Your pipe remembers everything you've smoked through it. Every strain, every session, building up layer by layer.

That's not romantic. That's resin. And it's killing your flavor.

A clean pipe delivers the actual taste of your flower—not last month's leftovers. Here's how to get there.

Glass Pipes: The Standard Method

What you need:

• Isopropyl alcohol (91%+)
• Coarse salt
• Plastic bag with zip seal
• Pipe cleaners
• Warm water

The process:

1. Bag it. Place your pipe in a plastic bag. Add a tablespoon of coarse salt, then pour in enough ISO to submerge the pipe.
2. Seal and shake. Close the bag, leaving some air inside for movement. Shake for 2-3 minutes. The salt scrubs while the alcohol dissolves.
3. Soak. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Longer for heavy buildup. Really neglected pipes might need a few hours.
4. Scrub the details. Use pipe cleaners to clear the bowl and carb. Get into the airway. This is where stubborn resin hides.
5. Rinse well. Warm water, thorough rinse, no shortcuts. ISO residue tastes terrible and isn't good for you.
6. Dry. Air dry or use a paper towel. Make sure no water sits in the bowl before your next session.

Metal Pipes

Metal handles heat better than glass, but it's also more prone to holding onto residue.

Same method works, but you can be more aggressive. Boiling water loosens buildup on metal—submerge the pipe for 10-15 minutes, then follow with ISO and salt. Some people run metal pipes through the dishwasher, though this can dull the finish over time.

Avoid abrasive scrubbers that can scratch the surface. Scratches give resin more places to hide.

Silicone Pipes

Silicone is nearly indestructible, but resin clings to it differently than glass.

The freezer trick works well here. Freeze the pipe for 2-3 hours. The resin becomes brittle and cracks off. Flex the silicone gently and most of it will flake away.

For remaining residue, use ISO and salt. Some silicone pipes are dishwasher safe—check first.

One note: lower-quality silicone can absorb odors over time. This is why high-quality food-grade silicone matters. If your silicone pipe starts holding smell even after cleaning, it might be time for an upgrade.

One-Hitters and Chillums

Small pipes clog fast because the airway is narrow.

Soak in ISO for 30 minutes. Use a straightened paperclip or thin pipe cleaner to push through the channel. The resin will push out the other end. Rinse and repeat until the airway is clear.

For maintenance between deep cleans, blow through the pipe while it's still warm after a session. Clears loose debris before it hardens.

How Often?

Weekly for regular use. The smaller the pipe, the faster it clogs.

A one-hitter used daily might need clearing every few days. A larger spoon pipe can go a week or two.

When the airflow gets restricted or the taste goes off, you've waited too long.

The Payoff

First hit from a freshly cleaned pipe is a revelation. You taste the actual terpenes, the actual strain character. All that subtlety you've been missing under layers of old resin.

Clean your pipe. Taste your weed.

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