How to Clean an Electric Bong

Electric bongs, also known as electric dab rigs or e-rigs, are dry herb smoking devices that are designed for vaporizing and consuming concentrated flower-based extracts, which are typically in wax form or butane hash oil (BHO) form. Dabs, which are also commonly referred to as honeycomb, budder, amber, or shatter, have highly concentrated levels of THC, the primary component in dry herbs that gives you that amazing high.

Dry herb enthusiasts, specifically those who frequently partake in dabbing, use the traditional glass dab rig with a nail and a blowtorch. Basic dab rigs often look like classic glass bongs, only smaller. Before dabbing became popular, glass bongs were common devices for smoking dry herbs. However, they are mainly designed for consuming dry herb flowers or buds. You could say that the traditional glass bong is still a go-to dry herb vaporizer for people who enjoy or prefer to consume dry herbs in dry flower form.

Electric bongs or e-rigs, on the other hand, are quite different from your typical glass bong, dabbing rig, or vaporizer smoking device. A lot of people, especially dabbing enthusiasts, are starting to slowly move away from conventional glass dab rigs and into electric bongs or e-rigs as their primary vaporizing machine for BHOs. Nowadays, more people are enjoying their dabbing experience through a clean and well-maintained electric dry herb vaporizer bong.

Prior to the advent of the electric flower vaporizer bong or the electric dab rig, people were using nails and blowtorches to vaporize their BHOs. Many dabbing enthusiasts back in the day would use any traditional glass bong with a modified component to support BHOs or concentrated dry herb wax. The glass bong is their primary dry herb smoke machine for dry herbs and dabs. They just have to switch bowls between uses.

Today, with the advancement in technology, there is a new and much more portable device that has been making waves in the dabbing community and is making a significant impact in the dry herb industry. And that is the electric bong; a.k.a., the electronic dab rig or e-rig. Electric dab rigs are quite amazing. Just like the electric smoking pipe and portable vapes for dry herbs, the e-rig has revolutionized the way people consume BHOs.

However, just like any other device in the market, electric bongs need proper care and maintenance so that they will always deliver flavorful dabs in every session. So, how do you clean an electric bong? What is the cleaning and maintenance routine that you need to practice keeping your dabbing experience enjoyable and flavorful?

Consistency is key

Consistent care and maintenance are important when it comes to electric bongs. Just like with any other electronic device, for it to run smoothly and without any issues, you need to consistently care for it and properly maintain its main components. With electric dab rigs, this means making sure that the device is cleaned out, the battery is fully charged, and it’s ready for the next session.

However, the cleaning and maintenance process of an electric dab rig is quite different and perhaps more complex than the cleaning methods that you would normally apply to the average desktop vaporizer or the classic glass bong. Depending on the type of electric bong you have, there are different ways and a variety of tools that you can employ to keep your e-rig as fresh and pristine as possible.

The cleaning frequency

One of the most important questions you must ask when it comes to the proper care and maintenance of your e-rig is, “how often should it be cleaned?” The cleaning frequency will depend on the frequency of usage, i.e., it will depend on how often you use the electric dab rig. A good rule of thumb when it comes to e-rig maintenance is to lightly clean the device after every session and then do a deep cleaning every couple of weeks or so to maintain its integrity and effectiveness.

What you must keep in mind is that the more often you clean your electric dab rig, the less effort it will take to clean and maintain it in the long run. It is simple cause and effect. The more you use your device, the dirtier it gets. And the longer you leave it in an unclean state, the deeper the dirt and grime will dig in and the harder it is to clean. Cleaning your electric bong as often as possible will also ensure that you get the best performance from the device in every session. You get the best quality vapor and a flavorful experience.

You’ll need the right cleaning tools and supplies

What type of tools and cleaning supplies would you need to clean your electronic dab rig? Well, it all depends on the size of the device, its shape, and even the primary materials that it is made with. The cleaning process is a bit more involved than your classic glass bong, although it’s not that much different. If you’re only wiping off the residue on the bowl chamber after an enjoyable session, then all that you’ll need is a piece of cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol. That should be enough to do the job quite nicely.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to do a much deeper cleaning, then you might need a few more tools and supplies to do the job correctly. The basics should include dishwashing soap, water, isopropyl alcohol, cotton swabs, wire cleaning brush, and paper towels. Once you have gathered all the cleaning supplies and prepped, the next step is to see about disassembling the electric dab rig, so you can clean every nook and cranny. Note that you might need additional tools to disassemble the device and put it back correctly.

So how do you clean an electric bong?

The approach that you take when cleaning an electric dab rig will largely depend on the shape and the design of the device, i.e., how it’s put together. You will want to make sure that you safely remove any removable parts, and you want to separate any electronic parts from the parts that can be submerged in water. The last thing you want is to get the electronics wet, effectively damaging the device, possibly beyond repair.

If you have a standalone electric bong or e-rig, most of those devices are equipped with a glass bubbler chamber that needs to be removed before cleaning. However, the process of how to separate the glass piece will most likely depend on the make and model of your e-rig. If you’re unsure, you can search your make and model on YouTube or on community websites to figure out the disassembly process. There’s not much to it, you just must learn how to safely separate the pieces without damaging the integrity of the device.

Once you have safely removed the glass chamber from the main body or base, you can soak the glass in soapy water or isopropyl alcohol, depending on how dirty or grimy it is. If you’re going with soapy water, make sure to use dishwashing liquid as they are more effective at removing greasy residue and dirt. Although, if you want to be thorough, you can finish it off with a quick soak in isopropyl alcohol. Once you’re done, you can allow the glass chamber to air dry, while you start working on the bowl chamber of your e-rig.

The bowl chamber will most likely contain the atomizer, which has electronic components that cannot be submerged in water or alcohol. This is where cotton swabs soaked in isopropyl alcohol will come in very handy. You can use your alcohol-soaked cotton swab to give the bowl chamber a good wipe, carefully removing any stain or resin buildup. But you must be careful not to put too much alcohol on your cotton swab. You don’t want to get the bowl chamber too wet that it will affect the electronic components.

Once the individual parts of your electric dab rig are clean and completely dry, you can start putting them back together. Be careful to assemble the parts correctly. The level of difficulty, when it comes to assembling and disassembling e-rigs will depend, again, on the make and model of the device. Some e-rigs are easier to pull apart and clean than others. Just remember that Google and YouTube are your friends, especially if you’re not sure about how to disassemble your electric bong. It’s a quick and simple search away.

When it comes to electronic components like the main base and the switch, which cannot be soaked in soapy water or alcohol, wet wipes or cotton swabs lightly dipped in alcohol should do the trick. If you have an isopropyl alcohol-based wet wipe, you can use it to wipe down the main base and switch off your electric dab rig. You may also use a cotton swab lightly dipped in isopropyl alcohol, just be sure not to let alcohol run down the electronic components of your device. That’s a very bad thing, for both you and your electric bong.

If it’s your first time cleaning your e-rig, be sure to consult the owner’s manual or do a little research on the web about your device before doing anything. Finally, make sure that the device is turned off before you start removing parts. Safety first, as they say.