Dab Rig Cleaning Solutions

When it comes to maintaining a dab rig, the most important thing that you can do on a regular basis is clean it. A no “duh we know” type of statement. Still, otherwise, they take on an unsightly appearance with a yellow, brown or black tinge. Besides that, they start to lose their ability to keep your vapor smooth and flavorful due to an accumulation of residue gunk that builds up along the airways.

So naturally, cleaning is an essential component to maintaining a satisfying dabbing hobby. But, just as important as the frequency of cleaning is the type of cleaning method you use. As you’ll find out, some cleaning solutions are far better than others, both in terms of safety and effectiveness.

Why the Cleaning Solution Matters When Cleaning Your Rig

The most important step of cleaning your rig is letting it soak. But, you can’t just soak it in plain water. The goal is to soak it long enough for the compounds in your cleaning solution to lift the residue from the interior of your rig, so that it can be wiped away easily. This is a far better alternative to scrubbing your rig aggressively with some type of abrasive material like steel wool, which will only scratch up your rig so that more gunk can get stuck in those nooks and crannies in the future, making it harder to clean as time goes on.

Soaking it with the right solution ensures that you have to do as little work as possible, since the chemical reaction of the solution will do most of the hard work for you. Note that if your rig is really dirty, or if it’s been chazzed, you may need to soak it multiple times before it comes out clean. Chazzing, for those who don’t know, is when your banger has a charred, black appearance due to burning too hot.

Besides all that, you want to consider safety. The wrong type of cleaning solution can cause caustic particles to linger even after you think you’ve rinsed your rig thoroughly, and these can end up in your airways when you go to take a dab hit.

What Not to Clean Your Rig with

Before cover the best cleaning solutions for your rig, let’s quickly dive into what you shouldn’t use. Why is this important? Well, because some materials are dangerous, and therefore should be avoided completely.

• 1.NEVER, ever use bleach to clean your rig. This can leave remnants in your rig that will make their way into your body, which can lead to severe illness.Even worse, never mix bleach with dish soap or vinegar as these combinations will cause toxins to end up in the air, which can cause serious poisoning.
• 2.Never use any household cleaners, just to be safe. Window cleaners, counter cleaners, and pet stain removers all contain chemicals that are unsafe to breathe in.

Instead, stick to the recommended solutions below.

The Best Cleaning Solutions for Your Dab Rig

If you want to clean your rig in a way that makes your life as easy as possible, and keeps you from getting ill, then these are the best methods to use.

#1: Distilled Water and Coarse Salt

Distilled water and coarse salt are a great choice, with the coarse salt being abrasive as it breaks down so that it can effectively lift away residue on your rig. Distilled water is better than tap water because it doesn’t contain minerals that leave behind a residue, thus leaving your rig looking as clean as new.

#2: 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and Coarse Salt

Even better than distilled water and coarse salt is 99% isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt.In fact, this is the most popular solution by far. The alcohol and salt work together to aggressively lift away all of that pesky gunk and get rid of any discoloration that has tinted your rig. Make sure you’re using isopropyl alcohol, as other forms of alcohol may not be as effective. Some people use vodka if they can’t access isopropyl alcohol. This will work almost as well, but make sure it’s not a flavored vodka, or else you’ll end up with a sticky, sugary coating that has to be cleaned on top of the actual residue from dabbing buildup.

#3: White Vinegar and Baking Soda

White vinegar and baking soda is another unique combo that can work – not as well as alcohol and salt, but good enough for less dirty rigs.Similar to the solutions above, vinegar and baking soda can lift away residue so that it’s easier to wipe away later, saving a lot of elbow grease. Make sure that the vinegar is distilled, once again to avoid any residue that can take away from the shine you’re trying to achieve.

#4: Pre-Made Cleaning Solutions

You can find a plethora of options right here on E-Nail.com. Most of them do contain isopropyl alcohol and salt, but they do the mixing for you.Or, they contain additional ingredients that are both safe and effective.If you’re going to go this route, please read the ingredients carefully to make sure that the product you’re looking at doesn’t contain anything harmful.

What to Know About Using a Cleaning Solution for Your Dab Rig

Whichever cleaning solution you choose to use, it’s crucial to let your rig soak for the proper length of time. We recommend two hours as a bare minimum, because the longer it soaks, the better the solution is at removing the gunk so that you don’t have to work as hard to wipe it away later.

When it comes to the ratios of ingredients, you will find conflicting information.For instance, some people say a tablespoon of salt added to alcohol is ideal, while others say that’s not enough.We’ll let you use your judgment and experiment with different ratios until you find what works best for you.Don’t skimp, because you really cannot add too much of any one ingredient.As long as the consistency remains a liquid, it’s a suitable soaking solution that can effectively do its job at cleaning your rig.

Rig Cleanliness is Next to Dabbing Godliness

When it comes to cleaning your rig, you want to be very careful when choosing the right solution.Overall, the majority of dabbers find that an isopropyl alcohol and salt solution is the ideal way to go, so this is what we will recommend to anyone who wants to clean their rig as thoroughly as possible.Should you go for another method, just make sure you’re not using any harsh or dangerous chemicals, as this can ultimately get you very sick.