Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Clean with alcohol and salt
• Method 2 of 3: Freeze the remains
• Method 3 of 3: Boil your pipe
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Smoking residue can make your pipe look dirty and ruin the taste of new cannabis. If you regularly clean the bowl of your pipe, no residue will build up and the pipe will last longer. Whether you want a fresh, clean pipe or want to smoke your smoking materials as efficiently as possible, you can remove the residue by soaking the pipe in alcohol, freezing it or boiling it in hot water.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Clean with alcohol and salt

1. Scrape most of the residue out of the pipe. Use a bobby pin or paper clip to loosen as much of the residue as possible. Set aside the leftovers to throw away or smoke them later.
2. Place the pipe in a plastic bag with isopropyl alcohol. Open a plastic sandwich bag and put the pipe in it. Then pour 99% strength isopropyl alcohol into the sachet until the bowl is completely submerged.
   • It is best to use isopropyl alcohol with a strength of 99%, but a strength of 70% or higher is enough to get your pipe clean. Stronger alcohol will help you clean your pipe more thoroughly.
3. Pour a tablespoon of sea salt into the alcohol. The salt loosens and breaks down the remains. You can also put some salt in the mouthpiece to clean the rest of the pipe.
   • If you want to let the alcohol evaporate and smoke the leftovers later, don't add salt. Follow the same steps and make sure that the alcohol has completely evaporated before you smoke the leftover smoking materials.
4. Close the bag and leave the pipe in it for two hours. Soaking the pipe in the alcohol and salt mixture will loosen the residue and make it easier to remove.
5. Hold the bowl through the pouch and shake it for five minutes. After soaking, shake the pipe in the bag to set the salt in motion and help loosen the last stubborn residue.
6. Take the pipe out of the bag and see if it contains any residue. If the pipe is particularly dirty it may be a good idea to repeat the process. You can also remove the last residue with a pipe cleaner or plastic cotton swab if you want a faster solution.
7. Wash the pipe with warm, soapy water when it is clean. Discard the bag with the leftovers and save the leftovers for later smoking. Wipe the clean pipe with a towel and let it dry completely before using it.
   • Be careful with the leftovers. They are very tacky and will stain all surfaces and objects they come into contact with.
   • Make sure to rinse off the alcohol completely, as alcohol is highly flammable.
8. Clean your pipe weekly to avoid a build-up of residue. Cannabis residue is very sticky and difficult to remove, especially if you have a glass pipe. Clean your pipe once a week to make the process easier and faster.
   • Soak your pipe in isopropyl alcohol for five minutes a week to keep it clean.
   • If you have a wooden pipe, don't soak it weekly. Instead, scrub the pipe with an isopropyl alcohol-dampened toothbrush to remove the build-up.

Method 2 of 3: Freeze the remains

1. Place the dirty pipe in the freezer for half an hour. With this method you do not have to scrape first. Just freeze the pipe and let the residue harden and dry out.
   • Don't leave your pipe in the freezer for more than half an hour. Some cheaper glass pipes can burst when exposed to severe cold.
   • Set a clock so you don't forget your pipe in the freezer.
2. Use a needle or scraper to scrape the residue from the pipe. After half an hour, take your pipe out of the freezer and scrape out the dry residue. Work quickly, as it doesn't take long for the residue to become tacky again.
3. Work over a sheet of paper or plastic for easy cleanup. The hardened residue has a dry, sandy texture, so it is helpful to put something under the pipe to catch the falling residue.
4. Only use this method to thoroughly clean your pipe once a month. It is not a good idea to freeze your pipe on a weekly basis because of the large temperature differences. If necessary, freeze your pipe once a month to clean it thoroughly.

Method 3 of 3: Boil your pipe

1. Boil a pot of water. Make sure to put enough water in the pan to completely cover your pipe. Heat the water on a stove or stovetop until it boils.
   • If you have a glass pipe, put the pipe in the pan before heating the water.
   • Do not use this method if you have a wooden pipe as the wood can get damaged and discolored.
2. Place the pipe in the pan using tongs. Clamp the pipe in the tongs and carefully place it in the hot water. Move the pipe back and forth a bit to loosen the residue. Keep shaking it gently until black lumps come out of the pipe.
3. Keep moving the pipe through the pan for five to seven minutes. Be careful with the pipe. Do not try to tap it on the side of the pan. Move it slowly and carefully through the pan.
   • The process may take longer if there is a higher amount of residue in your pipe.
4. Strain the leftovers from the pan. Pour the water with the remains through a coffee filter or sieve to collect the remains. If you want to smoke them later, roll them into a ball and freeze or dry them.
   • When the residue is sticky and no longer feels moist to the touch, you can smoke it.
5. Clean the rest of the pipe with a paper clip or pipe cleaner. Scrape the last residue from the bowl and smoking chamber to completely clean the pipe.
   • Remove the residue from the pipe and let it dry if you want to smoke it later. Otherwise, throw them away.
6. Use this method to thoroughly clean your pipe. Do not boil your pipe too often because of the large temperature differences. Boil your pipe if necessary to clean it thoroughly.

Tips

• Choose tools suitable for your pipe when scraping. If you have a glass pipe, make sure to use a tool that does not have sharp edges that can scratch, damage, and even crack the pipe.
• If you use alcohol to clean your pipe, always wait for the residue to dry. They should not contain alcohol when you start smoking. This process takes a long time and is not recommended for beginners.
• If the leftovers are quite cold or they have somehow gotten wet and you don't feel like waiting for them to dry, let the alcohol evaporate, make a ball of the leftovers and put the ball in the freezer to get hard.

Warnings

• Be careful when you scrape away residue from the inside of the bowl. This is sometimes the weakest part of a pipe and applying too much pressure can cause your pipe to burst.
• The remnants of smoking materials contain more carcinogenic substances and tar because it is a concentrated by-product that is formed when you burn the smoking materials. Smoking these residues can give you a headache.
• Make sure to rinse off the alcohol completely. It is highly flammable and smells and tastes foul.

Necessities

• Isopropyl alcohol (with a strength of at least 70%)
• Resealable plastic bag
• Salt (non-iodinated salt is the cheapest)
• Toothbrush
• Bobby pin, paper clip or pipe cleaner
• Metal pan with water
• Stove or hob
• Coffee filter or sieve