I've been using the headshops cleaner, I like this Tea Tree Oil idea, I know my grandma gets it real cheap down in AZ. But as for up north here I am unsure of cost.
I have also seen rubbing alcohol and epsom salt do alright work, but it just doesn't eath through resin like I wish it would.
I have a lot of cleaning to do, I have some retired water pipes dues to cloggage and fungi, I hope the tea tree oil blasts them clean and makes them look like new!!
Wikidbchofthewst
Keeping your bong clean is a good idea. It keeps your hits from tasting like ass. I hate it when I have some bomb bud, and someone wants me to pack it in a piece that looks like it hasn't been cleaned since they got it. I want to taste MY shit, not everything you've smoked since you got the damn thing.
As for cleaners....I usually use 420 cleaner. I'm interested in this Tea Oil thing though...hmmmm
It works really well el shaggy and Ms Wikid. I agree with you Ms Wikid. There is nothing worse than having to smoke out of a bong that looks like they've used Black syrup instead of water in the thing. I always clean our billy if we have friends visiting...icky yuck...dirty bong...
Tea Tree Oil gives the added bonus that it will kill the fungus and other nasties in your pipes etc. It also has a myriad other uses (see links below).
In Australia we pay around AUD6 (about USD5 I s'pose) for a 25ml bottle of 100% pure Ti Tree (proper spelling) Oil. Don't buy the 15% by volume stuff as it isn't strong enough and you'll just waste it. The 15% is suspended in hydrocarbon type volatile oils that evaporate off.
With the pure stuff, a little goes a long way. Our pipe is about 6 inches long (15cm) and is what they call the 'Australian style', meaning its around a half inch diameter (1 to 1.2 cm). The way I clean it is to block one end, pour in about 2ml or so of oil and then put my finger over the unblocked end and shake it for about 30 seconds to a minute. All the oils and crud break down and dissolve, then you flush it really well with warm water and detergent. A few drops on a cotton wool ball is good for wiping out your cone pieces and such, but you'll need to wash them well afterwards too.
It's also known as melaleuca oil, based on the Ti Tree's name melaleuca alternifolia. There are a huge variety of melaleucas (including the ones that have taken over the Florida Everglades), but alternifolia is the best medicinal one and is the tree used to make Tea Tree Oil.
You can get some good info on Tea Tree Oil from the following website/s:
UWA Tea Tree Oil Research Group - TTO home
Thursday Plantation
Melaleuca alternifolia
Material Safety Data Sheet. Tea Tree Oil - Melaleuca alternifolia
What is tea tree oil?
Have fun
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