Short answer
Buy 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt, then plug both openings of the piece and shake. That pair removes resin in one or two rounds. The purchase decision is the part people get wrong: 70% alcohol carries too much water to cut sticky resin, and fine table salt dissolves before it can scrub. If you clean glass at least once a week, a bottle of 99% isopropyl, a box of coarse salt, and a pair of silicone plugs last for months.
What to look for when you buy cleaning supplies
Alcohol concentration
Isopropyl is sold at 70%, 91%, and 99%. Higher concentration dissolves resin faster and evaporates with less residue, but it dries skin and puts flammable vapor in the air, so treat it as a solvent rather than a household cleaner. Look for the word "isopropyl" on the label and skip rubbing alcohol blends with added fragrance, glycerin, or dyes, which leave a film inside the glass.
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Salt grain size
Coarse salt, kosher salt, or rock salt acts as the abrasive. Grains around 1 to 3 mm scrape resin off the walls without packing into small percolator holes. Fine table salt and thin sea salt flakes break down within seconds and add nothing.
Plugs and caps
Silicone stoppers are sold in assortments sized for 14 mm and 18 mm joints. A snug plug lets you shake the piece without holding a thumb over the opening. Rubber works too, but silicone holds up better to repeated alcohol contact.
Brushes and small tools
Add a long bottle brush for straight tubes and pipe cleaners or a downstem brush for narrow necks. For heavy buildup, a resealable bag lets small parts soak without emptying a full bottle of alcohol.
Parameter bands that matter
- Isopropyl concentration: 70% for light surface film; 91% for routine cleaning; 99% for heavy resin and reclaim.
- Soak time: 10 to 15 minutes for a light film, 30 minutes for average buildup, overnight for glass that has been neglected.
- Shake time: 30 to 60 seconds per round, with a rinse between rounds.
- Salt ratio: about 1 tablespoon per cup of alcohol, or enough that you hear it moving when you shake.
- Rinse water temperature: warm to hot tap water. Never boiling, since thermal shock cracks glass.
Step by step
- Empty the piece and rinse it to clear loose ash and standing water.
- Pour in alcohol until it covers the resin line, then add coarse salt.
- Plug the joint and the mouthpiece, then shake in a circular motion.
- Let it sit 10 to 30 minutes so the alcohol reaches resin you cannot see.
- Shake again, pour the dirty alcohol into a sealed container, and rinse with hot water.
- Repeat once if the glass still feels slick. Air dry with the openings facing down.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Acrylic and polycarbonate: alcohol clouds these plastics and can cause cracks. Use it on borosilicate glass, quartz, ceramic, and stainless steel.
- Heat and flame: isopropyl vapor ignites. Do not warm the bottle, do not clean near a lit bowl, and open a window.
- Mixing cleaners: never combine alcohol with bleach or ammonia.
- Long soaks on glued joints and decals: alcohol softens some adhesives and printed graphics.
- Fine percs: skip the salt in honeycomb and showerhead percs with tiny holes, where grains can lodge. Soak those in alcohol only.
- Leftover hardware: pull silicone grommets and rubber parts before soaking. They swell and hold odor.
- Drain disposal: small amounts rinsed with water are manageable, but large volumes belong at a household hazardous waste site. Let used alcohol evaporate outdoors in a sealed, labeled jar away from kids and pets.
Safety notes
Isopropyl alcohol is toxic when swallowed and irritates eyes, skin, and airways. Store it out of reach of children and pets, and keep the room ventilated while you work. Used alcohol holds resin and smells strong, so label the container and keep it off kitchen counters. Poison centers handle accidental rubbing alcohol ingestions every year, and small children are at the highest risk.
FAQ
Can I clean a bong with 70% alcohol?
Yes, but expect more scrubbing and more rounds. The water content dilutes the solvent, so 70% works best as a soak for light residue or as a final wipe.
How long should I soak a bong in alcohol?
Fifteen minutes handles most weekly buildup. Thirty minutes is a good default for a piece used several times a day, and an overnight soak is fine for glass that has gone a long time without cleaning, as long as no glued parts or decals sit under the liquid.
Does salt scratch the glass?
Coarse salt will not scratch borosilicate glass. It can scuff soft plastics and painted logos, and it can lodge in small perc holes.
What if I do not have plugs?
Use your palms, a cork, or plastic wrap held with a rubber band. Any seal that holds while you shake will do the job.
How do I remove the alcohol smell?
Rinse with hot water twice, then let the piece air dry upside down. A short soak in warm water with a drop of dish soap clears the last of the vapor.
Is alcohol safe for silicone bongs?
Short contact is fine, but long soaks dry out silicone and leave a lingering taste. Warm soapy water handles silicone better.