Bongs are simple devices, which is one of the many things we love about them. But they're not screwdrivers. You can't just buy a bong, use it every day, and forget about it. A bong brings with it a certain "duty of care" as the Brits would say. Meaning it's not a self-cleaning oven. You will need to roll up your sleeves from time to time and clean it yourself. "But why?" you may ask. "What's the harm of having a dirty bong?" Actually, quite a bit of harm can come from a dirty bong and in this post, the team at the Puffr wholesale head shop will lay them out in excruciating detail.

The Hidden Dangers Lurking in a Dirty Bong

To a certain extent, we get it. You break out the customized bong because you want to be transported to alternative dimensions of experience. It’s a relaxation thing, not a work thing. But here’s the rub... if you don’t do the work necessary to keep your bong clean your main vehicle for relaxation is going to turn on you in a most unpleasant way. Here’s what happens when you don’t clean your bong.

The primordial stew

The water in your bong tank is stagnant 99% of the time. And just like a stagnant pond or a puddle next to the boiler in the basement, it's going to attract all kinds of microbes looking for a place to plant their flag.

Stagnant water is a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, algae, yeast, and other malicious microbes. If you don't clean your bong you'll see them in the form of dark spots and discoloration on the inside of the glass and a slimy film on top of the water.

Every time you inhale through this microbial miasma you’ll be inhaling a bunch of potentially dangerous mold spores and other tiny critters who care not about your health and wellbeing. You might even be tempted to drink the primordial stew in the bong thinking it must be THC-rich. We wouldn’t recommend it. Unless you’ve been looking for a reason to visit your doctor.

Just What is Lurking in That Dirty Bong?

Let’s take a snap census of all the not-so-cuddly creatures lurking inside a dirty bong.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus is a type of mold that commonly grows on cannabis plants. If you don’t clean your bong it's going to take up residence in the water tank. Breathing in aspergillus can cause aspergillosis, a nasty lung infection that can spread to other organs.

Escherichia coli or E. coli

Most people associate E. coli with chicken that’s gone bad but it is also found on the cannabis plant. Not cleaning the bong enables it to gain a foothold in the tank and stem which means you’ll soon be inhaling it. E. coli is known to cause vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

Flavobacterium

Flavobacterium is a bacteria that lives in soil and water and is often found in cannabis. Like the other microbes mentioned above it's always on the hunt for a nice, safe place to call home, like the water in your custom bong. Flavobacterium infections include pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.

Strep

The streptococcus bacteria is sometimes found inside dirty bongs. If you haven’t cleaned your bong in a while streptococcus may well be lurking inside waiting for you to inhale it. If you do, you leave yourself open to strep throat, tonsillitis, scarlet fever, and pneumonia.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Say that three times fast! This treacherous bacteria is known to live in stagnant water and can cause respiratory infections, including pneumonia, as well as infections of the blood. And take our word for it, you don’t want an infection of the blood.

Mind you, if you keep your bong nice and clean the above-listed bacteria pose virtually no threat to you. They only come out to play when you provide them with a playground, like a dirty bong.

More Benefits of a Clean Bong

If the specter of pneumonia, blood infections, strep throat, diarrhea, and vomiting are not enough to convince you to clean your bong, consider the following benefits of keeping your customized water pipe clean.

A better high!

That’s right, when you clean all the scum and goo and resin off of your bong you’re going to get cleaner hits that produce a more potent buzz.

Respiratory relief

Sucking in mold spores and detritus from the bowl is hard on the lungs. If by some miracle you don’t get sick or develop bronchitis you’re lucky. After cleaning your bong you’ll be amazed how much easier each hit is on your respiratory system.

Better tasting hits

If the bong you bought from our wholesale smoke shop is clogged with burnt materials, resin, mold, and biofilm you’re not going to enjoy the true flavor and aroma of your expensive weed. Clean your bong!

A more efficient burn

It’s not just the water tank that needs cleaning. If you notice more smoke is rising from your bowl than is being pulled through the skanky water it’s a clear indication you have a clogged bowl. Clean the bong top to bottom, including the bowl and stem, and see how much more efficiently your weed burns.

Cleaning Your Bong: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve never given your bong a proper cleaning and don’t really know how to go about it, don’t worry. The crew here at the Puffr wholesale head shop has come up with this step-by-step guide that will take you through the process. If you use your bong every day we would strongly recommend you do the following at least once a week. Your lungs, your bong, and your wallet will thank you in the long run.

What You’ll Need

The following process is for dealing with a seriously soiled bong. Once you get into the habit of cleaning it regularly you won’t have to take such drastic steps. Just rinsing it with a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol should do the trick. But for a truly dirty bong here’s what you’ll need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Salt
• Bottle brush
• One or two Tupperware containers

How It’s Done

• Step One: Disassemble the bong. Removing everything that can be removed.
• Step Two: Rinse the individual parts under hot water.
• Step Three: Fill each Tupperware container halfway with water and add ¼ cup of alcohol and a tablespoon of salt to each one. Stir the mixture thoroughly
• Step Four: Drop the rinsed parts (not the main tank, but the pieces you removed) into the separate Tupperware containers then shake each container well.
• Step Five: After 20 minutes of soaking shake each container again.
• Step Six: While the parts are soaking pour two tablespoons of salt and a half cup of alcohol into the water tank. If yours is a big bong add ¾ or one full cup of alcohol.
• Step Seven: Cover any openings and shake the bong vigorously for at least five minutes, then assess. If you need to, shake for another five minutes and then assess. If need be, use the bottle brush to remove stubborn material stuck to the inside of the glass, then shake again.
• Step Eight: Pour out the salt/alcohol mixture and rinse with hot water.
• Step Nine: Remove the parts from the Tupperware containers and rinse under hot water.
• Step Ten: Let everything air dry completely and then reassemble the bong.

Visit the Puffr Wholesale Head Shop

Bongs are maybe the best way ever invented to get high, and their simplicity is an important part of their appeal. But they won’t clean themselves and not cleaning them is not an option.

For all your cannabis-related needs visit the Puffr wholesale smoke shop in Denver, or check out the product selection in our online smoke shop. It has everything necessary to elevate your cannabis experience.