How to Clean Glassware

One of the most important parts of an amazing bong experience, is ensuring your glass is clean. Today, we’ll be covering the easiest methods for achieving that “fresh from the shop” glass look.

For an easy cleaning method, here are some materials you’ll need:

• Your glass bong or pipe

• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol

• Resolution caps (or a rubber glove that you’re alright cutting fingers off of)

• Dishwasher tabs

• Small cleaner brushes

• Kettle with hot water

• Sink or bucket to work in

Set your glass piece in the sink (or bucket) and follow these simple steps:

1. Remove the downstem and bowl from your bong and set them aside.

2. Put resolution caps over the hole where your downstem goes (or a finger of rubber glove, secured to keep there from being leakage).

3. Set water to boil in the kettle, and at the same time, put your dishwasher tab in the chimney of the bong, and set your pipe/downstem/bowl in a separate dish, with a dishwasher tab.

4. If your piece has designs that will be impacted by heat or the dishwasher tab, use water that is hot from the tap (as opposed to boiling water) and make sure your resolution cap/glove will keep the outside fairly dry and protected. If you’re using hot water from the tap, you’ll have to leave it a bit longer to make sure it has time to work.

5. When the water is boiled, pour it slowly into the chimney, or into the container that your downstem/bowl/pipe is in with the dishwasher tab, stop pouring about an inch or two from the top, in case it foams up.

6. Let the heat and dishwasher tab do the work, once it’s cooled down enough to be handled, the magic should have already happened. Empty the water after swishing around the pieces you’re cleaning. At this point they should be for the most part, clean.

7. Rinse with hot water, if there are bits that are stubborn, these are usually the bottom of the bowl, inside your downstem/pipe, after rinsing with hot water, the gunk should be loosened enough to be finished up with isopropyl alcohol. I’ve never had to use isopropyl alcohol on the inside of the bong, as the tab get’s it all beautifully, and the hot water rinse is usually good enough.

8. For the smaller parts that you’re doing, after hot water, soak them a couple of minutes in isopropyl, then use toothpicks/brushes/pipe cleaners to get the last little bits, rinse again with hot water.

At this point you should have beautifully cleaned glassware!

For a quicker method, isopropyl alcohol is always a safe bet to keep things clean. We recommend checking out our FOUR20 ISO, sold at FOUR20 locations.