Help! Cleaned My Favorite Pipe with 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

spurgeon12 · Oct 8, 2017

Hi all, new pipe smoker here who fittingly made a rookie mistake. I cleaned my 1 month old Peterson pipe with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. I dipped a pipe cleaner in it and ran it through the briar opening after I took the mouthpiece off. I then put it in a pouch and smoked it the next day, and it tasted terrible. I have been letting it sit out for the last 2 days but have been afraid to smoke it again because I don't want to make it worse. Any tips on how to get past this road bump? I love my Peterson and it was just starting to get a nice sweet cake around the inside. Any help or advice would be much appreciated! Thanks.
Edited by jvnshr: Title capitalization.

darwin · Oct 8, 2017

Leave it apart and out of the pouch for a few days. It should be fine.

theloniousmonkfish · Oct 8, 2017

It's fine, smoke a few bowls of Burley to chase out the taste.

sablebrush52 · Oct 8, 2017

Flush the pipe with hot running water, then dry. I've used isopropyl alcohol with no problems and haven't noticed a taste since it's evaporated off long before I use the pipe, but a few people swear that they can taste it. The hot water flush should remedy the issue.

theloniousmonkfish · Oct 8, 2017

It gets used here sometimes and I can taste it, takes 2 or 3 bowls to chase it completely. Kind of a bitter/astringent taste to me.

jpmcwjr · Oct 9, 2017

The water flush will do the trick. If you paper towel dry the chamber, pipe cleaner in the airway, Q-tip in the mortise, you can smoke it right after.
Do not leave the stem out of the mortise! A good way to invite a poor fit, as the briar will dry out and the mortise hole will expand. At the same time, as the moisture leaves, it can be more difficult to insert the tenon. So, you could end up with either a too-tight fit, or too loose one.

Chasing Embers · Oct 9, 2017

I usually use moonshine, but when my jars are empty, I've used isoprobyl. No ill effects, and it can be chased our after a few smokes.

wyfbane · Oct 9, 2017

I use 91% isopropyl on pipes a lot. It's a whole lot cheaper than everclear and the flavor profile isn't drastically different, based on the smell.
I don't have a connection for 'shine, am lamenting the end of Bacardi 151, and haven't been to Canada in 3 years so am out of Lamb's 151 Rum.
I have never noticed a lasting taste in any of the pipes I have isopropyl'd.

Chasing Embers · Oct 9, 2017

I don't have a connection for 'shine

One perk 'o bein' a mountain boy!

mikestanley · Oct 9, 2017

You may have just “agitated” the dip stain. You may need to clean it more. I use 91% with no issues.

Mike S.

sumusfumus · Oct 9, 2017

Try moistening a paper napkin with some Rum Extract high-proof brandy, grain alcohol...all food-grade, BTW. Now, force that moist, not wet, paper napkin into the bowl of your ghosted pipe, twist it around, and leave the Rum charged napkin in the bowl for a few hours....overnight, is better. Remove the "rummy" napkin, let the pipe dry out for an hour or so, and smoke away. If you taste anything it will be the Rum, and that residual flavor will leave your pipe very quickly as the extract flashes away from the heat.
Hope this helps to exorcise your pipe of any unwanted, isopropylic, ghosts. : ))
Buy McCormick's Rum Extract in any large super-market/baking/spice section....it's used for flavoring cakes and cookies.

cortezattic · Oct 9, 2017

Like Mikestanley said. The real problem is that you haven't used enough isopropyl to clean out the dip stain in the shank, which is causing the foul taste. Petersons are notorious for this.

ericusrex · Oct 9, 2017

Use 91% from now on. 70% contains more foul chemicals

jabo · Oct 9, 2017

Ah, here we go again. If ya can't drink it, don't put it in your pipe!I only use ever clear or vodka with a pinch of peppermint(avaliable at the grocery). Let dry before smoking ( only takes a few minutes). I wipe my bowls, usually after each smoke , with a added up paper towel . It is mildly abrasive and prevents excessive cake which needs reaming. Just MOA.

frozenchurchwarden · Oct 9, 2017

Isopropyl Alcohol is fully metabolized by the human body in small quantities, there’s a reason it’s the substance most used to sterilize skin.

In pure form it also leaves no residue and evaporates quickly, you would be hard pressed to find any substance to clean a pipe better.

PaulTheScandinavian · Oct 9, 2017

Have used Isoprobyl with no ill effects, Though I've found the pure 98 proof spirit even more effective in removing tar and residues in shank, only one downside it is hardly available here no more,

jpmcwjr · Oct 9, 2017

Easy: Water. Available everywhere, leaves no residue or taste, and is the most natural thing you can apply to wood.

mso489 · Oct 9, 2017

I do like jabo, wiping out the bowl, and don't ream, don't need to own a reamer. I never use alcohol on my pipes, haven't needed to.

crashthegrey · Oct 9, 2017

I also think mikestanley is correct. It's the stain that you taste, not the alcohol. More cleaning now. Unfortunate side effect of dip stains.

ssjones · Oct 10, 2017

Mikestanley nails it. Tip a paper towel in iso and squish it into the bowl and get the rest of that stain out of there. The dip-stained pipes always taste a little weird, so you might have to smoke thru the off taste.

Help! Cleaned My Favorite Pipe with 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

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