How To Clean Your Hand pipe. Glass pipes are a mainstay, but they have a tendency to build up lots of crud that can be particularly sticky.

There are some telltale signs it’s time for a deep clean. Even if you can’t physically see it, there will likely be buildup, which is a light brown to black substance that collects after burning REDACTED in a pipe.

The good news is, glass pipes can be restored to their original sparkling glory with just a bit of patience and some household items you already have on hand.

Cleaning a glass pipe is quite simple and requires very few tools, just some household ingredients. The alcohol helps remove resin and bacteria, while the salt adds friction to remove any extra-tough bits.

Instructions 

1. Fill the pipe with isopropyl alcohol and salt. Use about a teaspoon of salt per four inches of pipe, then fill it almost all the way with alcohol. If you don’t have coarse salt on hand, you can skip it, but it will help to dislodge particularly stuck-on gunk.
2. Shake the pipe. ]Plug the holes with your fingers and give it a vigorous shake, up to 2 minutes. You can also put the pipe into a small zip-top bag and plug the holes with your fingers from the outside to prevent any spillage while shaking.
3. Pour the mixture out. Once you pour the salt and alcohol mixture out, check to see how much buildup has been removed, and repeat again if necessary. You’ll know it’s clean when there’s little to no debris left behind and the alcohol runs clear. David Morrissey, owner of Cannabis Experts, a company that sells equipment and services in the cannabis industry, recommends using cotton swabs to get into the nooks and crannies at this stage.
4. Soak the piece. If you’re finding that this method isn’t doing the trick (as in, there are a lot of stuck-on bits left inside the piece), Morrissey says you’ll want to soak the piece for a few hours or overnight. In this case, put the pipe in a zip-top bag  (like this reusable silicone one made for pipe cleaning) and pour in isopropyl alcohol until the pipe is submerged.
5. Let it dry. Once the pipe is cleaned to your liking, rinse it under some warm water and let it dry completely, about 1 to 2 hours, before using.

Note: Water from water pipes, bubblers, and from cleaning glass pipes is sticky and resinous, and shouldn’t be poured down the drain. You can toss it in the trash in a sealed container (like an old water bottle) or the zip-top bag you’re using for cleaning.

Is there a way to clean a glass pipe without rubbing alcohol?

By and large, experts and regular smokers will tell you that the alcohol and salt method is the easiest, cheapest, and most effective method.

While isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt will certainly get the job done, lots of REDACTED users also turn to specialized cleaners which tend to work faster and require less direct attention.

When all else fails you can always purchase a fresh piece. Make sure to check out our newest selection of products!