Can you Boil Silicone Bongs?
November 18, 2020Cleaning your favorite smoking pipe can be a tricky task. You want to be sure you get the most thorough clean possible, but you also want to be sure that you do not damage your pipe while using a harsh cleaning method. If you have a glass bong, you know how particularly careful you need to be while cleaning them. It is very, very easy to break or damage a glass bong during the cleaning process.
Silicone bongs, on the other hand, are much easier to clean because they are much harder to break. However, you may run into a problem if you wait too long to clean your silicone bong. While you do not have to worry about dirty bong water soaking through the silicone (it is nonporous after all), particularly nasty smells may linger after a typical cleaning. Harsh cleaning options, like boiling water, may seem enticing, but is it safe to boil silicone?
Can You Boil Silicone Bongs?
Yes! This may surprise you, given a silicone bongs soft, flexible nature, but silicone is tough! When water boils, it reaches a max temperature of 212F, which is below the melting point of silicone. The food-grade silicone that is used in silicone bongs can resist heat as high as 600F! This means that soaking silicone bongs in boiling water is a great option to make sure you have killed off bacteria living inside of your bong and have killed off stubborn smells that may have remained.
What Are Other Ways to Clean a Silicone Bong?
While you can boil a silicone bong to clean it, boiling your pipe may not always be an option. You have to have a pot large enough to thoroughly submerge all pieces of your silicone bong. If you do not, you will end up either have an incomplete cleaning process or a very, very lengthy one. Of course, regular cleaning can prevent having to resort to harsh measures like boiling, and other traditional cleaning options may be more convenient for you! We have listed some of the most common cleaning methods used on silicone bongs below!
1. Specialty Cleaner
There are specialty cleaners just for silicone pipes that do a great job getting them nice and clean. Our favorite is Formula 420, as they have a product made specifically for silicone.
2. Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol)
Rubbing alcohol is a good option if you are in a pinch and do not have access to a specialty cleaner. While it does a good job removing residue and smells, using rubbing alcohol adds a level of danger that you need to take special steps to avoid. After a silicone pipe is soaked in rubbing alcohol, it needs to be thoroughly rinsed with water and allowed to completely air dry. If you try to smoke with rubbing alcohol still present inside the pipe, you could easily start a fire or cause serious damage to your lungs!
3. Salt Water
Salt water is an option if you have parts of the silicone bong that are resistant to soaking and you are unable to reach to scrub. Saltwater acts as a gentle abrasive, so gently swirling the salter water inside the bong will allow the salt to scrub away at more stubborn residue. Since most silicone bongs can be taken apart, this is more likely to be a solution for cleaning a glass bong.
Where Can I Buy Formula 420?
Specialty glass cleaners, like Formula 420, can be scarce in physical retail stores. If there is a local head shop you love, you can always check there, but you are likely going to need to look to online retailers for the easiest availability. That includes here at vapevetstore.com, too! Your order will have FREE U.S. shipping with no minimum purchase required.