Back in 2019 a headshop opened called Papa Smokes. Over multiple visits I became friends with the guy who worked there, Dev Patel. During a conversation I mentioned how messy and annoying it was to clean my glass pipes.

He turned me on to a reusable pipe cleaner called Grunge Off. It gets rid of resin from both flower and extracts. Ever since then I have never once used a resinous pipe to consume cannabis. I’ve retired from boiling, scraping and buying new bowls.

Make sure you get the bottle with the blue G logo and not the white logo. The white version is the Grunge Off 99% isopropyl alcohol formula. While isopropyl alcohol will help you clean your glass, especially when warmed, stick with original Grunge Off for everyday pipe cleaning use.

Once you’ve bought your bottle of Grunge Off (Amazon, eBay), I’d recommend getting a jar to pour the liquid into. The bottle that the stuff comes in is not really ideal for soaking your pipes.

I went to Hobby Lobby and found a wide glass jar with a large mouth and screw-on lid. I’d recommend using a glass jar instead of a thick plastic jug, but both will work. If you do use glass consider resting the jar on a dab mat or some sort of tabletop padding. Be careful not to break the jar of Grunge Off because that would create an awful mess.

Replace the lid and store your jar or jug in a safe place when not in use, like under the sink with your other household cleaning products.

After you’ve filled the jar with all 16 ounces of Grunge Off, simply drop your glass pipes into the bath. Be careful not to drop them from too high to prevent splashing and clanging. Let the pipes soak for several hours. Usually I allow my pieces to bathe overnight.

At first the liquid is clear but after one use it will become dark and murky. The label says “for use only with glass” but I’ve used the stuff to clean titanium dabbers, titanium carb caps and quartz nails with no issues. I wouldn’t use Grunge Off with any other types of materials such as silicone, ceramic, stone, wood, corncob, metal or clay.

After the Grunge Off has done its work, carefully pluck the pipe from the vat. Let any excess liquid trapped inside of the piece to drip back into the jar through the carb hole and mouthpiece.

Usually I’ll position the jar of Grunge Off near the sink and use a tissue to wipe off any liquid that drips onto the outside of the jar or on the sink.

It’s not a bad idea to wear a disposable glove when removing the pipe, but you don’t have to. Either way I’d recommend washing your hands afterwards.

Rinse the piece thoroughly with cold or warm water. Be careful not to drop the pipe while rinsing. Holding the piece close to the bottom of the sink is a good precaution so if it does drop, it doesn’t fall far.

For really dirty pipes you may need to use a toothpick to manipulate some of the larger resin chunks that are left behind. You can always give the pipe a good warm water rinse or second Grunge Off bath if necessary. Large resin chunks won’t be an issue once you regularly use Grunge Off to clean your pipes.

Make sure all of the bubbles are rinsed away before you set the pipe out to dry. It usually takes about one day for pieces to fully air out.

You might not want to wait for the pipe to dry before putting it to use. In this situation use a tissue or towel to mop the water from outside of the pipe and inside of the bowl head. Gently tap the carb, bowl head and mouth piece against the tissue to remove excess water from within the pipe.

You’re now ready to go! Pack and puff your sack of stuff.

The pipe will look brand new and you’ll be able to taste the true flavor of your cannabis. Just be sure to draw slowly when the pipe is nearly cashed (finished) to avoid Scooby snacks. These are produced when ashes fly through the bowl and pipe into your mouth, providing an unpleasant taste.

You will lose a small amount of the liquid with each cleaning, so eventually you’ll need to buy another bottle of Grunge Off. A single bottle lasts me at least six months. Never add water to your pool of Grunge Off as this will weaken the formula.

One thing to keep in mind is that the solution may erode screen printed graphics on glass pieces. While most pipes don’t have screen printing, I have a Silika rig dome and a Jay and Silent Bob blind box piece that do have screen prints. Look at how the Grunge Off eroded these two images that were once fully colored.

Grunge Off can also work wonders in bongs and rigs to clean hard-to-reach areas. Just pour the Grunge Off into the bong or rig and let it soak overnight. Rinse completely in the morning.

In an effort to keep my dabbing gear free of any flower residue, I use separate batches of Grunge Off for flower resin (pipes, glass joint tips, bongs, slides and downstems) and extract residue (rigs, dabbers, nails and carb caps).

I keep a small 2 ounce jar of Grunge Off to use for restoring glass screens and glass joint tips. Just be careful when you rinse them or they will fall down the drain due to their small size!

I have also poured Grunge Off into stash jars that have formerly housed oil or flower, rendering them free of odor and bringing them back to new.

Grunge Off can take heavily resinated pipes back to a store-bought status with just one use. Check out the before and after results experienced by my friend Mel.

Here is the back of the bottle with official details and directions.

Grunge Off has been such a game-changing product that it inspired me to write a song called Clean Piece.

I once smoked bud at a buddy’s house
and he presented me with a piece that was foul.
The rez was caked and the airflow? Tight.
Desperately needed hit with an alcohol wipe.

Clean piece is how I smoke weed.
Use a bath of Grunge Off at nighttime while you sleep.
Clean piece, so I can taste my green
in the freshest way, that’s how I please, indeed.

Another time, in another place,
I found myself where a stranger’s bowl would rotate.
The end, unclean. I could see the grime.
Never cleaned a single time within its whole life.

Clean piece is how I smoke weed.
Use a bath of Grunge Off at nighttime while you sleep.
Clean piece, so I can taste my green
in the freshest way, that’s how I please, indeed.

My sleeves are green, yes, they’re caked with supreme
shake from the table, they catch when I lean
over the tray. Something special today,
because I got my Christmas wish. No more headaches.

And I’ve got samples of oi to go through.
Enough for both to enjoy, me and you.
Scented like something authentic and true,
not to mention the mind state when it is consumed.

Give me a gift, and I’ll give many thanks.
It’s been years since Mr. Hughes sampled his first taste,
but it only gets better. The freshest of trees.
For the best results you will need a clean piece.

Grunge Off, get yourself a few bottles of these.
Submerge the pipe at night, airflow cool as the breeze
the next day during usage. At times, I’ve been stupid
and broke my glass, so be careful while you clean.

I will blaze the chron until it’s all gone.
Marijuana mindset is the wavelength I’m on.
Consume the fume, don’t let gloom feelings loom, now.
Just dance with a bag, lift it up towards the moon.

Let out a howl when impressed with how loud
the bud in my bag is, smoke it up now.
Throw up a cloud. Show up downtown
to the event you’ve been waiting for, so get down.

Clean piece is how I smoke weed.
Use a bath of Grunge Off at nighttime while you sleep.
Clean piece, so I can taste my green
in the freshest way, that’s how I please, indeed.

Clean piece is how I smoke weed.
Use a bath of Grunge Off at nighttime while you sleep.
Clean piece, so I can taste my green
in the freshest way, that’s how I please, no seed.