New and Improved Cleaning Method

The only reason that I am calling this new is because EVERY time I tell someone about it they have never heard of it, so feel free to call it old news.

I have noticed that the basic isopropyl alcohol - salt - hot water method of cleaning glass works, but it definitely takes some time and doesn't clean fast enough for me. In fact, I noticed that hot water tends to dissolve resin better than isopropyl alcohol can do so. I am currently a college student who is a chemistry major so the pharmacology and chemical makeup of cannabis has always been interesting to me. In labs, I always use acetone to clean lab glassware, so I took some of it from the lab and used it on my bong. Acetone by itself removes more build up than isopropyl alcohol could do after soaking overnight (I can attest to that). Really guys, just a couple of rinses and shakes of acetone in your glass will make it near brand new. If the acetone doesn't get rid of all the resin by itself inside of your piece, then use a brush and hot water to rinse it out and try to scrub as much as you can as the acetone will make it loose if nothing else.

WARNING:
Acetone is an organic chemical and can be very dangerous to use, so be extremely careful. Make sure when buying you heed to any warning labels on the container. Here is some MSDS information in case of any mishaps if you try it.

Possible Health Effects

Inhalation:
Inhalation of vapors irritates the respiratory tract. May cause coughing, dizziness, dullness, and headache. Higher concentrations can produce central nervous system depression, narcosis, and unconsciousness.

Ingestion:
Swallowing small amounts is not likely to produce harmful effects. Ingestion of larger amounts may produce abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Aspiration into lungs can produce severe lung damage and is a medical emergency. Other symptoms are expected to parallel inhalation.

Skin Contact:
Irritating due to defatting action on skin. Causes redness, pain, drying and cracking of the skin.

Eye Contact:
Vapors are irritating to the eyes. Splashes may cause severe irritation, with stinging, tearing, redness and pain.

Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged or repeated skin contact may produce severe irritation or dermatitis.

Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
Use of alcoholic beverages enhances toxic effects. Exposure may increase the toxic potential of chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as chloroform, trichloroethane.



First Aid Measures

Inhalation:
Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention.
Ingestion:
Aspiration hazard. If swallowed, vomiting may occur spontaneously, but DO NOT INDUCE. If vomiting occurs, keep head below hips to prevent aspiration into lungs. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Call a physician immediately.
Skin Contact:
Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Get medical attention. Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse.

Eye Contact:
Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower eyelids occasionally. Get medical attention.




I hope everything goes well for everyone, let me know what you think of this.

À votre santé
Joey

Forgot to add that you need to rinse your glass at least 5 times with warm-hot water to be sure there is no acetone left behind

Does acetone evaporate like isopropyl?

Iso has always worked like a charm for me.

Acetone has a boiling point of 56.53 °C and Isoprypyl Alcohol is at 82.5 °C, so the acetone will evaporate before isopropyl alcohol does. Even though using the alcohol works pretty well, I still urge you to give acetone a shot. Isoproyl alcohol is widely known as a solvent and cleaner for many things, but it is also used as a biological specimen preservation fluid so it isn't entirely effective against plant material. Just my opinion after a long look at the chemical differences between the two compounds (it isn't a big difference) and have tested this theory extensively.

I use Methylated spirits and uncooked rice to clean my bong.

Nice idea, I'm going to have to give that a shot. Don't drink those spirits.... theyll make you go blind

I'm no fool mate, haha.

i would watch out with acetone if the bowl is acryllic. i know a lot of people who don't realize their bowl is not actual glass. i'm also concerned because most people don't have access to a lab and would probably be using nail polish remover which has a lot of other chemicals in it. i'm sticking with the alcohol and epsom salt, and if i really need it clean i will boil the rest of it in plain water with a shitty dollar store pan.

Total Head said:

i would watch out with acetone if the bowl is acryllic. i know a lot of people who don't realize their bowl is not actual glass. i'm also concerned because most people don't have access to a lab and would probably be using nail polish remover which has a lot of other chemicals in it. i'm sticking with the alcohol and epsom salt, and if i really need it clean i will boil the rest of it in plain water with a shitty dollar store pan.

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You can buy acetone at Home Depot since it is commonly used for contracting purposes, so pure acetone is easily attainable. You're also right on the money about acrylic. Acetone is also used in lab quite often to dissolve plastics, so if your piece isn't real glass it's going to eat right through it.

Total Head said:

i would watch out with acetone if the bowl is acryllic...

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And remove any and all rubber items when cleaning with it as it will melt them. If it's not 100% glass, don't try it.