several times to ensure there’s no trace of alcohol or fumes.

Then, fill your bong up with fresh water.

Enjoy a crisp, clean smoke sesh!

There's nothing like that first hit of a clean bong! How do you keep your water pipe clean without all the work?

HOw To Keep Your Bong Clean

You know that fresh feeling from a super clean bong?

Well you can extend the life of that fresh clean glass with a few simple strategies.

Ash Catchers

Ash Catchers & Precooler Percolators

Use external attachments to outsource all the dirty work.

Ash catchers are attachments for your bong to help keep things clean.

The ash, debris, and resin of each bowl gets caught in the ash catcher instead of going directly into your bong.

This helps keep your bong clean for longer without that annoying, mucky buildup of resin along the inside of your glass.

Water Cycles

Recycle water regularly (Fresh water = Fresh smoke)

Develop a routine to regularly replenish your bong with fresh water. We promise, you’ll thank yourself later.

Depending on your use, try to refresh daily or weekly.

Refreshing your bong seems pretty obvious, but is often the most neglected way of keeping a bong clean.

Feed your bong fresh water!

Store It Empty

Stash your bong without any water in it.

This strategy requires the most effort. But it is also the most efficient for keeping your bong clean over time.

The rules are simple. Only fill with your bong with water when you need to smoke – and then just empty it out before you put it away.

Highly recommended for anyone that only smokes every once-in-awhile.

Pro Tips & Tricks

Lemon Drops

Ash Catchers & Precooler Percolators

Use external attachments to outsource all the dirty work.

Ash catchers are attachments for your bong to help keep things clean.

The ash, debris, and resin of each bowl gets caught in the ash catcher instead of going directly into your bong.

This helps keep your bong clean for longer without that annoying, mucky buildup of resin along the inside of your glass.

Refreezable Ice

Use refreezable ice cubes to preserve the perfect water level.

Replace traditional ice cubes with a fun set of refreezable ice cubes! As a result, don’t worry about the melting race against the clock anymore.

Another reason is it can take awhile to find the perfect water level for your bong. So when you finally find it, you don’t want to mess it up.

This little tip lets you enjoy icy cool hits without melting ice cubes raising your water levels.

Remember to use pieces that are small enough they won’t get stuck in your bong!

Res Caps | Bong Cleaning Covers

Res Caps create an air tight seal around the joints, or holes in your water pipes, bongs or concentrate rigs. Simply add your cleaning solution(s), pop the caps on and shake away!