A bong, or water pipe, is a very popular tool you can use to smoke cannabis. Bongs are as simple to use as a pipe, but they use water to cool and filter the smoke. Packing a bong requires less prep work than rolling a joint, and they come in a wide array of colors, sizes, and designs. 

Unfortunately, bongs can be tough to clean due to the immense amount of resin buildup that occurs whenever you smoke — particularly when your bong has more complex filtration features. 

Learn when it's time to clean your bong, what to avoid when cleaning, and how to clean bongs made of glass, silicone, and acrylic.

How often should you clean a bong?

Ideally, you should use clean, fresh water for every bong session. Regularly changing the bong water can remove potentially carcinogenic materials that the filtration system has released, and also help each hit taste as flavorful as possible. It also makes the bong easier to clean. We recommend cleaning bongs at least once a week.

Dirty glass bong Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

If it's been a while, you should absolutely clean your bong when the water begins to develop a layer known as biofilm, which forms across the water's surface. The biofilm can harbor nasty pathogens, from Strep and E. coli to black mildew. When inhaled, these substances can lead to serious illness, so be vigilant about changing that bong water. 

What to use to clean a bong

Before cleaning your bong, gather the following materials:

  • Coarse sea salt: Sea salt or kosher salt works best since the larger granules serve as an abrasive to help scrub away residues. Regular table salt can work in a pinch, but its finer grains might be less effective. 
  • 99% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol): Use a high percentage (91% or higher) as it's more effective at dissolving resin and other build-ups.
  • Sealable plastic bags: Useful for cleaning smaller removable pieces like bowls and downstems. Put the piece in the bag with alcohol and salt, then shake.
  • Rubber stoppers or bong plugs: Ensures the cleaning mixture doesn't spill out. If you don't have specialized bong plugs, you can improvise with plastic wrap and rubber bands.
  • Towel: Useful for drying your bong after cleaning or wiping away spilled solution.

How to clean a glass bong

Complete a thorough glass bong cleaning — you can use these steps to clean glass bubblers as well. 

Clear glass bong on white background Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Time needed: 1 hour

Step 1: Remove bowl and downstem

Remove the bowl and downstem and place them into separate sealable storage bags. Using different bags ensures that the two pieces won't be damaged or broken and affords them a more thorough cleaning. However, you can add them both to one bag if you handle the pieces carefully.

Step 2: Place in zipper storage bags with salt and alcohol

You can buy a bong-specific cleaning solution, but isopropyl alcohol and salt are your best and most affordable bet. 

Pour a handful of coarse salt into the bag and add rubbing alcohol (99% isopropyl alcohol) until the bowl and downstem are fully submerged.

Step 3: Pour out old bong water

Pour the old bong water down the drain. If you use a bong often, it's a good idea to change out the water daily. Doing so will help prevent excessive resin buildup and preserve the flavor and cleanliness of the smoke. 

Step 4: Add salt and alcohol

Woman pouring salt and alcohol into ziploc bag Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Pour coarse salt into the empty bong. Use enough to coat the bottom surface of the base. Then, pour about ¼ cup, or 60 milliliters, of rubbing alcohol into the bong and let it sit for around 30 minutes. 

Step 5: Plug holes

Plug the openings on the mouthpiece and downstem. Standard rubber stoppers will be sufficient — you can order standard-size plugs and caps from Amazon or your local head shop. Measure the mouthpiece and downstem openings before you buy plugs.

Step 7: Shake bong

Shaking the bong, as well as the downstem and bowl inside the storage bags, is the best way to remove heavy resin buildup. Shake well until you can see the resin starting to come off. Once a satisfactory amount of resin has come loose, pour out the alcohol and sea salt.

Step 8: Rinse bong, downstem, and bowl

Once you've cleared most of the resin from your bong, downstem, and bowl, use warm water to rinse them off. Lightly shake the bong as you rinse to wash away the remaining resin. Before reassembly, rinse each piece thoroughly to ensure no alcohol is left over. 

Step 9: Repeat steps, if necessary

If you find any residual resin after rinsing, repeat each step until it's flushed out. If you have a bong with extra filters or other features that make some areas harder to reach, try using pipe cleaners or cotton swabs. 

Step 10: Let air dry

If you want to use your bong immediately, wipe the outside with a paper towel or clean dish towel. Otherwise, let it air dry. 

How to clean silicone bongs

Silicone bongs offer a unique set of advantages, such as durability and flexibility, compared to glass bongs. However, cleaning silicone bongs requires a different approach than glass. 

Pink silicone bong on white background Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Here's a step-by-step guide to cleaning silicone bongs:

Materials

  • Warm water
  • Dish soap
  • Soft brush, bottle brush, or sponge
  • Commercial silicone bong cleaner (optional)
  • Towel
  • Freezer (optional)
  • Bowl or basin

Step1: Disassemble the bong

If your silicone bong has multiple pieces, like a glass bowl or downstem, remove them and clean them separately.

Step 2: Empty and rinse 

Empty the bong and give it a good rinse with warm water to remove loose particles and residues.

Step 3: Freeze (optional) 

One of the advantages of silicone is that it's freezer-safe. You can put the bong in the freezer for several hours. After it's frozen, you can easily crush and break off the majority of the residue inside, as it will become brittle from the cold temperatures.

Step 4: Use a cleaning solution

Isopropyl alcohol, often used for cleaning glass pieces, can cause the silicone to swell and degrade over time, so it's best to avoid it for cleaning silicone bongs. 

Instead, consider these options: 

  • Soapy water: You can mix warm water and dish soap to clean your silicone bong. Fill the bong with the mixture, cover the openings, and shake vigorously.
  • Commercial cleaners: There are commercial bong cleaners designed for silicone bongs that you can purchase. They should come with directions to guide the specific amount you'll need. 

Step 5: Gently scrub 

If there are stubborn spots, use a soft brush or sponge to scrub them away gently. Avoid using abrasive scrubbers as they might damage the silicone.

Step 6: Rinse

After cleaning, rinse the bong multiple times with hot water to ensure all soap or cleaning solution residues are completely washed out.

Step 7: Let dry

Leave the bong to air dry, or use a towel to help speed up the process. Once everything is clean and dry, put any separate pieces back together.

Note: Always check the manufacturer's care instructions, if available, as they might have specific recommendations or warnings for your silicone bong.

How to clean plastic and acrylic bongs

Washing a plastic bong is similar to cleaning a glass bong, though you'll want to be careful not to scratch the plastic or acrylic. 

Plastic bong on white background Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Always use non-abrasive materials when cleaning plastic bongs and use alcohol sparingly, as frequent use might cloud the acrylic over time. 

Materials

  • Warm water
  • Dish soap 
  • Salt 
  • Isopropyl alcohol (optional)
  • Zip-lock bags (optional)
  • Soft cleaning brushes or pipe cleaners
  • Soft cloth

Step 1: Disassemble the bong 

Carefully take apart any removable pieces, such as the downstem and bowl, as this will make cleaning easier and more thorough.

Step 2: Rinse

Rinsing with warm water will help remove any loose debris and flower particles.

Step 3: Fill with soapy water 

Cover the openings with your hands and give it a good shake. This will help break down the sticky residues.

Step 4: Add salt and alcohol 

If residue remains, pour out the soapy water and add isopropyl alcohol and salt into the bong. The isopropyl alcohol will help break down the residues, while the salt acts as an abrasive to scrub away the stuck particles.

Step 5: Cover openings and shake 

For smaller pieces like the bowl or downstem, you can use a zip-lock bag. Put the pieces inside, add salt and isopropyl alcohol, and shake the bag vigorously. 

Step 6: Lightly scrub if necessary 

For areas with stubborn residue, use soft cleaning brushes or pipe cleaners. Be gentle to avoid scratching the plastic or acrylic.

Step 7: Rinse thoroughly 

Rinse your bong thoroughly with warm water to remove soap, alcohol, or salt residues.

Step 8: Wipe dry 

Once cleaned, use a soft cloth to wipe down the bong and its components. Let all the pieces air-dry completely before reassembling and using the bong again.

FAQ

Can you put a bong in the dishwasher?

Putting a bong in the dishwasher might seem like a convenient cleaning method, but there are potential risks. First, the material of your bong plays a vital role; while glass bongs may withstand the dishwasher's conditions, plastic or acrylic ones could warp or melt due to the heat. 

Additionally, bongs, when used, collect resin that can leave a greasy residue in your dishwasher. This residue might coat other dishes or even cause lingering odors; plus, the vigorous washing cycle could crack your bong. 

If you're set on using a dishwasher, pre-clean your bong to remove as much residue as possible using warm, soapy water or rubbing alcohol. Secure the bong inside the dishwasher to prevent movement, and once the cycle is done, rinse it thoroughly with clean water to ensure no dishwasher detergent remains. 

Can you clean a bong with hydrogen peroxide?

Yes, you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean a bong. Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that bubbles when it comes into contact with organic material, helping to break down and lift away resin and other buildups. 

Here's how you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean a bong:

  1. Dump out the bong water. Remove any water and loose residue from your bong.
  2. Add hydrogen peroxide. Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide — 3% solution, which is commonly available at drugstores — into the bong. If your bong is particularly dirty, you can also add some coarse salt, which will act as an abrasive.
  3. Cover the openings. Using plastic wrap or stoppers, cover the openings of the bong to prevent any liquid from spilling out.
  4. Shake. Shake the bong vigorously, ensuring the hydrogen peroxide mixture reaches all parts of the bong. For more stubborn residues, let the hydrogen peroxide sit in the bong for a few minutes to allow it to work more deeply.
  5. Rinse. Empty the bong and rinse it thoroughly with warm water to remove all the hydrogen peroxide and dislodged residue.

What household ingredients can you use to clean your bong?

In addition to salt and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, you can also use baking soda, lemon juice, or white vinegar.

Why do you need to clean your bong?

Stagnant bong water, like water in a puddle, can be home to all kinds of bacteria and fungi. Yeasts and other microorganisms can also fester in dirty bong water. You do not want to ingest or inhale any of these substances inadvertently.

Was this article helpful? Give Feedback

Up Next

medical cannabis

THC tolerance: what is it and why does it happen?

Body

Are you noticing that it takes more cannabis to feel its effects? It could mean you’ve developed a THC tolerance. Learn about the science behind it and how you can reverse it.

Read More
3 weed nugs on fire on blue background

The ultimate guide to decarboxylation

Plant

Learn how decarboxylation works, why it's important, and tips for cannabis consumers with both high and low tolerances.

Read More

How to make a homemade bong

Products

A traditional glass bong is arguably one of the most satisfying ways to smoke cannabis, perhaps only rivaled by the classic joint. Today, bongs come in a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes and range in design from purely functional to artistic, smokeable sculptures. Beloved and ubiquitous in...

Read More

{EMAIL}
has been subscribed!

The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. This page was last updated on December 14, 2023.