Pipe Cleaner Miser...

[Seeker81]

Anyone else reuse and reuse their pipe cleaners? Just shy of giving them to the kids for arts and crafts, or using them to floss, I really get the most out of my cleaners. I usually keep a tissue handy and dry them off if damp after a mid-smoke pass through. I can get about 2, or even 3 cleans with just the one ha ha.

Any one think of any real downsides to this? Except having dirty pipe cleaners sitting around.

 

[diamondback]

I normally toss mine, after having run both ends down the draft and a U clean of the chamber. I maintain a very thin cake.

Then again I’m guilty of hoarding pipe cleaners for the dreaded Tobaccopocalyps!

 

[Casual]

I’m the opposite. If a cleaner touches the inside of a dirty pipe, it goes in the can and I get a new one. If I smoked more, I would probably change that habit. It would be more wasteful than I could tolerate if I smoked many bowls a day.

 

[diamondback]

I’m the opposite. If a cleaner touches the inside of a dirty pipe, it goes in the can and I get a new one. If I smoked more, I would probably change that habit. It would be more wasteful than I could tolerate if I smoked many bowls a day.

I see what you mean. If a ‘turned around’ cleaner will go down into the stem dirty, I’ll only use it twice: once through the entire draft and once to clean the chamber. I won’t let the dirty end get into the stem again depending on how nasty it is. If the first one isn’t terribly funky I’ll run both ends, knowing the second usually settles the matter.

I almost always use at least two, unless it’s a cob. They get a single bristled.

 

[SpookedPiper]

Don't they reek? I toss mine after using both ends. They are th cheapest part of the hobby for me and its something I buy when I visit my local B&M so they are everywhere around the home.

I applaud your "reduce, reuse, recycle" and maybe there is something else I could use them for but cleaning another, is not it.

What else do you all use the discarded pipe cleaners for?

 

[Casual]

What else do you all use the discarded pipe cleaners for?

Stinky pipe cleaner animals. Stinky pipe cleaner Christmas ornaments. Stinky pipe cleaner keychain fobs. Stinky pipe cleaner bracelets.

There’s my retirement plan: an Etsy store with stinky pipe cleaner art. How much should I charge for a Penzance pipe cleaner Santa sculpture? Or a Trout Stream pipe cleaner car air “freshener”?

The possibilities are endless.

 

[ssjones]

Guilty.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What else do you all use the discarded pipe cleaners for?

Waste basket decoration.

 

[Ctbill]

To each there own, but recycling pipe cleaners is like recycling toilet paper to me...not doing it for the $0.017 savings...

 

[BROBS]

The point is to pull out that gunk and moisture. There is no way you can “dry out” the pipe cleaner so you are running that shit back into your pipe.
if anything I’m guilty of using too many pipe cleaners rather than reusing them. I want to remove as much moisture and shit out of the stem and shank as possible.

 

[davek]

I'm not as fastidious as some in cleaning my pipe. That being said, I usually use a stick first, then I can get by with one cleaner. (which I toss)

 

[bnichols23]

Nope, not me. Ain't worth the minuscule amount I'd save.

 

[prndl]

Use 'em and toss 'em.

Life's too short for funk.

 

[cigrmaster]

I would never reuse dirty pipe cleaners. Once dirty they are worthless.

 

[greeneyes]

I used to do this, for the same reasons you gave.

I always wondered why my pipes stank and needed alcohol treatment so often.

Now I use new pipe cleaners, liberally, and throw them away. Problem solved.

 

[mingc]

You guys do know that you can wash them with dish soap right? If you dry them immediately with a towel, paper or otherwise, they won't rust.

I've had the same bag of bj longs since 2005.

OK, that last part isn't true.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

What does a pipe cleaner cost, a penny and a half? I can't comprehend keeping dirty pipe cleaners around but to each their own.

 

[brian64]

Any one think of any real downsides to this?

In the course of a certain number of years of this practice you slowly transform into Tuff Tony.

 

[Seeker81]

Tbh, I have a section of my desk where I keep all my smoking stuff. When I was trying to build a cake in a certain pipe I stopped twisting the pipe cleaner I had used to run through the stem into a U to clean the bowl and imo it sometimes didn't look too dirty, just sometimes a bit damp. So I wiped it off with a paper towel and left it sitting by the ashtray and used in during my next smoke. I thought "why not?". If it's not dirty/oily it gets another turn.
If it's too bad it goes in the bin. It's not the massive 2p saving I'm thinking of, it's more the hassle of having to order more. Next time I order online I'll probably buy a load.
I bought a two bags of 100 about a month ago or more and there's just one left in one bag and another full bag to go... Who's tuff Tony? and what's he got to do with pipe cleaners? ha ha

 

[mso489]

I tend to believe my eyes. I keep my pipes fairly clean, so one use doesn't always dirty up a pipe cleaner enough to throw it out, but if it does, I toss it. I usually get two uses, sometimes three, however if a pipe cleaner comes out really dirty the first time, I toss it. No problem. I have a lot of pipes, so they tend to stay pretty clean. Also, I don't build cake, so that helps somewhat I believe.