Dab Rigs 101: How to Clean a Dab Rig
To enjoy the best dabbing experience, it’s essential to keep your rig clean. Keeping up with regular cleaning helps reduce odor, resin buildup, and other unwanted contaminants.
99% isopropyl alcohol is the go-to cleaner for most dab rigs. Cotton swabs and Iso-Snaps are also excellent for getting into hard-to-reach areas like bangers, nails, and carb caps.
You should note that this article is solely about cleaning your dab rigs. If you’re new and looking into joining the rig family, check out our Getting Starting article!
Dab Rig Maintenance
To keep your dab rig clean, it’s important to get into the habit of regularly rinsing and cleaning the rig. This will help to reduce the amount of stubborn residue that builds up over time. In addition to regular rinsing, it’s also a good idea to change the water in your dab rig at least once every three or six months. This will help to prevent mold buildup and ensure that your water is clean and safe to use.
Getting into the habit of regularly cleaning your rig will help to ensure that it lasts longer and stays in better condition. A dirty rig will not only look bad, but it can also affect your smoking experience. It’s also important to remember that it’s essential to clean your rig before storing it. If you don’t, the rig could become home to harmful bacteria and mold that could potentially cause sickness if inhaled.
Before you begin the cleaning process, make sure that you have all of the necessary tools and materials on hand. This will include a bottle of rubbing alcohol that’s at least 99 percent pure and coarse salt. You will also need a pair of gloves and a work area that is well-ventilated.
Once you’ve gathered all of the necessary materials, start by disassembling your rig. This will make it easier to clean each part individually. Then, place each of the removable parts in a separate Ziplock bag. Pour in enough isopropyl alcohol to completely cover each of the parts and then add some coarse salt. Seal the bags and shake them vigorously. This will help to dissolve any residue and loosen up any remaining tar or resin.
Deep Cleaning Techniques
Soaking a dab rig or any attached accessories overnight will help remove a lot of the excess resin buildup and make cleaning much easier. After soaking, it’s important to rinse off everything. Be careful not to use water that’s too hot, or it could crack the glass. Once you’re done, be sure to dry your rig and any attachments thoroughly with a clean paper towel or microfiber cloth.
Another effective way to clean a dab rig without alcohol or rig cleaner is by using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. To make this solution, simply fill your rig up with vinegar and add about half a cup of baking soda. Then plug the holes in your rig (except for the mouthpiece) and give it a good shake. This will help break up any extra residue, and you can rinse it out with warm water once the soak is over.
Smokers can also clean their rigs by using a cotton swab or pipe cleaner dipped in rubbing alcohol (we’ve got some of the best cleaners from Smokin Clean on our website!). Use this to clean the downstem and bowl, getting into all of the nooks and crannies. Once you’re finished, you can clean the outside of your rig with the same method.
Cleaning your rig on a regular basis is essential to enjoying a clean smoking experience. It helps reduce odor, mold and bacteria growth, and makes it so you can inhale clean, pure vapor. Plus, it’s a lot more enjoyable to smoke out of a clean rig! So be sure to regularly clean out your rig and all of its’ components. It’s the best way to enjoy your rig at its full potential. And don’t forget to keep some extra rubbing alcohol and baking soda on hand so you can clean your rig quickly and easily!
Storing and Transporting Your Rig
For dabbing enthusiasts on the go, having a portable rig that is easy to clean and maintain can make all the difference when it comes to a great experience. If you’re considering investing in a portable rig, be sure to choose one that is made with high-quality materials like glass and silicone. This material stands up to heat well and doesn’t seep unwanted flavors into your dabs. Other essential components of a quality rig include a durable dab tool for handling sticky concentrates, a nail, and banger that can be heated with butane, a carb cap to regulate airflow, and a non-stick, odor-proof silicone storage container to keep your accessories organized and protected during travel.
The standard cleaning method for a dab rig involves running hot water through the piece to loosen and wash away any remaining residue from previous sessions. Some people also use a pipe cleaner or a cotton swab soaked in alcohol to remove any residual buildup on their nails or the surface of the piece. If you have a silicone dab rig, be careful using any alcohol solutions as they may break down the material over time.
Another way to quickly and easily clean a dab rig is by replacing the water with alcohol in the piece. If you want to speed up the process even more, add a pinch of coarse salt to the mixture to help the alcohol penetrate the residue and dissolve it. Then, give the bag a good shake to help spread out the solution and rub off any remaining grime. Once the rig is fully cleaned, pour out the solution and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Importance of Cleanliness When Dabbing
Cleanliness is key to enjoying a good dabbing experience. Keeping your rig and its components clean eliminates bacteria and prevents the buildup of residue that can affect the flavor of your dabs. Creating a routine cleaning schedule for your rig can keep it looking great and functioning properly. When your rig is clean, it will be easier to inhale the unique terpene combinations found in cannabis concentrates.
To clean your rig, first remove any attachments that are not attached to the body of the device. This will make the process more manageable and prevent you from losing any pieces. Place the nail, banger, downstem, and any other removable component in a container filled with isopropyl alcohol and allow it to soak for at least 30 minutes. This will help to break down stubborn resin and other residue. Once the soaking process is complete, use a cotton swab and pipe cleaner to scrub away any remaining gunk. Be sure to rinse and dry all of the components before reassembling your dab rig.
Cleaning a dab rig can be time-consuming, but it is important to keep up with this task in order to enjoy the best possible experience from your rig. The easiest way to do this is by cleaning the rig after each use. It is also recommended that you change the water in your dab rig regularly to reduce the amount of grime that builds up inside.
It is also a good idea to do a full teardown and cleaning every 3 to 6 months, depending on how often you use your dab rig. A deep cleaning is a great opportunity to inspect your rig and make sure all the components are in good condition. If you want a better idea of how often you should be cleaning your rig, check out Vapesters for a great article to gauge that time frame.
Still not sure how to clean a dab rig/banger? Check out our 7-Step Process for cleaning all sorts of glass pieces.
Enjoy a Clean Dabbing Experience
While cleaning a dab rig may not be at the top of many smokers’ to-do lists, it is very important for the health and enjoyment of their rigs. A clean rig allows for more efficient use and a much more flavorful dab. It is also the best way to avoid buildup that can impact future sessions.
The first step in cleaning a dab rig is to disassemble the pieces and soak the components. This will help to loosen any hardened residue that might be stuck on the pieces. The soaking process can be as short as 30 minutes or as long as two hours, depending on how dirty the rig is.
Next, the rig should be filled with isopropyl alcohol to submerge it. This is the most effective cleaner for a dab rig, as it is powerful enough to break down stubborn residue but gentle enough not to damage the rig. For a more thorough clean, you can add cotton swabs and salt to the alcohol to create a solution that scrubs away residue. The salt acts as a natural abrasive and helps to remove even more residue.
Finally, the rig should be rinsed and dried thoroughly. If any ISO or water remains on the rig, it can cause it to malfunction and negatively affect your experience.
Cleaning a dab rig can be a messy and time-consuming process, but it is one of the most important things that smokers can do to enjoy their rigs in the best possible condition. It is also the only way to ensure that your dabs are as tasty and potent as possible. By establishing a routine of regularly cleaning and sterilizing your rig, you can enjoy clean, delicious dabs every time!
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Happy dabbing! 🌿💨
Dabbing is legal if you are using legal cannabinoids to dab. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, Delta 8, Delta 10, and other hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal if they contain less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight.
1.Add water to your dab rig’s chamber.
Test the waterline by inhaling with no banger in the downstem. If water backsplashes into your mouth, you have too much water in the rig. You need to pour some out.
Use your torch to heat the banger until it gets red because it’s so hot. You want to apply the torch to the outside and bottom because that’s where you’ll load the concentrate.
2.Wait 30-45 seconds for it to cool down once the banger is hot.
If it is too hot, it will scorch your concentrate, and that’s not how you do dabs.
3.Apply the wax onto the banger with your dabber, then slowly inhale it through the mouthpiece.
Rotate the dabber tip on the hot banger to avoid wasting any wax stuck on it. Use a long, slow inhale because most of the concentrate doesn’t vaporize instantly.
4.Cover the dab with a carb cap and finish inhaling.
The cap helps regulate the airflow and gives you a better hit. This is how to hit a dab rig.
5.Exhale the vapor and repeat the process.
Remember to be cautious when you first begin dabbing. You don’t want to over-consume the concentrate and green out. It’s easy to do when dabs are so potent.
Read about the different types of wax dabs here.
Check out our blog on how to clean your glass here.
Dabs, also known as a "wax dabs", are a concentrated form of cannabis. These concentrated forms come in different textures like waxes and budders. Regardless of texture, dabs are typically used by being heated and then inhaled through special equipment, such as a dab rig or pen. The concept is like vaping or smoking - you are inhaling the vapors created by heating the dab. Inhaling is the most effective and quickest way to get the effects of your choice cannabinoid.
Yes - you can feel the psychoactive effects of the cannabinoid you choose if you dab them. However, if you are using CBD dabs, it will not get you high.
