How to Clean a Bong Bowl and Downstem | Pop's Cannabis

Quick answer

Remove the bowl and downstem from the bong. Soak both parts in 91% isopropyl alcohol with coarse salt for 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub the bowl and the inside of the downstem with a pipe cleaner. Rinse with warm water until the alcohol smell is gone. Dry both parts before reassembly.

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What you need

• 91% isopropyl alcohol
• Coarse salt
• Warm water
• Pipe cleaners or a thin brush
• Nitrile gloves
• Sealed container or heavy zip bag
• Clean cloth or paper towel
• Trash bag for resin and used paper towel

Safety first

Work in a ventilated area away from flames, sparks, and pilot lights. Isopropyl alcohol is flammable. Keep alcohol, resin, and small parts away from children and pets. Do not use boiling water on glass parts. Sudden temperature changes can crack glass. Do not pour resin or salt down the sink.

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Step-by-step

1. Empty loose ash and resin from the bowl into the trash.
2. Pull the bowl out of the downstem.
3. Pull the downstem out of the bong.
4. Put on gloves and place both parts in a sealed container or heavy zip bag.
5. Add enough 91% isopropyl alcohol to cover the parts.
6. Add two tablespoons of coarse salt.
7. Seal the container and soak the parts for 15 to 30 minutes.
8. Swirl the sealed container for 30 seconds to move salt through the bowl and downstem.
9. Scrub the bowl interior with a pipe cleaner or small brush.
10. Push a pipe cleaner through the downstem from both ends.
11. Rinse the bowl and downstem with warm water.
12. Check the bowl holes and downstem opening for leftover resin.
13. Repeat the soak and scrub if resin remains.
14. Dry both parts with a clean cloth.
15. Let the parts air dry before you put them back in the bong.
16. Pour used alcohol, salt, and resin into a trash bag, not a drain.

If the downstem is clogged

Soak the downstem longer in fresh 91% isopropyl alcohol. Push a pipe cleaner through the narrow end first. Do not force a sharp metal tool through glass. If the downstem is plastic, check the maker instructions before using alcohol.

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Keep it cleaner longer

Empty the bowl after each session. Rinse the bowl and downstem with warm water weekly. Replace the alcohol soak when the liquid turns dark. Clean the bong body at the same time so resin from the downstem does not move back into the bowl.