There are all estate pipes so was going for the deep clean
Estate cleaning in my mind is sanitization, and I clean stems and airways in stummel with alcohol for that. Beyond sanitizing is restoring pretty much.
Soap and water is deep clean for stummel, but following that will need waxing, etc. You’re only half-reading if you think half the posts say to soak vulcanite stems in soap and water.
Vulcanite stem deep cleaning usually refers to removing oxidation and is usually where you hear of soaking, and then it’s in an oxiclean or dilute bleach solution. That is followed by some type of abrasive polishing. Cleaning oxidation from vulcanite will always require some abrasion.
Toothpaste is an abrasive polish, albeit mild. Micromesh pads are foam backed sandpaper of varying grit.
Once the oxidation is physically removed (or if you’re cleaning an unoxidized stem) sealing and shining can de done many ways, from a bench buffer with carnauba wax to a wipe of mineral oil (or one of many “snake oils” like Obsidian Oil. I prefer Howard’s Butcher Block conditioner, an emulsion of mineral oil, beeswax, and carnauba.
Pipe cleaners with alcohol (many like myself like high proof spirits as opposed to isopropyl alcohol) are good for cleaning vulcanite airways.
