Easy Steps to Cleaning a Ceramic Bong

We love ceramic bongs because of their unique style and feel. However, like all types of bongs, they need some good TLC every now and then. More so compared with glass because of the porosity of the material. We’ll teach you how to clean a ceramic bong and keep it safe and fully functioning.

What do I need to clean a ceramic bong?

The materials that you need to use to clean the ceramic bong include:

• 95% Isopropyl alcohol and sea salt or;


• Your preferred bong cleaning solution


• Res Caps or anything that can cover the openings of your bong


• Pipe cleaners


• Q-tips


• Plastic gloves


• Ziplock bags

Iso and salt is the usual cleaning solution used by most bong users, especially by those who are in a tight budget. It’s a good solution to use because alcohol evaporates completely, leaving no residue – as long as you rinse your bong thoroughly.

Res Caps or bong covers are necessary to keep the solution inside the bong. You’ll be shaking the bong to get all that gunk out. You can use your hands and fingers to plug the holes, but do use your plastic gloves. Cleaning solutions are corrosive to the skin and can irritate you.

How to clean a ceramic bong

1. Take out any removable parts, which are usually the stem or bowl. Some bongs don’t have removable parts, which you can still clean with Q-tips and pipe cleaners. Place breakable parts in separate bags and soak it in your bong cleaning solution or iso-salt mixture.


2. If you’re using isopropyl, pour a generous amount of coarse salt inside the bong. Depending on the size of the bong, you may need a teaspoon to a couple of tablespoons. Skip the salt if you’re using a bong cleaning solution.


3. Pour enough isopropyl alcohol or bong cleaning solution to cover 1/3 of the bong.


4. Plug the holes and shake the bong for 30-60 seconds. This will help dislodge all the dirt and resin inside the bong.


5. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes, then repeat the shaking. You can use pipe cleaners pre-soaked in alcohol to clean any small holes, as well as the inside of the bong.


6. Pour out the solution and check for clarity. If the solution comes out dark and murky, you have to repeat the process.


7. When your bong cleaning solution comes out clean, rinse your bong under running water for 5-10 minutes. This will help remove any residual solution left inside the bong.


8. Do the same for the removable parts.


9. Dry your bong thoroughly in a well-ventilated area.

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Things to consider when cleaning a ceramic bong

The most difficult thing about cleaning a ceramic bong is that you can’t see if it’s clean enough or not. You have to watch the solution and cleaning water closely to see if it needs some more attention. For this reason, you need to repeat the cleaning steps several times until the cleaning solution or water comes out clean.

You also have to watch out for temperature changes. Unlike boro glass bongs or silicone bongs, your ceramic bong is more sensitive to temperature changes. Make sure that the bong, as well as your cleaning solution, are at room temperature to avoid thermal shock.

If you want to harvest resin, don’t use any bong cleaner solution or the salt-alcohol method. These will stick to the resin you’re going to harvest, making it toxic and harmful to smoke. You have to be patient and use warm to hot water to soften the resin so that you can scrape it off the bong.

Ventilation is important when you’re drying a bong after cleaning. Some experienced having molds grow in their ceramic bong because they didn’t dry the bong properly. If needed, focus a fan on the bong, making sure that air gets inside the bong for proper circulation.

Cleaning a ceramic bong is essential to keep it clean, sanitary, and bacteria-free. It’s best to practice regular cleaning, especially if you use the bong often. It’s difficult to say when you need to clean a ceramic bong because of the opacity of the material. For hygienic purposes, you need to clean it often if you’re a frequent smoker. This way, the smoke you get will stay true to the flavor of the herb you’re hitting.