Best Way To Derp Clean a Pipe

[Wellington]

If I wanted to give a good thorough cleaning to my pipes, what do b you recommend? Would it be insane to use a vinegar or something on a pope cleaner or paper towel?

Cleaning my pipes good isn't my strength...

 

[Gecko]

I use a gentle warm water flush and alcohol dipped pipe cleaners and paper towels, just be careful of the stain as alcohol may remove it if it gets on the outside of your pipe.

If you are chasing ghosts there's also the salt or damp coffe grounds methods.

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[Chasing Embers]

Don't get alcohol on acrylic stems, it can cause crazing.

 

[Gecko]

Would it be insane to use a vinegar or something on a pope cleaner or paper towel?

Don't know about pope cleaning but these
girls seems to work fine on African rulers.

 

[Gecko]

Don't get alcohol on acrylic stems, it can cause crazing.

Did not know that, what do you recommend instead?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Did not know that, what do you recommend instead?

Soap and water or toothpaste with a bristle cleaner. I often leave the stem soaking in lemon juice overnight, especially Perspex ones.

 

[canucklehead]

Soap and water or toothpaste with a bristle cleaner. I often leave the stem soaking in lemon juice overnight, especially Perspex ones.

I had a small clear acrylic Captain Morgan mug that came with a bottle of rum that somewhat ironically crazed, cracked across the bottom, and eventually turned completely milky white on the bottom from contact with alcohol.

 

[eugenepark]

What is there to clean once the bowl has been caked over? I would think a deep clean would just remove that build up which is supposed to be beneficial to the briar.

But stems can always be cleaned gently with plain soap and water.

 

[Gecko]

What is there to clean once the bowl has been caked over? I would think a deep clean would just remove that build up which is supposed to be beneficial to the briar.

The cake is a myth... or at least so I've been told ?

Many here don't believe in building cake.
I keep the cake in my pipes to a minimum by wiping the bowl with paper towel after every smoke.
If your pipe has gone a bit sour it may help giving the bowl/inside of the stummel a warm water flush or wipedown with alcohol to restore it to good smoking condition again.

 

[Wellington]

Some funny stuff here, I deserve it for using my damn phone with all its glorious spellcheck and my apparent lack of proof reading haha

Thanks for the advice

 

[Chasing Embers]

What is there to clean once the bowl has been caked over? I would think a deep clean would just remove that build up which is supposed to be beneficial to the briar.

But stems can always be cleaned gently with plain soap and water.

Always keep the stem, mortise and draft clean. I once had to take a drill bit to a draft hole on an estate as it had become clogged with cake.

 

[eugenepark]

The cake is a myth... or at least so I've been told ?

Many here don't believe in building cake.
I keep the cake in my pipes to a minimum by wiping the bowl with paper towel after every smoke.
If your pipe has gone a bit sour it may help giving the bowl/inside of the stummel a warm water flush or wipedown with alcohol to restore it to good smoking condition again.

Interesting. I'm tempted to clean the cake from one of my daily pipes to see how it smokes.

But most of my pipes came pre-charred so I'll have to find a way to clean only the cake off so I don't gouge into the raw briar.

 

[fightnhampster]

I clean a couple of times a year pretty deeply with Everclear.

After every smoke though I run multiple pipe cleaners through it until the cleaners come out clean. Typically about three or four cleaners used after every smoke

 

[CAlabama]

I smok’em hard and put them away wet. Occasionally I’ll wipe one down with any handy drapery. When used up I chuck’em over the fence into the neighbors back yard.

 

[Chasing Embers]

When used up I chuck’em over the fence into the neighbors back yard.

Ever consider gardening?

 

[Chasing Embers]

But most of my pipes came pre-charred so I'll have to find a way to clean only the cake off so I don't gouge into the raw briar.

Sandpaper

 

[petes03]

Soap and water or toothpaste with a bristle cleaner. I often leave the stem soaking in lemon juice overnight, especially Perspex ones.

Also, don’t use alcohol on meers.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

Order some chlorine dioxide in either tablet or liquid system form - you can use it on EVERYTHING it Kills EVERYTHING cleans and Deodorizes EVERYTHING and most importantly it is Gentle as it is very different than plain chlorine bleach. Everyone should have some in homes - even non-smokers. amazing stuff - you can use it as mouthwash in diluted form as it is an ingredient in some brands

 

[CAlabama]

Order some chlorine dioxide in either tablet or liquid system form - you can use it on EVERYTHING it Kills EVERYTHING cleans and Deodorizes EVERYTHING and most importantly it is Gentle as it is very different than plain chlorine bleach. Everyone should have some in homes - even non-smokers. amazing stuff - you can use it as mouthwash in diluted form as it is an ingredient in some brands

Have you tried this to clean oxidized vulcanite stems?