How to clean a pipe?

Smoking tobacco with a pipe on a daily basis is a real pleasure for enthusiasts. However, to preserve the flavors of the tobacco, and to maintain the pipe itself, regular cleaning is important. Do you know how to clean your pipe? This advice article offers you a guide on how to properly clean your pipe to ensure its properties and performance are maintained at their best.

Routine cleaning

Depending on the type of tobacco you smoke with your pipe, the frequency of routine cleaning can vary. Indeed, routine cleaning of the pipe concerns its stem and its draft hole. This cleaning helps remove moisture, nicotine, and tar deposited in the pipe.

It is done with a pipe cleaner. For more effective routine cleaning, you can beforehand dip the pipe cleaner in alcohol. In the case where you have a 9 mm mounted pipe, à With the help of a cotton swab or a tissue, clean the bottom of the mortise and the plug.

If you are in the habit of removing the adapter and using 9 mm filters, it is recommended to clean the inside of the mortise and the tenon.

Indeed, nicotine and tar accumulate quickly in this part of the pipe. Thus, clean this part with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Although not deep, this type of cleaning allows you to improve the smoking quality.

The ideal is to carry out routine cleaning of your pipe after each smoking session.

Deep cleaning with a reamer

Cleaning with a reamer is a form of deep cleaning for the pipe. Its main purpose is to remove the cake.

Indeed, the cake is a layer of carbon that gradually deposits inside the bowl of the pipe. When this layer becomes too thick, it can clog the pipe. Thus, the reamer is used to remove the cake from the pipe bowl.

Here are, in a few steps, how to uncase your pipe:

• Adjust the tip of the reamer to that of the pipe bowl
• Then position the tool in the bowl, and rotate it clockwise
• Turn gently, until the tool spreads its claws and fits the bowl, in order to clean the pipe casing.

However, it is important to make sure not to completely scrape the pipe. Leave a thin layer of residue in the bowl.

Deep cleaning with salt

After the step of scraping the pipe bowl, it is now appropriate to perform a salt cleaning. Cleaning the pipe with salt removes the tobacco odors.

Indeed, the accumulation of these odors alters the taste of the tobacco you smoke.

To do this cleaning, you must first let the pipe cool completely, then remove the ashes or any remaining tobacco.

Once this precaution has been taken, here are the steps to follow to clean your pipe with salt:

• Plug the pipe stem using a pipe cleaner dipped in alcohol
• Fill the pipe bowl with coarse salt. You can also use regular table salt.
• Add a few drops of alcohol to the salt using a dropper. The alcohol should wet the salt without submerging it.
• Place the pipe in balance. For the next 24 hours, let the pipe rest.
• Then empty the bowl, and remove the pipe cleaner. Now, you must thoroughly clean the bowl and the stem with a pipe cleaner. No grain of salt should remain in the pipe.
• Let the bowl and stem dry, then let your pipe rest for at least 24 hours.

You have thus just cleaned your pipe. By doing so, you will keep it in excellent condition for several years.

If you want to give it a nice shine, proceed to polish the pipe after cleaning. You can polish it with a cloth soaked in olive oil.