We're going to just come out and say it; if you want an easy to clean bong then the Voyager Bong is the best pick and we're going to explain why. However, it's not our only choice.
Choosing a bong that is low maintenance will improve your overall smoking experience. Because it is easy to clean you'll use it more often and if it's easy to clean then doing so won't be a chore. This means you're bong will remain clean for longer giving you smoother hits.
Whether you're seeking an easy way to clean a bong or the easiest bong to clean, with this guide, you'll discover the best match for your lifestyle and preferences.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Testing Methodology For Bongs That Are Easy To Clean
To test the ease of cleaning for each bong, we used a systematic methodology to ensure a fair and accurate assessment. We selected three different bongs with varying designs and smoked each for 3 days before cleaning to simulate real-world usage.
1. Initial Inspection: Before starting the cleaning process, we visually inspected each bong to note the extent of residue buildup, particularly in hard-to-reach areas such as percolators and downstems.
2. Cleaning Products: We used the same cleaning products for all bongs to maintain consistency in the testing process. This included isopropyl alcohol, rock salt, warm water, and pipe cleaners.
3. Time Taken to Clean: We measured the time taken to clean each bong from start to finish, including disassembly, soaking, scrubbing, and reassembly.
4. Ease of Cleaning: Throughout the cleaning process, we noted any challenges or difficulties encountered, such as reaching certain areas, removing stubborn residue, or disassembling parts.
5. Effectiveness of Cleaning: After cleaning each bong, we inspected each to ensure all residue and dirt were successfully removed. This included checking for any lingering odors or discoloration.
Top Picks for Easy To Clean Bongs
On first inspection, there was the expected grim buildup on the inside of the chamber where the water line was. The bowl and downstem were the dirtiest part of the bong we could see thanks to the clear glass. Other than that, after 3 days of use, the bong was relatively clean.
During and after cleaning the Voyager Bong this is what we noticed and the final result:
Key Features for Easy Cleaning
Removable Parts: The Voyager Bong is designed with detachable parts, such as the base, bowl, downstem, and mouthpiece. Thanks to the connector rings dismantling was quick and easy. The modular components were cleaned individually.
Simple Structure: The bong's straightforward and uncomplicated structure minimized hard-to-reach areas, especially once it came apart. The percolator however was more difficult to clean but thankfully was not very dirty.
Smooth Surfaces: The surfaces of the Voyager Bong are smooth and free from unnecessary crevices, which reduces the likelihood of residue buildup and simplifies the cleaning routine.
Material: The bong is crafted from high-quality borosilicate glass, which not only ensures the bong's longevity but also simplifies the cleaning process as it is non-porous. It's also easy to see all the dirt and where it's located.
Seamless Joints: The Voyager Bong is constructed with seamless joints, minimizing the risk of grime accumulation in hard-to-reach areas and streamlining the cleaning process.
So, the final result? The Voyager Bong took 5-8 minutes to clean from the start of dismantling to reassembly. The included cleaning caps also meant we could give the bong a good shake with no water spills.
There was no strenuous scrubbing and being able to clean each part of the bong made everything easy.
★★★★★
“ SINCE PURCHASING THIS BONG I HAVE LITERALLY PUT IT THROUGH HELL!
IT WAS GETTING USED DAILY BY ME AND MY ROOMMATES. THE MODULAR PIECES OF THE BONG MAKE IT A BREEZE TO CLEAN AND CHANGE WATER, EVEN THE BOWL PIECE IS DESIGNED WELL AND MADE EASY TO CLEAN.
THIS IS BIG FOR ME, KEEPING A BONG CLEAN AND HAVING THE GLASS LOOK NICE. I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER BONGS THAT WERE ALL RIGHT BUT I HAD NEVER REALLY BOUGHT A PIECE WITH QUALITY GLASS UNTIL NOW.
I'M GLAD I GOT MY VITAE BONG BECAUSE I'VE NICKED IT AGAINST ROCKS AND SLAMMED IT ON MY TABLE WHEN I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION AND THE PIECE HAS NO MARKS AND LOOKS BRAND NEW.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR HIGH QUALITY GLASS WHO WANTS SOMETHING PROFESSIONAL AND IS ABLE TO TAKE ABUSE AND PREVAIL. ”
Being able to add ice to the chamber was a cool feature we enjoyed while smoking but what was it like to clean the Chill Steel bong? Unfortunately, due to the steel design, we couldn't see inside to assess the level of residue buildup but we could smell it was time for a clean.
As we cleaned it, this was our impression:
Key Features for Easy Cleaning
Removable Mouthpiece: The Chill Steel bong is somewhat modular as the mouthpiece and downstem can be removed for cleaning making it easier.
Structure: The bong consists of the base, mouthpiece, and downstem that can be detached and cleaned individually. However, the downstem is made up of 4 individual parts that have to be cleaned each. This added time to the cleaning process.
Smooth Surfaces: The exterior steel surface is quick and easy to clean with a simple wipe-down. However, we could not use salt on the ceramic interior as recommended by Chill Steal due to potential damage [22]. We were limited to just isopropyl alcohol and warm water.
Material: The bong is crafted from stainless steel (which is very durable) on the outside and ceramic on the inside. Both materials facilitated cleaning being non-porous.
Construction: Because we couldn't see inside the bong it was difficult to know how dirty or clean the bong was. This made cleaning a bit of a guessing game as we relied on our noses.
What was it like cleaning the Chill Steel Bong? Cleaning the mouthpiece was easy however without cleaning caps the base was tricky.
We couldn't shake our cleaning solution inside the base so we used pipe cleaners. But because we couldn't see inside the base we didn't know if all the residue was gone.
We gave it a sniff test and there was still a bit of an odor so we gave it another rinse. All in all, it took us 15 minutes to clean the Chill Steel Bong.
★★★★★
“ ORDERED IT ON A SUNDAY, AND GOT IT ON A WEDNESDAY. COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER BONG, SLEEK, STURDY, AND CONVENIENT.
ALL THE PIECES WORK SO WELL TO CREATE A PLEASANT SMOKING EXPERIENCE WHILE MAKING IT VERY EASY TO CLEAN.
A BONG THAT WILL MAKE YOUR FRIENDS DO A DOUBLE TAKE. AND IT CAME ON MY BIRTHDAY. 5/5 :) ”
Although not our favorite type of bong, Gravity bongs are always fun party tricks. But what are they like to clean?
GRAV's Gravitron is one of the best gravity bongs a person can buy and similarly an easy bong to clean and this is why:
Key Features for Easy Cleaning
Separate Parts: The vase base, bottle, downstem, and bowl are all separate and can be cleaned individually quickly.
Simple Design: The Gravitron is made up of three large bong parts; the vase base, bottle, and bowl. This means there are no delicate or intricate parts that are difficult to clean.
Smooth Surfaces: The glass construction limited resin buildup and made seeing all the dirt easy.
Material: Being made from borosilicate glass meant we could see where the resin and dirt were. This made cleaning quick. It's also non-porous so doesn't absorb smells.
Construction: There are no joints or small spaces to trap dirt. Reaching all parts of the bong was easy.
There was no complicated process to cleaning the GRAV Gravitron and took a total of 12 minutes to clean. Although tricky to smoke, cleaning it certainly wasn't the case.
★★★★★
“ THE PACKAGE WAS WRAPPED TIGHTLY FOR SAFE SHIPPING. THE GLASS IS SLEEK AND EASY TO CLEAN. IT'S ALSO STURDY AND I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS WITH MY DECOR WHEN SITTING EMPTY. ”
Design Features for Easy Cleaning
When considering the design features that contribute to an easy to clean bong, several parts stand out for their practicality and efficiency:
Wide Base and Openings: The stability provided by a wide base [6] not only prevents spills but also facilitates easy access to the bong's interior. Coupled with wide openings, these design features ensure that cleaning tools and solutions can make it into all parts and crevices.
Detachable Parts: The presence of removable parts is a game-changer in bong maintenance. These components can be individually cleaned, allowing for a more thorough cleaning process. Bongs like the Voyager Bong, which unscrews into individual parts show how modular designs enhance the cleaning experience.
Material and Design Simplicity: The choice of durable and easy-to-clean materials such as borosilicate glass significantly impacts the maintenance effort required. Simple design elements, like straight tubes [6][8] further streamline the cleaning process by eliminating intricate parts that are difficult to clean.
Bong Material That Are The Easiest To Clean
What your bong is made of also impacts the cleanliness and maintenance. If you want to buy an easy-to-clean bong, then you need to know how different materials impact the ease of cleaning:
1. Borosilicate Glass:
Durability and Heat Resistance: Known for its high quality, borosilicate glass is less likely to crack or break due to thermal stress [9].
Cleaning Process: The surface of borosilicate glass is smooth so dirt has a difficult time sticking so cleaning is simpler. However, for stubborn residues, you may need to put in some elbow grease.
2. Stainless Steel:
Durability: Both materials are celebrated for their durability, with silicone being flexible and stainless steel virtually indestructible [1].
Cleaning Process: Stainless steel bongs can be cleaned with dish soap and warm water but are also compatible with isopropyl alcohol for deeper cleaning [10][2]. The lifetime of stainless steel is also long so longevity is a positive factor.
The Hardest Bongs To Clean
While we've explored the realms of easy-to-clean bongs, it's equally important to recognize those on the opposite end of the spectrum. These bongs, with their complex designs and hard-to-reach areas, present a challenge when it comes to maintenance:
1. Complex Design Bongs:
A lot of bong designs offer unique features and benefits to make smoking an experience or provide a smoother hit. The Stundenglass bong for example is a gravity bong but its intricate designs make it harder to clean.
2. One-Piece Bongs:
Bongs that are made from one piece of glass, metal, or silicon mean certain areas, especially the bottom, are difficult to access and clean effectively. This design limitation can lead to the accumulation of residues over time [1].
3. Health Considerations:
- It's worth noting that neglected bong cleanliness can have health implications. Dirty bong water can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria like E. coli and various fungi, which pose risks of respiratory conditions such as pneumonia or strep throat when inhaled.
Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Bong Clean
Once your bong is clean, you want to keep it that way to not only enhance your smoking session but also extend the life of your bong. Here are some essential maintenance tips to keep your bong clean and ready for use:
Regular Cleaning Routines:
After Each Use: Rinse with lukewarm tap water to remove loose residue and prevent buildup [1]. A detachable bong makes this simple.
Deep Cleaning: For a thorough clean, once a week disassemble your bong and soak all parts in a solution of isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. This mixture acts as an abrasive, effectively removing stubborn residue while disinfecting [7][21].
Rinsing: Always rinse thoroughly with water after cleaning to remove any cleaning solution residue [2].
Preventative Measures:
Water Change: Dump the water after each session to avoid the growth of mold and bacteria [20].
Storage: Keep your bong in a secure location, to prevent accidental damage and dust accumulation [9].
Protection: Consider using a bong case for added protection against bumps and scratches [9].
Cleaning Tools and Solutions :
Specialized Cleaners: Opt for bong-specific cleaning solutions or high-percentage isopropyl alcohol for effective cleaning [21].
Natural Alternatives: For a more eco-friendly option, vinegar can be used to clean your bong. Fill the bong with vinegar and warm water solution, let it sit for a few hours, then rinse [12].
Now You Know The Bongs That Are Easy To Clean
Bongs are the quintessential cannabis accessory. You can't call yourself a true stoner if you don't have one but they can be hard to clean sometimes. That is why everyone wants an easy to clean bong.
The VITAE Glass Voyager, Chill Steel Bong, and GRAV Gravitron stand out for their detachable designs, allowing for quick and thorough cleaning processes that promise minimal hassle. These bongs promise both functionality and ease of upkeep, offering a seamless smoking experience free from the dread of a difficult post-use cleaning.
If you want a bong that is easy to clean and a pleasure to smoke, you need to review the smoothest bong ever made. This design not only epitomizes the pinnacle of convenience but also showcases the ingenuity embedded in modern bong designs, promising a clean, flavorful, and hassle-free smoking journey for enthusiasts.
FAQs
Which bong is the simplest to keep clean?
The Voyager Bong is considered the simplest to maintain due to its design that allows each part to detach, providing easy access for cleaning. It's also made of borosilicate glass, which is dishwasher safe for those who prefer machine cleaning.
What's the most effective and easiest method for cleaning a bong?
The most effective and easiest method for cleaning a bong is generally using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and salt can be a popular and effective way to clean a bong.
What type of bong is recommended for beginners?
Straight Tube Bongs are recommended for beginners because they are straightforward to use and clean. They are also widely available in various styles, making them a popular and suitable choice for those new to using bongs.
Which type of percolator is the easiest to clean?
Dome Percolators are considered the easiest type of percolator to clean. They offer extra filtration without requiring more effort to pull, and their sturdy design makes them simple to maintain.
Sources:
[1] East To Clean Bongs For Low Maintenance
[2] How To Clean A Bong According To Pros
[6] How To Clean A Bong The Complete Guide
[7] Easy To Clean Bong Made Simple
[8] How To Clean Percolator Bongs
[9] Bong Care: 4 Tips To Help Maintain Your Bong
[10] How To Clean Your Bong The Right Way
[12] What Is The Best Way To Clean A Bong
[21] How To Properly Clean Your Bong