How to Clean a One-Hitter
Estimated 8-minute read
One-hitters are popularly known in the smoking community to be an excellent solution for preserving your herbs. They’re one of the simplest smoking accessories available. Easy to use, affordable and convenient to have on the go. Moreover, if you treat them right, they can last a long time.
So, what happens when you use your new one-hitter more than a couple of times? The resin begins to build-up, filling your piece with bacteria and other nasty residues. Resin carries chemicals and carcinogens in a hazardous, harmful syrup-like substance. If you don’t want to smoke these on your next sesh, you should start cleaning your one-hitter properly.
Taking care of your lungs while still getting high should be on every smoker’s top priority list. That’s why today it is time you perform a deep clean to your beloving smoking accessory. Don't know how to achieve this task properly? Do not worry. We have gathered a few hacks and advice to clean your one-hitter. Next time you smoke, you’ll know for sure that you’re getting only your marijuana's good stuff, without the annoying resin’s flavor.
How to Clean a One-Hitter
Before getting down to the nitty-gritty, you must first understand how your smoking device gets clogged. At the end of any one-hitter, there’s a small bowl where you pack your finely ground-up herbs. The other end, known as the stem, is where you smoke your weed out. These are the parts that commonly get clogged and need extra care.
A few top-rated pipe cleaning solutions are available on the market, such as Grand Master Smoke Bong Cleaner or Formula 420. Although they will surely get the job done, you’re going to need to budget to keep your one-hitter clean. If you look at your house’s cabinets, you will find just what you need to ensure your one-hitter stays shining bright. Easy, cheap, and without leaving home.
Ready to take that resin-filled old pipe and turn it into something as good as new? Learn three low-budget hacks to clean your one-hitter adequately just in a few steps.
How to Clean a Glass One-hitter
Cheap and effective. Cleaning your one-hitter with isopropyl alcohol and salt is the best and most popular method. In addition, it is also a lot more environmentally friendly than a lot of commercial products. Here are the supplies you’ll need to get the job done:
- Ziploc or plastic container
- Isopropyl Alcohol (91% or above for best results)
- 4-5 tablespoons of sea salt
- Paper clip
- Q-tips
- Paper Towel
Step 1
Remove any loose particles from your one-hitter pipe by placing it in a plastic bag. Make sure to use a plastic container since it does not react with Isopropanol.
Step 2
Add alcohol and salt until your one-hitter is completely submerged. The coarser the salt, the easier it will be to break down that sticky resin. Now, mix it in a bit by either stirring your container or lightly shaking the bag.
One great hack is to pour some salt into both pipe’s ends with your fingers. It helps remove that resin buildup through abrasion, especially in the hard-to-reach places.
Step 3
Seal your pipe in the bag or hold it in the container and shake it repeatedly. Then, place it on a flat surface and let it do all the work. Make sure that the cleaning solution has gotten through it.
Leave your one-hitter inside the mix and soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour at least. For older or dirtier pipes, you should let it soak for 3 hours or, if you have enough time, overnight.
Before you take it out of the bag, give it a little shake one more time. Now take your pipe out of the solution and check how clean it is. Rinse with warm water until you flush all isopropyl alcohol out. Use a q-tip to scrub those hard-to-reach spots where resin buildup remains. Additionally, you can use a paperclip to poke through the bowl into the chamber to unclog your one-hitter pipe easily and quickly. When you’ve got all the resin out, rinse it again, place it on a paper towel and let it dry for at least 5 minutes.
Do not clean your glass one-hitter in boiling water. Keep in mind that rapid temperature change can damage, fracture, shatter, or break glass one-hitters. Moreover, accelerating the drying process by using a hairdryer can weaken the material over time, becoming fragile. So, next time be careful if you decide to heat while cleaning your glass piece.
WARNING: Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable. It is not safe to take your one-hitter straight from the re-sealable bag and light up immediately. Once your one-hitter is dry, it is ready to be loaded, packed, and smoked.
How to Clean a Dugout One-hitter
These rectangular or cylindrical cases, often made of wood, are easier to clean than they seem. Unfortunately, you will not be able to save any of that precious kief residue caked up inside since it will get wet or thrown out violently with most cleaning techniques.
Materials
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Water
- Pipe cleaners
- Gun cleaning tool (if possible)
- Air compressor (if possible)
Method 1: Using an Air Compressor or a Gun Cleaner
To perform this method, use proper ear protection, as this can be very loud. Take your air compressor and hook it up to a nozzle and blow it into your dugout. Now, check your dugout’s inside. Usually, most of the residue will go out, but sometimes some heavily caked-in kief will remain. To remove this layer, choose any of our cleaning solutions.
Gun cleaners are giant, heavy-duty pipe-cleaners. They are made for cleaning the barrels of guns, but they can help clean your dugout properly.
Method 2: Using Pipe Cleaners
When you are missing these tools, the best you can do is start with pipe cleaners. For this cleaning mission, use the hardy ones. Tie a few together to resemble a wider pipe cleaner. This hack will help to get a grip and dig out some of that caked-in residue.
Method 3: Use a Cleaning Solution
If you did the steps above and your dugout still looks nasty, use your Isopropyl alcohol and salt solution to get the rest of the job done. Simply pour the solution into the dugout's chamber, and seal it. Let it sit for about 30 minutes to loosen up any remaining dirt. Now, use the pipe cleaner again to get the best results. It's crucial to rinse heavily with water for at least 5 minutes before drying.
Now that your dugout looks clean, make sure that it is completely dry before you use it again; otherwise, you allow mold to take over your weed, leading to respiratory problems. Likewise, your herbs can absorb any alcohol residue lingering on the dugout's bottom, making them even more dangerous to smoke. To avoid this and stay safe, use a hairdryer to dry it out. Let it sit, and make sure to check if it’s dry before filling it again.
How to Clean a Metal One-hitter
This cleaning method it’s for metal one hitters only. All you have to do is simply boil them in hot water. Here are all the supplies you’ll need:
- Small Pot or saucepan
- Stove
- Water
- Bobby pins, Q-tips, or a paperclip
- Metal tongs with rubber pads
Directions
- Place your one-hitter in a small pot or saucepan. Add enough water to cover it.
- Put your stove to the highest setting. Once the water begins boiling, take the pot off the burner.
- Let the small saucepan cool. Gently pick up the metal piece using your metal tongs and swish it around. It should dislodge any plugs in the water, which undoubtedly will turn dark amber.
- Rinse and use additional tools such as Q-tips, bobby pins, or paper clips as needed to clean your one-hitter pipe adequately.
- Let it dry before smoking it again.
It is essential to know that leaving your pipe in the water for too long can actually damage it and affect its ability to retain heat over time. If your pipe looks dirtier, we advise you to use the salt & alcohol method.
How to Clean a One-Hitter Without Alcohol
Salt & Vinegar
If you have run out of isopropyl alcohol, one quick and effective solution is to use salt and vinegar. It’s a natural and easy way to clean your one-hitter, and it works fast. However, it has one disadvantage, which is the strong smell of the vinegar. Nevertheless, you can always keep your one-hitter pipe in a contained place to keep the odor to a minimum.
Baking Soda & Vinegar
No salt? Another alternative way of cleaning a one-hitter is to use baking soda and vinegar. However, this method can be less effective because baking soda is not as grainy as salt, so it is difficult to clean those hard-to-reach areas. Alternatively, you can let your one-hitter sit overnight in this cleaning solution to get rid of all the sticky resin.
Lemon Water
Among all the cleaning methods, this is the least effective. Nevertheless, it can still work as long as you are willing to sit your pipe for a more extended period in order to clean it.
Bobby pins/Paperclips
If you’re in a hurry and your one-hitter is clogged, bobby pins or paper clips can be your ultimate savior. When you don’t have enough time to perform the methods explained above, a quick solution is to open a bobby pin straight or unfold the paper clip and gently scrape the bowl’s inside. Do it carefully because rubbing too aggressively could damage your smoking accessory.
Our last piece of advice, and the best thing you can actually do, is cleaning your smoking device frequently until it becomes a regular habit. When your piece is untidy, it doesn’t work correctly. Besides, nobody likes dirty glass pieces, so take yours and don’t wait anymore.Comments
