Best Way to Clean a Pipe

[jpmcwjr]

No need to use alcohol except perhaps on estate pipes that are ghosted. But to each his own.

 

[olkofri]

I do the alcohol method when getting a brand new pipe, for disinfection purposes.

 

[ashdigger]

No need to use alcohol except perhaps on estate pipes that are ghosted. But to each his own.

No need, but old systems die hard.

 

[jaytex1969]

No need to use alcohol except perhaps on estate pipes that are ghosted. But to each his own.

I use alcohol regularly, with or without my pipes.

My cleaning routine is somewhere between the Scandinavian and the Fire Chaser.

 

[anotherbob]

run a pipe cleaner and scrap out the tobacco bits. And nothing more unless it tastes off then same but use some high proof alcohol what ever you feel like drinking for the next month. Or sometimes you forget and it's not bad until the fourth or fifth time.

 

[kola]

I know many guys are doing the "new?" hot water cleaning thing with great success. i just stick with Everclear, pipe cleaners and paper towels. I've never noticed any alcohol leftovers taste. I tend to think alcohol (Everclear) evaporates pretty quick. In past years I used 151 Rum and ever noticed anything odd. And it's primarily the stems that gather all the funk and junk.

I've never clean my pipe right after my smoke. I ruins my enjoyment of the smoke. I dump/scrape out the dottle and set it aside.