Hello, I hope this is in the right place! I got a pink Noble soft glass bong a while ago on vacation (Noble Glass Small Wrapped Soft Glass Bong It looks like this one but without the frills going up it) and the instructions say to wash with only room temperature water. Soft glass is different than regular glass so **I was told to NOT use alcohol** and not let it get too cold or too hot. So what can I clean it with? Because it's gotten quite dirty inside and as we all know just water is not going to cut it. Can I use an overnight soaking cleaner, would that be gentle enough? How do other people clean their soft glass? ETA: Anyone else with a Noble bong just been using alcohol and it's been fine? I can't find any information anywhere except what the tag that was attached to the bong said lol My other question is how to take out the downstem and if anyone has a video on how to do this, it has a stem that is inside and held in by a rubber gasket (can't remember the technical term for this kind of stem) but I can never move the gasket and don't want to be too rough. The bowl and stem are both safe to clean with alcohol but I can't quite get to the stem well without getting it out and I'd like to be able to clean it thoroughly. Thanks in advance for any replies!
Isopropyl alcohol 97 or 99% with salt is the best thing I've found to clean any glass. Fill to just below usually water line, then drop in salt to get it the rest of way. Plug holes, hold on tight, shake like hell. Rinse out with water and let it dry out, and you have a like new bong. Pipe cleaners help with downstem.
Noted, but had a soft glass piece for over 15 yrs (b4 my ex smashed it in a psychotic fit), and used only alchohol and salt to clean it. Never personally had any issues, but if there is a more scientific explanation on why alchohol (as a solvent) would be any different than another type of solvent, I would like to hear it. (Not being sarcastic) The alchohol will actually help remove the rubber grommet holding in the downstem too, though the grommet can deteriorate over prolonged periods of exposure to the alchohol. (Talking days of exposure) By any chance, was the source telling you to not use alchohol also selling a solution to clean said piece?
Soft glass = Soda glass. it's what most jars and bottles are made from. Low melting point and fragile. Hard glass = Borosilicate. Test tubes and flasks. 500 degs hotter melting point and much stronger resistance to heat and impact damage. Both can be cleaned with pure alcohol and salt. Denatured works best at cleaning the goo off as it's pure with no water. Found in the paint dept of most box store unless your behind the communist curtain in California. BNW
Nope, it just said on the tag not to use alcohol and to just use room temperature water which obviously is not going to work too well lol I will use alcohol then, I just didn't want to really mess up and screw up my piece. Thank you ^_^
looking at the link to the bong, the downstem looks to be held in place by a standard rubber grommet. it should come out with some pulling and maybe even gentle twisting back and forth. your piece reminds me of a soft glass bong named Zoidberg that I used to have. thanks for the memories I agree about alcohol & salt, too, btw
I have used salt with good results. There is some natural cleaners here for good prices. Might be what you're looking for. Cleaning Solutions | Glass Pipe Cleaner | Formula 420 & 710
