Cleaning is often the least fun part of most activities, and smoking is no exception. However, that doesn’t mean that it has to be difficult.
We’ve all been there: you just finished up a session, only to accidentally end up with sticky dark resin on yourself or your nearby objects. It can seem futile to try cleaning it, but don’t give up! Whether you need to scrub weed resin from your bong, your furniture, your clothing, or even your skin, we’ve got the solutions — literally.
First, what exactly is weed resin? Characterized by its either sticky or powdery texture, weed resin is a byproduct of smoking cannabis. As a result, you’re guaranteed to find resin buildup on your smoking tools like pipes and bowls, particularly if you don’t clean them after every session. Weed resin is typically black, gummy, and stinky.
This type of weed resin is not to be confused with hash or live rosin, which are types of resin that are not byproducts of smoking but rather made directly from the cannabis plant to be consumed. Hash and rosin are more gold in color and have a more pleasant odor.
Resin is hydrophobic, so it cannot be cleaned with a simple swipe of water. It can also build up and transfer to different surfaces quickly, so it’s best to clean your smoking tools regularly.
The methods and ingredients you’ll need to clean resin depend on what surface you’re tackling. Take a look through our guide below!
Resin inevitably builds up on your tools when smoking. However, it’s best to clean the resin off bongs, pipes, and glass as regularly as possible to avoid making your job harder in the future. As it builds up, it’s going to take more effort to fully clean off. In extreme cases, it may even stain your glass pieces — which nobody wants.
This is one of the most popular methods of removing resin from paraphernalia. A high concentration of isopropyl alcohol can dissolve the oil-based resin. Combine this with salt, especially coarse sea salt, for a gentle abrasive force that helps dislodge and move the resin. Add the salt after you add the isopropyl alcohol.
You can also make this method extra effective by starting out with some heat! Run the item under some hot tap water, as this will help to start making the resin more pliable. Then, you can go in with your alcohol and salt. Once your solution is in your bong, plug the open ends with paper towels and shake vigorously until the grime is removed.
If you’re cleaning a smaller bowl, put it in a couple of Ziploc baggies with your solution and shake.
Afterwards, it is best to rinse the piece with distilled water, if you can.
Oil can be a great solution, as this will emulsify the resin and help break it down. Cooking oil or butter are two popular options.
Alternatively, freezing can be a low-maintenance way to deep clean your pipe. Simply put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Then, take it out and gently scrape at the hardened resin to remove it. Don’t leave it in for too long, though, as this could damage your pipe.
The reverse temperature extreme is another option. Place your smoking implement in boiling water and move it around for about five to seven minutes to dislodge the resin. After that, you can remove the rest with a pipe cleaner. Be careful not to burn yourself!
That sticky feeling of resin on your hands after smoking? Super annoying! Although soap and warm water can sometimes do the trick, because resin is hydrophobic, it often isn’t enough to cut through the grime. Try one of the following methods if you’re still feeling a little icky.
Rather than using regular hand soap, oil-based products can offer a better solution. Frequently talked about on discussion boards, oils such as olive oil, vegetable oil, or even butter can be effective in removing resin from your skin. Others swear by mayonnaise!
If you do try using oil, make sure that you wash it off with soap and warm water afterward.
Don’t have oil on hand? You can also try the exfoliation method. Some ideas include salt, baking soda, or sand. By rubbing your hands with a gently abrasive material like these, you can break up the sticky resin.
This method can also be combined with another, such as using an exfoliant with oil or alcohol. We recommend washing thoroughly afterward and putting on some lotion to prevent drying your skin out.
Got some resin on your wood floor or furniture? It happens all the time. Luckily, there are some pretty easy solutions.
One of the most tried and true methods of removing resin from wood is the use of isopropyl alcohol. After applying alcohol with a cloth, try rubbing it with some pressure, or gently scraping. Don’t scrub too hard, though, or you may take the finish off the wood.
Oil again! Just as it can work on skin or paraphernalia, oil-based products can also sometimes work on wood. For best results, try coconut oil or olive oil.
In some ways, this can be the toughest surface to deal with. Getting resin on your clothing or furniture fabric is no joke, but we still have some solutions to help.
No matter what method you try, it’s particularly important with fabric that you do a spot test. Try out your method on a tiny piece of the fabric first in order to ensure that it does not damage it.
Discussions amongst marijuana users frequently suggest that alcohol is the best choice for getting resin stains out of fabric. Specifically, rubbing alcohol or any other high % alcohol is best. You can blot the spot (don’t rub), then wash it with laundry detergent as normal.
Others suggest branded cleaning products such as Mr. Clean or Krud Cutter. These may work for you depending on the type of fabric and the stain!
No matter what method you choose, these are important things to remember:
Since most of these methods and ingredients are likely things that you already have access to, there’s no reason not to get started on cleaning weed resin off your surfaces.
If you try one of these methods, let us know how it goes, and leave any other tips, tricks, and experiences that we didn’t cover in the comments. Happy cleaning!
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