Clean a dab rig at home with 91% isopropyl alcohol, coarse salt, and warm water. Pour out leftover water, add alcohol and salt, shake for 60 to 90 seconds, rinse with warm water, then let the glass air dry. Heated quartz and thick reclaim need a longer soak.
How to Clean a Dab Rig Effectively (Step-by-Step)
Supplies
- 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol, about 1 cup for a 12-inch rig
- Coarse salt, sea salt, or rock salt, 2 to 3 tablespoons
- Warm water
- Two stoppers or zipper bags
- Cotton swabs and a paper towel
- Glass jar with a lid for small parts
Steps
- Empty the rig into a trash can, not a sink. Reclaim and resin clog drains.
- Remove the banger, nail, or bowl and set it aside.
- Rinse the glass with warm water for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Pour 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol into the rig.
- Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of coarse salt.
- Cover both openings with stoppers or your palms.
- Shake for 60 to 90 seconds. The salt scrubs the inside walls.
- Pour the alcohol into a sealed container for reuse or disposal.
- Rinse with warm water for 30 seconds. Repeat if a film remains.
- Set the rig on a towel and let it air dry. Moisture dilutes vapor.
Alcohol strength
91% isopropyl alcohol dissolves cannabis resin better than 70%. 99% works on thick reclaim. Lower strengths hold more water and leave a haze on quartz.
how to clean a dab rig effectively
Quartz bangers and nails
Soak a quartz banger in isopropyl alcohol for 30 minutes. Use a cotton swab on the inner cup. Do not use salt inside a banger, because grains scratch the surface. Scratches hold carbon and change heat retention. For caked carbon, soak overnight, then wipe with a swab.
How to Clean a Dab Rig After Each Use
Silicone and plastic parts
Silicone and plastic absorb alcohol and hold taste. Wash these parts with warm water and dish soap. Check the maker note. Silicone reclaim peels off when cold.
Reclaim
Reclaim is the oily residue left after vapor cools. It collects in the neck and downstem. Warm the outside of the glass with a hair dryer on low for 30 seconds to loosen it. Do not use boiling water, because thermal shock cracks glass.
How often
Clean a dab rig after 10 to 20 dabs. Change the water each day. A dirty rig holds tar and alters flavor. Cloudy water and a brown neck mean it is time.
Safety
Isopropyl alcohol is flammable. Keep it away from a torch, a lit stove, and a pilot light. Work near an open window. Do not inhale alcohol vapor. Wear gloves if your skin reacts. Store the bottle with the cap tight and away from heat.