CLEANING 101

the LEISURE issue 101 cleaning

THIS GUIDE ILLUMINATES MY MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CLEANING - AND YES BREAKING - SOME BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF GLASS.

The hardest part about writing this article was letting my bong and dab rig get dirty. So hard. There is nothing I enjoy more than tasting all the unique terpene combinations through some nice clean cool water that has traveled through an air diffuser. There is just a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about the first draw through a clean piece - I compare it to how your car feels like it slices through the air smoother after being freshly waxed. And it’s truly hard to beat a clean and smooth flavor-filled dose of Alaska's finest medicine through glistening glass. STORY BY EARLY

>>T I P S T O B E L E A R N E D A N D R E M E M B E R E D .

ALWAYS PREPARE A SAFE AREA TO PERFORM ANY CLEANING. That can include an old kitchen rag, handy paper towel or preferably an old dab mat (a typically silicone Cannabis accessory used in the practice of dabbing hash oils). This is VERY important, as a safe and soft surface is the best way to ensure that all pieces of the glass emerge unscathed from the cleaning process.

TAKE YOUR TIME. THE WORST THING IS TO END UP WITH NO PIPE, BONG OR DAB RIG WHEN YOU ARE DONE. Be sure when shaking or rinsing the various components that you do not come in contact with the edge of the sink, faucet or other components.

CLEANERS. There are many different products available on the market for cleaning glass used for Cannabis consumption. I have used many over the years - mostly alcohol based - from the first available 420 Cleaner that now comes in several varieties, to boutique blends like Randy’s Black Label that is acetate based. The old standby was 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and some kosher rock salt. I have learned over the years that the rock salt was actually scratching the glass as it was doing its cleaning. I would suggest for any inexpensive glass that any of the readily available products will work pretty well, and the scratching is not that big of an issue. For finer quality glass I would suggest using 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol, Everclear from the liquor store if available in your state, or acetone. If you warm any of these three they work much better, but you must do this extremely carefully!