The Best Dab Rig Cleaning Kits and Supplies

If you’re here, you’ve probably got a dirty dab rig. Don’t worry — we won’t tell anybody. In fact, we’re here to help. Check out some of the best dab rig cleaning kits on the market and learn all about the visceral need for rig hygiene. Choose some of these items to make it easier to clean your rig, or just brush up on some of the essential tips and tricks for getting it done right.

Why is dab rig cleaning so important in the first place? 

Keeping your dab rig clean and hygienic is essential for a lot of different reasons. First of all, nobody wants to hit a dirty dab rig. They taste absolutely terrible and ruin the flavors of your concentrates. Not only that, but you should really be changing the water in there every day for your own health and safety. The water in your water pipe can grow mold and strains of nasty bacteria in as few as 48 hours.

Keeping your rig clean allows you to get the best flavors and overall experience out of your concentrates. It also helps to protect your rig from carbon deposits, stress fractures, and other bad stuff. At the end of the day, a clean rig is a happy rig! Be sure to clean your banger after every use, change the water in your rig at least once a day, and give it a good thorough cleaning once a week to keep it looking, smelling, tasting, and performing at its best.

The Best Dab Rig Cleaning Kits and Supplies

If you’re new to the whole process or on a budget, all you really need to clean a dab rig is some 99% isopropyl alcohol, cotton swabs or wipes, pipe cleaners, and salt. But if you’re looking for a few ways to make it easier to include rig hygiene into your setup or dabbing routine, check out some of these products.

All-In-One Dab Rig Cleaning Kit

All-in-one dab rig cleaning kits come with pretty much everything you need to keep your rig looking sparkling clean. They come complete with a variety of cleaning items, including pipe cleaners, isopropyl wipes, double-ended cotton swabs designed to get into all of the nooks and crannies, plugs and caps so you can keep that smelly residue off your hands, cleaning solution, and specially designed swabs pre-soaked in isopropyl. If you want to have everything you need on hand at all times, you might want to opt for an all-in-one kit that covers all of your cleaning bases.

Dab Rig Cleaning Solutions

While regular old isopropyl will do you just fine, a lot of savvy dabbers opt for dab rig cleaning solutions such as Formula 710. These specially formulated solutions usually come in two main varieties: an abrasive version for stubborn messes, and a non-abrasive version for when you do water changes. Cleaning solutions are great because they’re specially formulated to put in the work so you don’t have to do so much shaking and scrubbing. They’re also a super nice touch since they leave behind a tasty, fresh scent you’re sure to love and may help inhibit the growth of bacteria or mold.

Dab Rig Cleaning Stations

The Yo Dabba Dabba Dab Cleaning Station allows you to neatly store your essential cleaning supplies.

Cleanliness is next to godliness, folks. Keep your dab station clean and keep your rig cleaning supplies handy with a dab cleaning station that keeps everything you need for your after-dab scrub in one convenient place. These stations often utilize a powerful suction cup to stick wherever you want it, and can usually hold carb caps, bangers, dab tools, and cleaning supplies — including iso. Some of them come with a little funnel that you can use to refill the covered iso container. As an added bonus, they look super sleek and organized, so you can elevate the aesthetics of your dab station and keep it neat and tidy.

Pipe Cleaners 

Pipe cleaners are great for getting up inside those hard to reach areas, like the neck on your banger or into a nearly inaccessible percolator. Their long, rigid, and bumpy design makes it easy to work your way into those tough-to-reach spots to help remove excess residue. They’re an important part of every dab cleaning station, especially for when you have to deep clean.

Cotton Swabs 

Cotton swabs should always be handy. Not only are they necessary for cleaning your nail after every use, they can also help with deep cleaning in some of the hard-to-reach areas of your banger or rig.  While a classic cotton swab you’d use in your ears may work just fine, you can also use swabs specifically designed for dab rigs and bangers to do a more diligent job with your hygiene.

Cleaning Brushes 

For super dirty rigs, silicone cleaning brushes are the move since they’re soft and won’t scratch up your glass but can still scrub those messes away. Like a bottle brush, these brushes can fit down the mouthpiece of your rig and scrub some of the hard-to-reach oils inside your rig away without scratching the glass. They come in many different shapes and sizes and can even be flexible so you can add extra scrubbing power wherever you may need it.

Antibacterial Wet Wipes 

Using antibacterial wet wipes is a great way to remove grubby fingerprints or oil spills, or just wipe off the mouthpiece before passing the rig to a friend. It keeps your rig more hygienic, which is especially important if you’re sharing it with someone else.

Cleaning Plugs 

Last but certainly not least, you can use specially designed, universally-fitted cleaning plugs to make sure none of your iso or cleaning solution leaks out while you’re giving your rig a good shake. It keeps the dirty stuff inside and away from your hands, furniture, and other stuff you don’t want smelling like bong water. It also creates a strong seal so you can shake the crap out of your rig without nasty stuff spraying everywhere.

Dab rig cleaning tips 

Whether you opt for a dab rig cleaning solution and upgraded cotton swabs or you use the classic salt and iso tech, cleaning a dab rig is pretty straightforward. To get started, start by using your torch to clear out any leftover residue from your banger. Once it cools down to a warm temperature (not a hot one) you can dip a cotton swab in a little iso to get into the nooks and crannies. If you have resin built up in the neck of the banger, drop it into a ziplock baggy with a bit of salt and iso and let it soak. Shake it up and use pipe cleaners to get into the hard-to-reach areas, and then rinse it out with hot water.

To clean the rig itself, start by dumping all the water out. If your rig is really, really nasty, you might want to boil some water and run it through the rig to help break up some of the leftover oil. From there just toss in your Formula 710 or your iso/salt combo and give it a good shake. You can use your finger to plug the holes or use a carb cap. Don’t be afraid to get in there with a pipe cleaner to get any leftovers. Once that’s done, give it a good, long rinse. Refill it to the water line and dab away! Just make sure your nail is dry before you heat it up.

All in all, keeping your rig clean is super important, but now its easier than it’s ever been before. Now that you know the tech, get in there and scrub your rig.