According to studies, spending on the legal cannabis industry should hit $57 billion by 2027.
With this exponential growth, more and more people are finding different ways to smoke their weed. One of the most popular ones is via a glass pipe.
When you smoke with a pipe, the resin builds up. Over time, it blocks the pipe and smoking out of it because more difficult. It also affects the taste of the weed you’re smoking.
With the above in mind, here are five pro tips for cleaning glass pipes.
1. Use the Right Method for Cleaning Glass Pipes
There are various ways you can clean glass pipes. Here are three of the most common methods:
Cleaning Products
Some people prefer to use pipe cleaning products from a store or online. While it is an effective method, it can also become expensive.
The method you choose to clean your pipe depends on the amount of use it gets. If you smoke every day, using a cleaning solution will cost you a lot of money.
If you like to smoke once in a blue moon, it could be the most convenient method.
The amount of resin in your pipe also depends on the type of weed you smoke. Different types of weed can leave different resin residues. With this in mind, do your research before choosing your cleaning method.
It’s worth mentioning that a bottle cleaning solution from your local store could cost you more than $20. If you need more than one bottle a month, you’re looking at the best part of half a grand a year to clean your glass pipe.
Boiling Water and Dishwashing Liquid
With this method, put your pipe in a pot of lukewarm water over a medium fire. Then, increase until the water starts boiling.
In the space of 5 to 10 minutes, you’ll see the resin unsticking from your pipe. Once the resin starts coming off, remove your glass pipe from the water.
Let your pipe cool for up to 10 minutes and put it back in the fresh water with some dishwashing liquid.
With Q-tips, scrub your pipe until all the resin comes off. You can then rinse your pipe with warm water to remove the dishwashing liquid.
Salt and Alcohol
Salt and alcohol are a convenient and affordable alternative to professional cleaning products.
All you have to do is pour the rubbing alcohol into a bowl. Then, add the salt and stir the mixture in the bowl until it starts to dilute.
From there, put your pipe in the bowl and stir your glass pipe inside the mixture. With some time, the mixture will loosen the resin from your glass pipe.
Once you can see the resin coming off, use warm water to flush out your pipe.
This method is also great for small pipes. All you have to do is pour the same mixture in a ziplock bag, add your pipe, and shake it.
If there is too much resin stuck to your pipe, leave it to soak overnight. You can also repeat this method several times.
2. Clean Your Pipe Every Week
While the above methods are great for removing resin, you also have to take the time to clean your pipe on a regular basis.
The amount you clean your pipe will depend on the amount of use it gets.
With bongs, the process is more straightforward. You should clean this every day you use it. When it comes to glass pipes, try and clean it at least once a week.
Cleaning your pipe on a regular basis will make a difference to the taste of your weed. Instead of tasting the resin, you’ll taste your cannabis. This is especially important if you like to smoke different strains.
3. Use a Screen When You Smoke
Before, people would use screens with their pipes. This is because pipes were often wood or metal.
Today, with glass pipes, many don’t bother using screens anymore. But, little do they know that it can keep the resin from blocking their pipe.
While today’s weed is more cohesive and stays together in the bowl better, a screen can still help.
The screen won’t only stop the resin, it’ll stop chunks of weed getting stuck.
4. Don’t Forget to Use the Carb on Your Pipe
Glass pipes now come with a carb. This is the hole on the side of the pipe that you cover when you inhale.
This carb offers a similar effect to with a bong. By covering the hole, the smoke builds up in the chamber. Once you release the carb, the smoke buildup that goes into your lungs is cooler.
This method also lets air into the chamber which makes the smoke less harsh on your throat.
By using the carb on your glass pipe, debris is less likely to get stuck in the chamber. While it won’t stop resin buildup, it will offer you a cleaner smoking experience.
5. Clean Your Pipe With Products You Would Be Happy to Consume
There is a long list of products, chemicals, and additives that you wouldn’t eat if they were in your food. So, why should it be any different with your smokables?
Before you use a product to clean your pipe, check the labels.
There are various additives and chemicals in some of these products. By using them to clean your pie, you’ll be inhaling harmful substances while you smoke.
In fact, you can turn somewhat of a healthy experience into a toxic one in a matter of minutes!
Get More Tips From Legal Ways to Get High
As you can see, cleaning glass pipes isn’t that complex. That said, you need to make sure you get it right if you want to enjoy your smoking experience.
The key to cleaning your pipe is using the right products so that you don’t inhale toxic chemicals while you smoke.
You also need to take the time to clean your pipe on a regular basis. This is especially true if you smoke every day.
In the meantime, if you want more tips about cannabis, visit the Legal Ways to Get High blog today.
We share a breadth of weed-related posts as well as information on other legal substances that can get you high.