Cleaning a Silicone Water Pipe
I recently sat down with some friends at a party and they were in awe of my silicone water pipe. And they had questions. Does it smoke differently? Is it safe to smoke from? How do you clean it? I can understand their hesitation, but the questions were easy to answer!
Silicone products have hit the market hard. I’m sure you even have a silicone utensil for cooking somewhere in your kitchen, and let’s not forget how amazing silicone dab containers have really transitioned how we keep our wax concentrates. Food grade silicone is perfectly safe to smoke from. Its non stick surface and resistance to breaking make silicone a natural choice for anyone who breaks their pipes frequently. But the question remains.. How do you clean it?
Just like there are different methods people use to clean their glass pipes, and the same is true with silicone. Let’s go through some of the popular methods:
SOAP AND WATER
Okay, so this one is a given. Some elbow grease and a mild soap with some water will do wonders. Being non stick, silicone doesn’t hold onto the oils that your glass hand pipe or water pipe will have burned onto the surface.
DISHWASHER
I clean almost all my dishes in the dishwasher. Hell, I throw everything in there from my toothbrush to my shoes. Popping your silicone pipe into the dishwasher can get it clean, but this isn’t my preferred method. I think it depends on how well your dishwasher cleans and the types of cleaner you use. Maybe my dishwasher needs to be replaced (got it free, after all!).
FREEZE METHOD
I had a friend tell me that he actually just pops his silicone pipe into his freezer for a few hours to clean it. With this method your silicone pipe needs to be DIRTY. Like you’ve never cleaned it or maybe it’s been a really hot minute with a lot of use. Rinse off the pipe and throw it in the freezer still wet. Wait a few hours. Once you pull it out of the freezer start bending and squeezing your pipe. You’ll hear cracking sounds and if you’ve done it correctly all the ice and the built up resin will fall away clean. This method works best if you have time to kill.
Keep in mind that isopropyl alcohol and salt while great for your glass pipes, it isn’t a recommended way to clean a silicone pipe. Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and oil based cleaning products can chemically damage the silicone causing unwanted swelling as it absorbs into the silicone. At Up-N-Smoke we think that the best solution is good old soap and water mixed with elbow grease.
If you’ve been thinking about a silicone water pipe as an indestructible piece then we have you covered. Stop by one of our five retail locations throughout Louisville, KY or check out our online selection of silicone water pipes and other silicone smoking supplies. Many of our silicone pipes are currently on sale and our knowledgeable staff is there to guide you through the different styles.