How to Clean Your Dab Rig – A Step-By-Step Process

Cannabis equipment maintenance is a topic that doesn’t get much attention. In part because other than occasionally scraping the resin out of your pipe or washing out your bong with a bit of Dawn dish detergent once and a while, there isn’t much to worry about.

But if you’ve jumped on the growing dabbing trend and purchased a dab rig, it’s time to get more serious about taking care of your cannabis gear.

And to help out on that front here’s a quick dab rig cleaning tutorial from Cannawayz.com.

What is Dabbing?

For those unfamiliar, dadding is inhaling vaporized cannabis concentrate. Usually a resin, but crumbles and shatters can also be “dabbed.”

As the name implies, dabbing can be done by scorching a literal “dab” of cannabis concentrate and inhaling the resulting fumes. You can also use a dab rig, which is actually a specialized water pipe, similar to a bong, that combines the cannabis concentrate fumes with water, creating vapor.

Why Do You Need to Clean Your Dab Rig?

Like bong water, or any water that sits and stagnates, the water in your dab rig can grow bacteria. And if left for too long, this bacteria can develop into Strep, E. coli, black mildew, and a host of other illness-inducing pathogens.

Additionally, the express purpose behind using a dab rig is to filter out harmful substances in the cannabis concentrate fumes. But if your dab water is dirty, filled with both filtered impurities from a prior smoking session and bacterial growth, it completely defeats the purpose.

As such, it’s best to change your dab water regularly, ideally after every use. Keeping your entire dab rig clean with a regular sanitization routine is also wise.

Step-By-Step Dab Rig Cleaning Instructions

To get started, you’ll need your dab rig, a heat source, like a lighter or torch, rubbing alcohol, sea salt, a sealable container or baggie, and cotton swabs.

Next, heat your dab rig nail or banger (the bowl where you place the cannabis concentrate). This burns off any residue left from the scorched cannabis concentrate.

If this doesn’t remove all the residue, place your nail in a sealable container with rubbing alcohol and let it soak. You can also add sea salt to the container and shake it. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, shaking it for the last minute or two.

Pour the water out of your rig (which should be replaced before every use) and pour in rubbing alcohol. For a thorough cleaning, you can add sea salt, enough to cover the bottom.

Plug your rig’s openings and shake vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes. This will loosen the internal buildup, called “reclaim.”

Dump out the rubbing alcohol and rinse thoroughly with warm water, continuing to shake the rig if any stubborn buildup remains stuck.

Alternative Dab Rig Cleaning Methods

If for whatever reason, you prefer not to use rubbing alcohol, you can also use acetate, which is found in nail polish remover, instead of rubbing alcohol. Just follow the same instructions outlined for rubbing alcohol above.

If you want to avoid chemicals altogether, hot water is another option. Pour scalding hot water into your rig and let it sit. Pour in sea salt and shake vigorously when the water cools a bit (enough so you won’t burn yourself handling your rig). Repeat the process until you’ve loosened and flushed out as much clinging buildup as possible.

Interested In Experimenting With Dabbing? Order Concentrate From a Cannabis Delivery Service!

Dispensaries inventory is often limited by shelf. This limits the number of specialty items like cannabis concentrates they carry. Cannabis delivery services, however, can stock a more extensive product selection. So, if you want to experiment with dabbing, you can order cannabis resin, crumble, or shatter online from a cannabis delivery service.

Both medical marijuana delivery services and recreational marijuana delivery services are typically available in most legalized areas.

To find a local vendor, do a quick internet search for “weed delivery near me,” and you will see plenty of providers.