Cannabis Cleaning Solution: 91% Isopropyl and Salt

A cannabis cleaning solution removes resin from glass, metal, and ceramic pieces. The standard mix is 91% isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. Resin is lipid-soluble, so alcohol dissolves it. Salt stays solid in alcohol and scrubs the surface. Mix it, shake the piece, rinse with warm water, and let it dry.

How to mix it

Use 2 parts 91% isopropyl alcohol to 1 part coarse salt. Kosher salt and Epsom salt work. Table salt dissolves in the water portion of 70% alcohol and scrubs less. Pour the alcohol in first, then the salt. Do not add water. Do not add dish soap unless the piece is plastic or silicone.

How to clean a bong or water pipe

1. Empty the old water into a sink.
2. Rinse the piece with hot tap water. Hot water loosens the top layer of resin.
3. Add 1/2 cup of 91% isopropyl alcohol and 2 tablespoons of coarse salt. Use more for a tube over 12 inches.
4. Cover the openings with your hands or stoppers. Shake for 60 to 180 seconds.
5. Pour the mix out. Rinse with warm water for 30 seconds.
6. Repeat once if resin remains in the percolator.
7. Set the piece on a towel and let it dry for 20 minutes. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates at room temperature.

How to clean a hand pipe or one-hitter

Put the pipe in a resealable bag. Add 1/4 cup isopropyl alcohol and 1 tablespoon salt. Seal the bag and shake for 2 minutes. Let it sit 10 minutes for heavy resin. Rinse with warm water. Use a pipe cleaner or a cotton swab on the bowl and the carb hole.

Vaporizers and electronic parts

Do not soak a battery, a heating coil, or a device with a circuit board. Remove the mouthpiece and the oven. Soak metal and glass parts in 91% isopropyl alcohol for 15 minutes. Wipe the bowl with a swab dipped in alcohol, then a dry swab. Silicone gaskets can be wiped but not soaked. Alcohol dries out silicone and plastic over time. Use warm water and dish soap for silicone.

Grinders

Scrape loose plant material into a container with a plastic card. Soak the grinder halves in isopropyl alcohol for 20 minutes. Brush the teeth with a toothbrush. Rinse and dry. Anodized aluminum holds up. Painted or wooden grinders lose finish in alcohol.

Store-bought cleaners

Formula 420, 420 Cleaner, Grunge Off, and Randy's Black Label use the same base: alcohol plus a surfactant and salt. Bottles run $10 to $25. Read the label for the surface it targets. Some are made for glass, some for metal. None are made for plastic.

What not to use

• Acetone: melts plastic and some acrylic.
• Bleach: leaves residue and reacts with ammonia. Do not use it on smoking gear.
• Gasoline, brake cleaner, oven cleaner: toxic residue.
• Boiling water on cold glass: thermal shock cracks the piece. Let the glass reach room temperature first.
• Dishwasher: heat and detergent crack thin glass and strip decals.

Safety

Isopropyl alcohol is flammable. The flash point of 99% isopropyl alcohol is 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not clean near a flame, a lighter, or a hot coil. Work in a room with open windows. Wear gloves. Cap the bottle after use.

How often to clean

Change bong water each day. Do a full alcohol clean once a week for daily use. Clean a vape mouthpiece every week. Clean a grinder every month. Clean a piece before storage.

Cleaning near cannabis plants

Do not use a cleaning solution on cannabis flower. Alcohol, soap, and bleach strip trichomes and leave residue that you then inhale. Rinse flower with plain water if you must, then dry it. Keep a separate spray bottle for the grow room and mark it.