Cleaning my pipes

[charlie]

So, my dad and I have been reading and alot of sites suggest cleaning your pipe with some sort of alchohol. My dad went out and got some everclear. Is this a good idea? And if so, how should we go about it? Dip a pipecleaner in it and run it through the stem and in the bowl?

 

[unclearthur]

I give my pipes an alcohol treatment about twice a year.regular use of a pie cleaner after smoking seems to keep things under control.If I have one start to taste off then I give it the treatment right away.

 

[lonestar]

Everclear is perfect for the task. And, around here anyway, it wont get drank before I have a chance to clean pipes with it

Whiskey on the other hand, would probably disappear.

 

[pstlpkr]

Everclear seems to be the alcohol of preference.... but, I like to use Ezra Brooks.

The wonderfully sweet flavor of the Bourbon is a treat and doesn't last more than a couple of bowls of 1Q. Your pipe gets cleaned and like I said you get a short lived treat.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Yeah, the reason Everclear works so well is for a couple of reasons. First, it's a clear grain alcohol. So, it doesn't leave any after taste. Second, its really high proof is a guarantee that it'll kill any germs at the same time clean out the gunk.

 

[menckenite]

I would recommend watching Bob's video:

 

[nemrod]

How effective is it if you have to use regular liquor (~40% ABV)? In Sweden you can't get very pure alcohol without it being denatured with colour, bad taste and vomit-inducing chemicals unless you have a license. Is there a big difference so I should try to get some from Germany or other more loosely regulated countries? I used whiskey once, following the video William posted, and though the pipe got cleaner than when using nothing but pipe cleaners I didn't particularly enjoy the taste and smell it left behind.

 

[menckenite]

I would guess that the lower the "proof" of the alcohol the more taste it leaves behind.

 

[andylowry]

I always keep a bottle of Everclear in the cabinet for pipe-cleaning. When I buy used pipes, I give 'em a salt-and-alcohol treatment with it. Every so often I'll run dampened pipecleaners through the pipes I smoke most heavily.
It's not available everywhere. High-proof (151) rum will also work nicely, as will standard vodka.

 

[python]

Thanks for posting the video William!
Everyone may want to read the article that goes with the video as well. In the article I explain a few things about cleaning a pipe and I also explain why I use grain alcohol.
Routine Tobacco Pipe Cleaning (With Video)