How to Clean a Dab Rig & Nail With and Without Alcohol

With regular use, your dab rig starts to accumulate residue and reclaim buildup that can affect the taste of your dabs, as well as your health. Luckily, cleaning a dirty dab rig is pretty easy. Simply fill your rig with 91% isopropyl alcohol, add some coarse salt, and swish it around. In this article, we’ll go over a few more ways to clean your rig, tell you how often it should be cleaned, and explain why cleaning it is important. Read on to learn more!

The Best Way to Clean a Dab Rig

Pour out the dirty water and rinse the rig with clean, warm water.
Cover the bottom of the rig with coarse salt.
Fill the base of the rig with 91% isopropyl alcohol.
Cover the holes and shake up the rig.
Rinse out the dab rig with warm water.

Section 1 of 8:

Cleaning a Dab Rig with Isopropyl Alcohol

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Pour out any leftover water in your rig. Then, give the rig, nail (also called a banger), and mouthpiece a good rinse with warm water. This helps remove any debris and loosen up stuck on residue.^{[1]
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Pour coarse salt and 91% isopropyl alcohol into the dab rig. Grab some coarse salt like rock salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt, or Epsom salt, and pour enough into the rig to cover the bottom. Then, add 91% isopropyl alcohol into the rig until the base is about full.^{[2]
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- The isopropyl alcohol dissolves reclaim dab and other residue while sanitizing the rig. The salt acts as an abrasive to help scrub off debris.
- It’s important to use isopropyl alcohol with a concentration of at least 91%. Isopropyl alcohols with lower percentages are diluted with too much water to dissolve residue and sanitize the rig.
- Tip: Heat up the isopropyl alcohol to help dissolve residue faster. Just carefully heat the alcohol in the microwave in 15-second increments so it’s hot, but not boiling
- If you want to collect and use the reclaim, do not use isopropyl alcohol, as it isn’t safe to consume.^{[3]
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  Go to source} Instead, use food-grade grain alcohol (like Everclear), which we explain in the sections below.
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Plug the holes and shake the dab rig. Use your hands or some paper towels to cover the openings of the dab rig. Then, shake the rig up and down and side to side for about 5 minutes. This distributes the alcohol and salt to help scrub off the debris.^{[4]
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- If it still looks like there’s lots of debris after 5 minutes, shake the rig for a little bit longer.
4
Pour out the solution and wipe the nail with isopropyl alcohol. Empty the alcohol and salt solution into the sink. If the nail is still covered in residue, soak a cotton swab with the isopropyl alcohol and wipe it down. Make sure to swab the inside and outside of the nail to get all of the debris.^{[5]
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- Check for any residue around the stem and mouthpiece, too. Simply use a cotton swab soaked with alcohol to clean off any stuck-on debris.
5
Rinse the dab rig with water and let it dry. Thoroughly rinse out the rig, nail, and mouthpiece with warm water to ensure all of the alcohol and salt are gone. Then, set the rig on a clean towel and let it air dry completely before you use it again. This allows any leftover isopropyl alcohol to evaporate.^{[6]
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- It can take several hours for a rig to dry. To help speed up the process, place the rig next to a fan or hit it with a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting.
- If you still see residue inside the rig, repeat the cleaning process with more isopropyl alcohol and salt until it’s clean.

Section 2 of 8:

Cleaning a Dab Rig with Hot Water

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1
Heat 2 cups (473 ml) of water and loosen residue with the steam. Bring 2 cups (473 ml) of water to a simmer (not boiling) over the stove or in your microwave. Then, put on a pair of oven mitts and hold the dab rig over the steam coming off of the water. The steam helps to loosen reclaim and other stuck-on residue.^{[7]
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- Make sure to pour out any old water inside the dab rig before you start cleaning it.
- Note: Cleaning your dab rig with hot water is a great method if you want to collect and use the reclaim, which we describe in the sections below.
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Pour the hot water into the rig and add some coarse salt. Allow the water to cool slightly so it’s still hot but not scalding or actively simmering. Then, pour it into the rig and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Once the water has cooled down, add 1 to 2 spoonfuls of rock, sea, or Epsom salt into the rig.^{[8]
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- If the salt immediately dissolves, let the water cool down even more.
- Warning: If your rig is made of glass, avoid pouring extremely hot or extremely cold water inside it. Temperature extremes can cause glass to break.
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Plug the rig’s holes, shake the water around, and pour it out. Put on oven mitts and cover the openings of the dab rig, or cover them with paper towels or a cloth. Then, shake up the water and salt inside the rig to loosen the debris. Keep shaking for about 5 minutes and then pour the water into the sink.^{[9]
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Heat the nail with a torch to melt any reclaim or residue. To clean reclaim and residue out the nail, heat it with the torch you usually use to heat the dab. Either rinse out the melted residue with water or wipe it out with a cotton swab.^{[10]
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- Heat any stubborn residue along the stem and mouthpiece, too.
- If the residue won’t come out, soak a cotton swab with 91% isopropyl alcohol and wipe it out.
5
Rinse out the dab rig with water and let it dry. Hold the rig under warm water to completely rinse out any leftover salt and debris. Then, place the rig on a clean towel to air dry. Wait until it’s completely dry, which might take a few hours, before you use the rig again.^{[11]
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- It’s important to let the rig completely dry because excess water can impact your dabbing experience.
- Use a fan or hair dryer on the lowest heat setting to help speed up the rig’s dry time.
- If the dab rig is still dirty, clean it out with more hot water and salt until all of the residue is gone.

Section 3 of 8:

Cleaning a Dab Rig with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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1
Pour baking soda and white vinegar into the dab rig. Place the dab rig in the sink. Then, add 1 tablespoon (20 g) of baking soda and 2 cups (473 ml) of white vinegar to the dab rig. The baking soda and vinegar will react and bubble, so keep the rig in the sink until the solution stops fizzing.^{[12]
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- The acetic acid in vinegar helps dissolve grime and kill mold and bacteria.^{[13]
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- Baking soda is a natural abrasive that also helps dissolve dirt and residue.^{[14]
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- Pour out any old water inside the rig and rinse it with warm water before you start to clean it.
2
Cover the holes, shake up the dab rig, and pour out the solution. Plug the openings of the dab rig with your hands or cover them with paper towels. Then, shake and swish the baking soda and vinegar around. Just keep shaking the rig for about 5 minutes and then pour out the solution.^{[15]
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- Shaking the dab rig helps distribute the solution evenly inside and loosen stuck-on debris.
3
Wipe out the nail with vinegar and a cotton swab. Grab a cotton swab and wet it with some of the white vinegar. Then, use the swab to remove any leftover reclaim and residue inside the nail and stem.^{[16]
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- Use a vinegar-soaked swab to remove any debris inside the stem and mouthpiece, too.
- Alternatively, use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean out the nail.
4
Rinse the dab rig with water and let it dry. Flush the dab rig and nail with warm water several times to remove all of the baking soda, vinegar, and debris. Then, place the rig on a clean towel to air dry and allow the vinegar and water to evaporate before you use it again.^{[17]
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- Place the rig in front of a fan or blow it with a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting to speed up the dry time.
- If you notice any residue still stuck on the rig, clean it with more baking soda and vinegar.

Section 4 of 8:

Alternative Cleaning Methods

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1
Hot water and dish soap Dish soap is a powerful degreaser that can help remove stubborn grime inside your rig when combined with hot water. Simply pour hot (not boiling) water into the rig and add a squeeze of dish soap. Then, plug the opening and shake up the rig. Pour out the soapy water and rinse out the rig thoroughly.^{[18]
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- Leave the rig on a clean towel to air dry before you use it.
- Clean the nail with a cotton swab and a bit of dish soap and warm water. Or, wipe it with 91% isopropyl alcohol.
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Commercial dab rig cleaner Many companies make products specifically for cleaning out glass dab rigs, pipes, and bongs. Simply follow the directions on the dab rig cleaner to get your rig sparkling.

Section 5 of 8:

Removing Tough Residue

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1
Remove the nail and submerge it in 91% isopropyl alcohol. Pull off the nail from the dab rig and set it inside a plastic bag or storage container. Then, cover the nail with 91% isopropyl alcohol.^{[19]
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- The alcohol helps loosen and dissolve dab residue, reclaim, and other debris.
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Submerge the dab rig in 91% isopropyl alcohol. Place the dab rig in a plastic bag or container. Then, pour in enough 91% isopropyl alcohol to cover the rig. Just make sure that the alcohol fills the inside of the rig.^{[20]
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- For an extra cleaning boost, add some coarse salt to the bag and shake it around to help scrub off debris.
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Let the nail and rig soak overnight. Leave the nail and rig to soak in the isopropyl alcohol for at least 8 hours, or overnight. This gives the alcohol time to loosen up stuck-on reclaim and other stubborn residue.^{[21]
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Rinse off the nail and rig and let them air dry. Take the nail and dab rig out of the isopropyl alcohol and run them under warm water to clear out the loosened debris and alcohol. Then, place the nail and rig on a clean towel to air dry. Wait until the parts are completely dry before using your rig again.^{[22]
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- If you still see residue after soaking the nail and rig, scrub it off with a bottle brush, straw cleaning brush, or cotton swabs soaked in isopropyl alcohol.

Section 6 of 8:

Collecting and Using Reclaim

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1
Add grain alcohol or hot water into the rig to loosen the reclaim. Fill the base of the dab rig with a high-proof, food-grade grain alcohol, such as Everclear, or hot water (not boiling). Then, swish the alcohol or water around and let the rig sit for a few minutes to loosen the reclaim.^{[23]
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- Do not use boiling water, as the extreme temperatures might shatter glass dab rigs.
- Reclaim is the waxy, sticky residue left behind in the rig after you smoke cannabis concentrate. Collecting and using it is a great way to extend your dabs and prevent waste.
- Note: Reclaim contains a lower concentration of THC and CBD than the concentrate since it’s already been smoked. So, you may not experience as intense of a high as smoking pure concentrate.
2
Pour the alcohol or water through a strainer to collect the reclaim. Set a fine mesh strainer or a piece of parchment paper in your sink. Then, slowly pour the alcohol or water out of the rig and onto the strainer or parchment paper to collect the loosened reclaim.^{[24]
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- If there are spots of reclaim that didn’t come loose, set your rig upside down on a piece of parchment paper. Then, use your torch to heat the spots of reclaim so they melt off the rig and drip down onto the parchment paper.
3
Let the reclaim air dry before using it. Transfer the reclaim to a piece of parchment paper. Then, leave it in a well-ventilated area to allow the alcohol or water to evaporate off it, which may take a few hours to 1 day. Once the reclaim is dry, smoke it in your dab rig or a bowl. Or, make edibles with the reclaim or sprinkle it over food and eat it.^{[25]
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- Letting the reclaim dry prevents it from tasting like alcohol or having a soggy texture.
- To speed up the drying time, place the reclaim in front of a fan or dry it with a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting.
- Note: Reclaim is less flavorful than the dab concentrate. Some smokers find it harsh or unpleasant.

Section 7 of 8:

How Often to Clean a Dab Rig

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Clean your dab rig after every dab, or at least once per week. For the best dabbing experience, aim to clean out your rig after every use. Or, at the very least, empty any old water and clean the nail after each use. Some people prefer doing a deeper clean every few days or once per week.^{[26]
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- Cleaning your rig after each use helps prevent reclaim and residue from building up, which ultimately makes cleanup easier!

Section 8 of 8:

Why is cleaning a dab rig important?

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Leftover water, reclaim, and other residue inside your rig can start to grow mold and bacteria. So, using a dirty rig might expose you to germs that can make you sick. Additionally, burning old wax and residue can potentially release carcinogens.^{[27]
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Removing old residue and water helps your dabs taste better and more flavorful. Plus, regularly cleaning your dab rig makes it look better and helps it last longer. This prevents you from having to spend more money on replacing rig parts.^{[28]
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Tips

Avoid using boiling water to clean out your dab rig, as the extreme temperatures might break glass rigs. Instead, heat up water so it’s simmering or just below the boiling point—hot water from your tap is not usually hot enough to clean out your rig.

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For an easier way to collect and use reclaim, consider getting a reclaim trap attachment or a dab rig with a built-in reclaim trap. This collects the reclaim as you use your rig.

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