How to Clean a Pipe Without Alcohol

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 7, 2019 References

When you burn a substance in a pipe, ash and resin form. Cleaning out the pipe after each usage gives you a cleaner smoke on your next use. However, you may not want to expose yourself to chemicals in alcohol-based products such as isopropyl alcohol and acetone, which are harmful to consume. Luckily, there are natural alternatives to cleaning your pipe. Clean glass pipes by combining denture tablets with hot water and clean wood pipes by shaking out excess ash and pushing a pipe cleaner into the stem.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Glass Pipes with Denture Tablets

1
Place the pipe in a container. A Tupperware container works well and can be cleaned out easily when you're finished. Ziploc bags for smaller pipes and bowl pieces are also good, since they can be disposed of after use.
- Try to avoid using cooking pots since the resin can end up staining them.
2
Drop 2 or 3 denture tablets into the pipe. Purchase a few denture tablets from the general store. Once the pipe is inside a container, place the tablets on the gunk left over from smoking.^{[1]
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- These tablets can also be substituted out for homemade cleaners such as salt and water, salt and vinegar, or baking soda and vinegar. Use equal amounts of your chosen ingredients and stir them together.
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3
Fill the container with hot water. Add hot water from the faucet to the container to submerge the pipe. The dissolving tablets create a fizz that will work on the pipe’s stains. Make sure the water isn’t boiling, or else it can crack the glass. Let the pipe rest for 20-30 minutes.
4
Use a pipe cleaner for extra effect. After 20-30 minutes have passed, the gunk in the pipe will have begun to break down. To hurry the process and lift smaller pieces, use a straw-shaped pipe cleaner from a smoke shop or the craft store. Move the pipe cleaner around the bowl and push it through the stem.^{[2]
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5
Rinse out the pipe with hot water. Place the pipe back under the faucet. Use hot water to remove all the gunk and cleaner. Afterwards, set the pipe aside to dry.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning a Wood Pipe

1
Disassemble the pipe. Wait until the pipe has cooled before you attempt to remove the stem, or else you can damage the pipe. When it cools, detach the stem from the bowl. You should perform this cleaning after every smoke.^{[3]
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2
Stir up loose ash. Cover the top of the bowl with your palm or finger. Shake the pipe for several seconds so the ash distributes evenly along the walls. This forms a cake that protects the wood of your pipe from the temperatures inside it.^{[4]
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3
Dump out loose ash. Tip your pipe over the inside of a garbage bag. Allow any ash that is still loose to float out of the pipe for disposal. Knock the pipe a couple of times against the palm of your hand to get out any ash that hasn’t settled into the cake.
4
Run a pipe cleaner through the stem. Use a straw-shaped pipe cleaner from a smoke shop or craft store to clean the insides of the pipe. Push it through the stem. If you did not detach the stem from the bowl, push it through the stem until the tip is visible in the bowl. Once the pipe cleaner gets dirty, swap it out for a new one.^{[5]
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- Pipe cleaners designed for pipes come in several varieties. Some are dipped in alcohol or other chemicals. Some are bristled, which are sharper but can help you get out more waste than craft store pipe cleaners.
- You can also cut up an old credit card and use it to remove build up from the bowl without scratching it.
5
Repeat the cleaning with other pipe cleaners. Remove the pipe cleaner in the stem. Run another pipe cleaner through the stem. You can also flip the first pipe cleaner over to an unblemished side. Continue pushing pipe cleaners into the stem until the pipe cleaners come out free of debris.^{[6]
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6
Wipe the pipe with a soft cloth. Take a soft cloth and wipe down every piece of the pipe. This will help remove moisture and keep the pipe looking as good as new. You may also see residue come off on the cloth. Go back and use the pipe cleaners the pipe is free of debris. Afterwards, allow the pipe to rest for at least a day before using it again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Pipes

1
Clean pipes out after every use. Removing the debris from pipes after smoking gets you a better smoke on next use as well as helping your pipe last longer. Proper cleaning removes the moisture you introduce while smoking. Also, for wood pipes, proper care helps you form an ash cake inside the bowl that protects the pipe from heat.^{[7]
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2
Let your pipe rest for a few days. Smokers keep a rotation of pipes. A rotation means you switch to a different pipe to use. You can use the same pipe again if you don’t have many pipes, but the longer you leave a pipe alone, the more it is able to settle and dry, protecting it from damage and keeping it from tasting sour.^{[8]
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3
Store your pipe in a safe place. Direct sunlight heats the pipe and can damage wood. Water also wears away the finish on wood. In addition, keeping a pipe loose in a pocket or vehicle means it can be scratched by keys and coins or fall out and crack. Keep it safe in a pipe pouch or sock.^{[9]
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