How to Clean Silicone Pipes

Silicone vs Glass

Cleaning glass is not as easy as cleaning silicone. For one, you cannot simply boil a glass piece if it has been sitting in the cold. This could cause the pressure from extreme temperature fluctuations to crack the glass. Silicone does not suffer from this setback. In fact, you would clean silicone whenever and however you like without destroying it.

Silicone will never chip, crack, break, or warp on you. Glass can get brittle and fracture over time. Glass is also sensitive to temperature fluctuations and does not disperse heat easily. Silicone is easier to grip, clean, and maintain. The best perk of silicone is its affordability coupled with its resilience.

Properties of Silicone

Silicone is not at all sensitive to extreme heat or cold exposure. In fact, you could essentially leave it under the sun or in a car overnight with no damage. You would literally have to point a torch lighter directly onto it and keep it there. Even then the damage would be minimal. If you did that with glass, it would be hot to the touch and would be easier to shatter.

Silicone is designed to be tacky for good grip, and smooth for easy cleaning. It is pliable enough to fit tight spaces and durable enough to retain its shape. Silicone is superior to any other material due its many practical properties. Cleaning silicone can be done in a variety of ways without risking its integrity.

Why Silicone is Better

Cleaning silicone is just easier. With enough heat, it can be much easier to bend and flex. This makes it ideal for getting those hard-to-reach spots within the pipe itself. The bowl is usually made of glass and can simply be removed. This allows for more room to get inside the pipe. It would be impossible to do this with a standard glass pipe.

Silicone pipes come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Some even come apart which make it easier for cleaning. Whether you have a bong, bubbler, or spoon, all can be easy to clean if they are made of silicone. Unlike any other material, silicone will also last you a lifetime without breaking the bank.

Alcohol vs Boiling Water

When cleaning silicone, you can opt for either alcohol, water, or even both. The best method to clean a silicone pipe is to first take it apart. You can then dip it into some boiling water until all the gunk is pliable enough to slide off the silicone. You will often find that the residue will stick to the inner and outer surface of your silicone.

This is where the alcohol comes in handy. Simply wipe it all down with the alcohol to remove the sticky residue. This will free the silicone surface from being sticky. Since it is already tacky with grip, the last thing you want is for it to be sticky too. After cleaning, you can let it air dry. Cloth and napkins can leave behind lint and other particles due to the tacky nature of silicone.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning silicone pipes is easy and straightforward. Unlike glass and other materials, there is no worry of damaging your pipes if they are made of silicone. Always allow for your pipe to dry completely before using them. This is especially true if you used alcohol to clean your silicone. You do not want to inhale the fumes as you smoke.

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