How To Prepare, Smoke, And Clean A Bong

As a marijuana enthusiast, there are two truths you can’t deny. First, there are numerous ways to enjoy cannabis. The second truth? Nothing comes close to the high you get from hitting your bong.

Sadly, knowing how exhilarating bongs are isn’t the same as understanding how to smoke them the right way. But the good news for those in this category is that there’s no cause for alarm. Hitting a bong correctly isn’t as complex as it may sound, and we’ll let you in on the nitty-gritty of it. If you’re lucky, we’ll also throw in some tips on preparing and cleaning a bong. Ready? Leggo!

 

Let’s Meet Bong, Shall We?

Like everything else, the first step to knowing how to smoke a bong starts with understanding what it’s made of. Below are the basic components of a bong. If you want more in depth details, please see this article: Anatomy of a bong 101

 

●       Bowl

Your bong’s bowl is where the marijuana is kept

 

●       Stem

The stem is a tube that attaches to the bong’s bowl; the part of the stem inside the bong is partially covered in water.

 

●       Base

The base is the wide bottom of the bong where the water stays.

 

●       Chamber

In a bong, you’ll find a huge cylinder rising up from the base. It’s called the smoke chamber or tube. The smoke has to pass through this chamber before getting to the mouthpiece.

 

●       Mouthpiece

To inhale the smoke from a bong, you’ll have to place your lips over the wide orifice at the top. That opening is called the mouthpiece.

 

●       Percolator

If you’ve ever tried to use a bong, you must have noticed a bubbling sound coming out of it. That’s all thanks to the percolator, which acts as the bong’s filtration and cooling system. Percolators can be found in different configurations and may appear in various parts of the bong.

 

How To Get Your Bong Ready for a Good Smoke

Preparing your bong before smoking involves filling it with water and packing it up:

 

●       Fill It With Water

The first step to prepping your bong is to fill the downstem’s slit with enough water to cover it completely. Be sure to do this before ripping the bong. For downstems without slits, ensure that the water covers it by about half an inch.

So, how do you know the amount of water to put in your bong? Easy-peasy; just check the bong’s features and size. For example, large bongs with percolators should have enough water to submerge the openings of the percolator.

 

●       Pack Your Bowl

After filling your bong with water, the next step is to pack the cannabis into its bowl before adding the stem. Alternatively, you may decide to pack it with the stem in. A good rule of thumb is to try both methods and see what works for you.

Packing your bowl involves using a grinder or your fingers to crush the bud. Next, place a screen (when necessary) and add the ground cannabis into the bowl. Finish by returning the stem into the bong’s hole if you previously took it out.

 

How To Take a Bong Hit

Here’s how to smoke your bong:

 

●       Get Your Bong Lit

You have to light your bong to smoke it, of course. So, place the mouthpiece in your mouth in preparation for a draw and light it with a lighting wick or lighter. Just be careful not to go overboard by burning the bowl completely.

 

●       Fill it with Smoke

Now, draw smoke into the chamber through the mouthpiece as you ignite the bowl while keeping the carb hole covered. Continue pulling smoke into the bong until you reach your preferred amount.

 

●       Clear It Up

The next step after loading the bong with smoke is to take a hit, clear the chamber, and draw in the smoke. Be sure to remove the stem from its hole or remove your thumb from the carb hole if your bong has one.

Viola! Now, you can smoke your bong like a pro!!

 

It’s Time to Clean Up

Always ensure that your bong is clean to avoid mold and bacteria build-up. A clean bong makes for an amazing flavor, smooth highs, and large rips.

Here’s how to clean your bong right:

• Get rid of the water in your bong after every session
• Use warm water to rinse the bong
• Ensure that your bong is dry by wiping it thoroughly with a paper towel

Note that you can use alcohol wipes to remove sticky resins in some hard-to-clean spots like the bowl or stem. Also, keep your bong clean by replacing the screen regularly.

 

There You Have It!

Preparing, smoking, and cleaning your bong is easy if you understand the basic steps. We hope these tips help!