Sometimes, upkeep and maintenance aren’t at the top of a cannabis consumer’s priority list. Cleaning dab rigs, nails and accessories isn’t necessarily the most exciting aspect of cannabis consumption, but it’s vital for maximizing the life of your equipment and getting flavorful dabs time after time.
Learning how to clean a dab rig and its accoutrements is easier than it sounds. A simple isopropyl alcohol solution or even warm running water can be used for cleaning. Dabbing aficionados can use this practical guide on the best ways to clean a dab rig, nails and accessories.
Why cleaning your dabbing equipment is essential
Dabbing dab after dab is fun, but there comes a moment when users have to remove the accumulated resin that over time lines the inside of your dab rig, nails and accessories. Charred and dark resin, also known as reclaim, will drastically affect the original flavor profile of an extract.
In order to get the most flavor out of an extract, users must ensure they’re always using a clean dab rig. Dabbing out of a resin-encrusted nail won’t just affect the flavor, but also delivers harsh hits, which can be uncomfortable for those with respiratory conditions, coughs, or asthma.
Keeping your dab rig and accessories clean also extends the shelf life of your quality dab tools. A dirty piece can create a charred and chazzed effect that can cause breakage much faster than if you cleaned your tools regularly.
Essential cleaning supplies
The best way to clean your dab tools doesn’t require expensive solutions formulated specifically for dab rig cleaning. These specialty formulations can be effective, but a simple home solution can work just as well. For most dab equipment cleaning endeavors, these are the main materials needed.
- 90% or above isopropyl alcohol
- Salt (coarse over fine salt is preferred)
- Resealable zipper bag
- Cotton swab and/or pipe cleaner
- Dab tool, paper clip, or steel wire
How to clean a dab rig
Once you have collected the necessary dab rig cleaning materials, you can proceed with the actual cleaning process, which will vary depending on the cleanliness of the dab rig. Additionally, different methods may be used to clean different dab rig materials.
Most dab users employ the following method for cleaning glass dab rigs:
- If possible and safe to do so, scrape off as much resin as you can by applying a reasonable amount of force with a dab tool, paper clip or steel wire. Removing reclaim manually can cut down on the rest of the cleaning time. Additionally, soak the dab rig in hot water to remove the loose resin.
- Put the dab rig in a resealable zipper bag. Fill the bag with enough isopropyl alcohol to submerge the entire piece. The isopropyl alcohol will dissolve the rock-solid resin on the dab rig.
- Add a tablespoon or more of coarse salt into the zipper bag. Coarse salt has abrasive qualities that can help remove the resin better than fine table salt. Add the salt throughout the dab rig to ensure it comes into contact with their entire rig.
- Zip up the bag carefully, ensuring the solution doesn’t leak out. Shake the bag vigorously so that the salt and alcohol solutions can dislodge resin in hard-to-reach places. For extremely dirty dab rigs, it’s recommended that you let it soak for hours or a day to ensure the resin is completely removed.
- As the dab rig soaks, shake the bag as frequently as possible. The bag may have bits of reclaim floating around, making it hard to see the condition of the dab rig. If by the end of the process reclaim still remains, feel free to repeat these steps as required. Once the dab rig is cleaned thoroughly, rinse it off with water and wipe it with a soft cloth to dry.
Silicone dab rigs: The method for how to clean a dab rig is slightly different for ceramic rigs. Unlike cleaning glass dab rigs, silicone dab rigs don’t mix well with alcohol. Alcohol solutions can end up breaking down the silicone over time. Instead, users can mix warm water and mild soap to make a cleaning solution. Users can scrub the silicone with the solution to wipe off the resin. Some users claim that freezing silicone dab rigs overnight can help crack off the reclaim afterward.
Cleaning a dab rig requires a soak in isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the resin, and coarse rock salt to scrub the surface when shaked.
How to clean dab nails
To keep your quartz banger or nail as clean as a whistle, you should use a cotton swab to clean out any extract puddles or charred residue while the banger is still warm after each use. Use one side of the swab at a time to absorb any loose cannabis oil. Ideally, you’ll be dabbing without leaving any residual extract.
For residue that has accumulated on your quartz dab nails over time, bring out the isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. Use a few drops on the swab to help break apart any caked-on residue. You can also soak your quartz banger or nail in an isopropyl solution for up to a day for hard-to-remove residue.
It’s best practice to swab your quartz nails with a Q-tip after each use to prevent a build-up over time.
Many users employ the torching method to clean the residue off titanium nails. Users just heat the nail until the reclaim burns off. Other users dip the heated titanium nail with tongs into room-temperature water to remove the white oxidation residue that forms.
Some e-nails feature a “cleaning” mode that essentially burns off excess gunk that lines an e-nail. Cleaning takes up to 15 minutes and afterward, you can scrape off the leftover residue and keep dabbing away on your squeaky clean e-nail.
How to clean carb caps
Although they don’t get as dirty as other parts of your dab rig setup, you still need to know how to clean carb caps. Carb caps can be cleaned regularly after each use with a cotton swab, alcohol pad or any paper towel. Some users choose to torch it a bit to loosen the gunk. For carb caps with heavier residue, use isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab to get into hard-to-reach places or let it soak overnight for extra cleaning power.
Carb caps don’t require as frequent cleaning as dab rigs and nails, but should still be routinely maintained.
How to clean dabber tools
Cleaning techniques for dabbers depend on the quantity of residue. Usually, torching it and wiping it with a paper towel should suffice, but an alcohol pad or cotton swab with alcohol can also do the trick. Be careful when torching it if you’re holding it, since heat can quickly transfer along the tool. Use tweezers to avoid getting burned.
Dabbers can usually be cleaned using heat and a paper towel alone.
How to clean dabbing accessories
Terp pearls, quartz inserts, tweezers and other dabbing accessories can get resinous and sticky, too. To clean terp pearls and quartz inserts, you should always use some tweezers to avoid touching the hot surface. Drop them into an isopropyl alcohol solution for a few minutes and clean them with a paper towel or soft cloth. The tweezers can be clean similarly, although it’s important to note that some feature silicone parts that don’t react well with alcohol.
How to keep your dab tools clean
The easiest way to keep a dab rig and its accessories in pristine condition is to clean them after every use. Of course, this can get repetitive and time-consuming, but regular maintenance keeps each component in working order. In order to reduce long and arduous cleaning processes, cleaning a dab rig, nails and accessories after each use is recommended.
After taking a dab, users should wipe down the inside of the nail or chamber with a wet cotton swab. Frequently changing the water in dab rigs can also reduce the amount of grime that forms inside. Users can use isopropyl alcohol or plain water, depending on the consistency of the residue, to clean their accessories.
Cleaning dab tools doesn’t have to be a chore. These step-by-step instructions can be applied to cleaning a bong, smoking pipe or any other water pipe device used to smoke cannabis. Cleaning oil rigs will prevent residue from affecting a dab’s flavor and aroma so that users can have a clean and flavorful experience every time.
Great info! 👏🏻