Pipe Cleaning – What Should You Keep in Mind?

For many pipe smokers, cleaning their pipe is part of the “ritual.” Others procrastinate, but eventually, it “has” to be done. Then there are the messy ones who let their pipes get so dirty over time that they’re no longer smokable. And, of course, there are also those pipe smokers who seem to clean and care for their pipes more than they actually smoke them.

Cleaning Is Not Rocket Science

Especially beginners often wonder: How do I clean my pipes? What should I keep in mind, and how often should I do it? To start with, you don’t need to overcomplicate things. Pipes are smoking tools that, like utensils after eating, should be cleaned after use. It’s enough to stir up the ashes, let the pipe cool for a few minutes, and, if applicable, dispose of the filter.

Don’t even think about reusing activated carbon filters. After one use, the filter is so saturated that it deserves to be thrown away. And anyone who’s ever taken a closer look at a filter after smoking knows this is not the place to save money.

Then, take a pipe cleaner and push it through the stem of the mouthpiece 1–2 times. If you bend it, you can also use it to clean the tenon. Use a second pipe cleaner to clean the shank of the pipe as well as the tenon mortise. It’s important to clean this area too; otherwise, the tenon will eventually get stuck, making it difficult or impossible to detach the mouthpiece from the pipe.

If needed, you can also remove ash residue from the bowl. And that’s it! Let your pipe air out thoroughly to allow any remaining moisture to evaporate. You’ll notice that with such care, performed after each smoking session, your pipe will taste better and better over the years.

The Right Tools

Of course, various manufacturers offer suitable cleaners to support you. There are cleaners with stiffer bristles, such as those from Vauen or Big Ben. There are also cleaners made of soft cotton material, primarily for absorbing moisture. Additionally, long pipe cleaners are available, designed for churchwarden pipes.

The “Deep Clean”

If your pipes have been smoked for decades, you might consider giving them a “deep clean.” This involves filling the bowl with salt and soaking it with 70% isopropyl alcohol from the pharmacy. The goal is to dissolve residues with the alcohol, which are then absorbed by the salt. The isopropyl alcohol also disinfects. Please ensure you only use a 70% solution of isopropyl alcohol. Pure isopropyl alcohol has significantly less cleaning power and does not disinfect.

It’s important to note that this “salt-alcohol method” should only be used for “extreme cases.” Overuse of this method can damage your pipe, affecting smoking quality and individual flavor. Moreover, you’ll miss out on the experience of how a well-maintained pipe can improve in flavor over the years.

Reaming the Pipe Bowl

To reduce the carbon layer in the pipe, there are various tools available. A highly recommended option is the Pip Net reaming system, which can scrape the bowl down to the bottom. As with other maintenance, less is more! Only ream your pipe bowl when the carbon layer has noticeably become too thick.

Finally, it should be noted that there are additional methods to polish mouthpieces, restore a pipe’s shine, and even perform simple repairs yourself. However, delving into these topics would go beyond the scope of this guide.

So, clean your pipe regularly but don’t overdo it. Your pipes will thank you!

Special thanks to Damian Dabrowski for permission to use the photo of the pipes being cleaned.