When you smoke, dirt, resin, and other stuff tend to accumulate over time. By keeping your bowl (and other accessories, likebongs or grinders) clean, you’re sure to get potent, flavorful hits and, therefore, a more enjoyable smoking experience. Additionally, regularly cleaning your bowl removes all the nasty gunk that you definitely don’t want to be smoking.

Luckily, cleaning your bowl is easy and straightforward. But if you’re a little unsure how to do it, read on, and we’ll teach youhow to clean your bowl in the best and most efficient way possible.

How to clean your bowl step by step

Cleaning your bowl is a no-brainer, and it only involves five simple steps. We’ll go over each step in detail below.

Step 1:Remove loose debris

Step 2: Place the bowl in plastic bag or container

Step 3:Add coarse salt

Step 4: Let it soak

Step 5:Rinse and dry

Cleaning your bowl, explained

What you’ll need:

• Isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%)
• Coarse salt
• Plastic bags or sealable containers
• Cotton swabs or toothpicks

Step 1: Remove loose debris

Lay a towel or tissue paper on a flat surface and start gently tapping your bowl to get rid of any loose debris inside. Inspect the inside for leftovers and use a stick or cotton swab to clean out any remainder.

Step 2: Place the bowl in a plastic bag

Put your bowl in a plastic bag or sealable container where liquid won’t leak. Fully submerge the bowl in the isopropyl alcohol for a thorough clean.

Step 3: Add coarse salt

Mix in a teaspoon of coarse salt into the alcohol. The salt will act like an abrasive that can scrub and loosen any hardened residue. Then, shake the bag or container vigorously for a few minutes to ensure the salt and alcohol mixture reaches all parts of the bowl.

Step 4: Let it soak

Allow the bowl to soak in the alcohol and salt solution for at least 2 hours. If your bowl is particularly dirty, you can leave it overnight to remove any stubborn stains and residues.

Step 5: Rinse and dry 

When it’s done soaking, remove the bowl from the bag and rinse it thoroughly with warm water. Use cotton swabs or toothpicks to clean any leftover stains and residues. Dry the bowl completely before using it again.

How to clean your bowl without alcohol?

If you want to use a more natural cleaning method that uses everyday household items, vinegar and baking soda can do the job.

What you’ll need:

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Cotton swabs
• A small bowl or container

Step 1: Remove loose debris

Tap your bowl on a towel or tissue paper to get rid of loose debris. Use a cotton swab to clean out any remaining bits.

Step 2: Add baking soda and vinegar

Pour baking soda into the container until it covers the entirety of the bowl. Shake it to allow the baking soda to cover more areas if needed. Then, add enough white vinegar to fully submerge the bowl. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar should result in bubbling.

Step 3: Let it soak

Let your bowl soak in the mixture for around 30 minutes to break down the resin and grime. If your bowl is heavily stained and dirty, you can let it sit for a few hours or overnight.

Step 4: Rinse and dry

Rinse the bowl under warm water to remove any remaining vinegar and baking soda. If needed, clean out stubborn stains with a cotton swab. Dry your pipe thoroughly before use.

Can I boil my bowl to clean it?

Yes, and it’s as straightforward as you think.

What you’ll need:

• Boiling water
• Pot
• Tongs
• Pipe cleaners or cotton swabs

Step 1: Remove loose debris

As always, start by shaking and tapping your bowl to remove any leftover debris inside. Use a cotton swab to dislodge any stubborn stains and residues hanging on.

Step 2: Boil water

Take a pot and fill it with enough water to fully submerge your bowl. Then, place it on a stove and bring the water to a boil. Using tongs, carefully place the bowl into the boiling water.

Step 3: Let it boil

Keep the bowl in boiling water for about 30 minutes so that the hot water will help loosen and dissolve any residues. Make sure the pot doesn’t boil over and that your bowl stays submerged in enough water.

Step 4: Rinse and dry

After boiling, carefully remove the bowl from the pot. Run it through warm water to remove any remaining residue. Use cotton swabs for any stubborn spots. Let the bowl dry completely before using it again.

Other ways to clean your bowl

Other cannabis users swear by using denture cleanser tablets like Efferdent to clean their bowls — and it’s really simple to do:

After tapping out the loose debris in your bowl, just place it in a bowl, fill it with water, and drop in the denture cleanser tablet. Once the tablet is fully dissolved, let your bowl soak in the mixture for 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on how dirty your bowl is. After waiting, rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly before using.

Conclusion

For a great smoking experience, it’s essential you keep your smoking accessories (bowl included) clean. Regularly cleaning your bowl ensures flavorful hits and avoids unwanted residue buildup. It's easy to do, and there are plenty of methods to choose from, such as alcohol, vinegar, or even denture cleanser tablets. Make it a habit for the best results.