If you’re not entirely sure how to clean a bong, or why it’s important, this is the bong cleaning guide for you.
Nothing destroys the taste of quality cannabis flower quite like a dirty bong. The mildew and bacteria that form inside a bong not only looks disgusting, it can also be harmful to health. Luckily, there are some simple ways to help preserve that taste and minimize any adverse health effects. Here’s how to clean a bong.
The Hazards of Dirty Bongs
There’s no sight more unattractive than a tabletop with empty pizza boxes surrounding a brown-stained glass bong half filled with murky, gunky, bacteria-laced water. But aside from the associated stigma, there are other genuine concerns.
Between a shared mouthpiece, dirty water, and the accumulation of mildew, ash, and oil on the glass interior, a gunky bong can quickly become a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria that a patient should never inhale.
In addition, when consumers don’t clean out their bongs and change the water regularly, a shiny film often accumulates on the water surface. Known as biofilm, this slimy layer consists of colonies of microbes that quickly begin to multiply under the unsanitary conditions.
How To Clean a Bong
There are several ways to clean a bong. Ideally, patients will clean their bongs on a regular basis and thus avoid the headache of having to clean heavily stained glass in hard to reach areas inside the bong. What follows are two cleaning methods, one of which provides a quick and easy cleaning for mildly dirty bongs, while the other, which is much more involved, will help out those with a bong caked in brown stains. Clean weekly and deep clean a few times a year.
How To Clean a Bong: A Regular Easy Clean
- Gather up the following: A basin, coarse salt, baking soda, isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, a supply of clean water, and gloves.
- Dump out any bong water and herb, take the bong apart, and place it into a basin of warm water.
- Add some coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol into the bong. Lacking either of these, vinegar and rice with baking soda is a good substitute.
- Plug the holes in the bong with your fingers and begin shaking the bong. Shake it for at least five minutes for best results.
- If you still see stains on the glass, then repeat the procedure.
How To Clean a Bong With Hard to Remove Stains
- Bongs with hard-to-remove stains require a presoak. To do so, place the bong in a basin of warm water with a small amount of dish soap (so as not to adversely affect taste afterwards) and let it sit for an hour.
- Take the bong apart and place the smaller piece parts inside small, sealable plastic bags with a tablespoon of coarse salt and some isopropyl alcohol to cover the salt. Shake them carefully and allow them to soak for another fifteen minutes before rinsing off with clean water.
- To remove any difficult stains in hard-to-reach places, use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to scrub.
Caring For a Bong
The secret to keeping a bong clean is through, regular care and cleaning. By taking the time after each use, patients can reduce exposure to harmful bacteria and pathogens. Here are some tips to help make regular care and cleaning a firm practice.
- Consider using filtered water as the minerals present in tap water may lead to water stains.
- Further, change the water after each use. By allowing the same water to lie in the bong for extended periods, mildew soon forms and quickly taints the glass with those hard-to-remove stains.
- Consider giving the bong a regular and thorough cleaning. Once per week is a good place to start.
Documented Cases of Health Issues From Dirty Bongs
There are several reasons to clean a bong after each use, but perhaps the most alarming reason comes from the findings of a 2017 study [1]Kumar, A. N., Soo, C. I., Ng, B. H., Hassan, T., Ban, A. Y., & Manap, R. A. (2017). Marijuana “bong” pseudomonas lung infection: a detrimental recreational experience. Respirology … Continue reading published in the open-access journal Respirology Case Reports (2017). Researchers in the study investigated the risks of contracting pseudomonas lung infections from bong use. Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria that can provoke lung infections. In the study, researchers focused their attention on the treatment of a twenty-three-year-old male exhibiting symptoms of pseudomonas. Researchers reasoned that his issues likely related to a four-year-long daily dirty bong practice.
Through the study, researchers uncovered that the patient likely inhaled contaminated water from a bong. The evidence they cited involved a direct correlation between the cultures present in the patient’s sputum and those swabbed from the bong itself.
For those who choose to consume cannabis with a bong, the findings suggest that regular cleaning after each use is a prudent prevention mechanism.
The bong is one of the most potent methods of consuming cannabis flower. It delivers a strong hit that will sufficiently medicate all but the hardiest of cannabis patients. For those who have the throat and lungs to withstand its intensity, do your body a favor and ensure you’re not inhaling any additional harmful compounds by keeping it clean and sparkling!
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