Today, there are many ways in which a person can experience and appreciate the effects of cannabis. Choices include the tried-and-true joint, edibles, topical CBD products and all manner of weed and wax vaporizers. But one of the oldest and most popular methods you can use to get high is the traditional glass bong. 

Bongs have been in use for hundreds of years, and - except for vaporizers - bongs are considered one of the healthiest ways to enjoy your favorite herb. However, anyone who has used one for an extended period of time knows that any glass bong brand can get downright grimy if not properly cared for. 

To make sure that a dirty bong doesn’t ruin the experience, and to keep your bong in tip-top shape, take a look at the following bong-cleaning tips. 

PREP

The first thing you’re going to want to do is get your supplies together near the sink, so you can have easy access to water. Some of the most popular products people use to clean their bongs - things you might be able to find around the house - include:

• Coarse salt
• Rice
• Baking soda
• Rubbing alcohol
• Vinegar
• Latex gloves

One thing you DO NOT NEED is household cleaners. Leave those harmful chemicals under the sink, and don’t bring them anywhere near your bong!

Now that you’re ready to get started, it’s time to empty out the bong using some warm water. The main point is to rid yourself of any solid particles or old bong water. Let the bong soak for a minute in the warm water.

You can also use this time to disassemble your bong. While every bong is different, generally speaking most have a removable stem and bowl, the part of the bong used to pack your dry herb. You’ll also want to use this opportunity to take a close look to make sure that there are no cracks or other damage to any of the glass.

The next step is to combine two important ingredients. 

First, once you’ve poured out the warm water, you’ll want to add some coarse salt into the base of the bong. As an abrasive, it will help scrape away any dirt or debris and help remove stains. If you don’t have coarse salt, you can also use rice, or even baking soda.

Second, you’ll want to add in some rubbing alcohol (also known as isopropyl alcohol) to the bong. This is the cleaning product that will act in concert with the salt or rice, and help you get the job done.

Once you have the ingredients in place, it’s time for you to cover the mouthpiece and the hole for the stem and get to shaking! Shake the mixture back and forth for at least a few minutes. The salt (or other abrasive) will combine with the alcohol and begin to dissolve that caked on dirt and grime.

Once is usually enough, but if you’ve shaken the bong vigorously for a full five minutes and still aren’t seeing the results you want, simply rinse it out and repeat the process with some fresh cleaning ingredients.

And let’s not forget the smaller pieces, such as the stem, bowl and other items. Follow a very similar procedure, only make sure to perform the actions described above with the items sealed firmly inside a ziplock bag. 

After adding the salt, you’ll want to fill up the bag so that all the small pieces are completely soaked in the rubbing alcohol. Shake, let it sit for a few minutes, and repeat. Afterwards, rinse the small pieces and finish your cleaning job with a Q-tip or cotton swab to remove any water or resin stains in the tough to reach places.

If you followed the above instructions properly, your bong should be spic and span, and looking brand new in no time. However, if there are any remaining glass stains, you can always try adding a little bit of lemon juice. 

Simply combining the lemon juice with warm water and swirling it around the bottom of the bong often does wonders. Along with using filtered water and changing the bong water every day, this is one of the best methods to prevent stains or mould from forming.

And of course, if you haven’t tried using a bong yet, then it’s time you get started! Check out our variety of glass bong brands and find your favourite today!