5 Quick and Easy Tips to Avoid Having a Dirty Dab Rig Heading into 2023

Once you’ve picked out the perfect dab rig for your dabbing hobby, it’s time to do everything that you can to maintain it properly. Whether you’re rocking a high-end or low-end model, you need to keep it clean as much as possible to keep on enjoying it. The biggest issue is having a dirty rig, which can negatively impact your dabs in more ways than you realize.

What’s Wrong with a Dirty Rig?

A dab rig that’s not clean is going to affect your dabs in a few different ways. Each time we have a dabbing session, residue from the concentrates ends up inside the rig, along the interior walls. And, if the rig isn’t being thoroughly cleaned, that residue is just going to accumulate and accumulate.

One issue with a dirty dab rig is that it just doesn’t look appealing to use. If you have a borosilicate rig that’s yellow or brown, it’s not going to be pleasant to look at. But, beyond the superficial, there are other issues. One is flavor. A rig that’s coated in a film of burnt residue is going to interfere with your ability to enjoy flavorful concentrates. Many of us love that fresh, clean and complex terpene taste, and spend a lot of money to find the highest-quality dabs possible for flavor alone. A dirty rig is going to give you a stale and sometimes burnt taste since the old residue is mixing in with the new vapor. This issue can also occur if you haven’t changed the water in your rig.

The other issue is that little by little, that residue can be a problem for airflow. If the residue builds up enough along the inside walls of your rig, then it can restrict the ability for air to move through freely, causing problems like reduced vapor output and harshness that makes you cough when you inhale.

How Can You Prevent Having a Dirty Rig?

Just follow these tips below.

Tip #1: Replace the Water as Often as Possible

A very common mistake we see with a lot of new dabbers is not replacing the water in their rig regularly. We can’t emphasize enough just how much dirty water can get in the way of enjoying your dabs. After all, we spend a lot of money to enjoy the finest concentrates we can. But, letting that vapor run through dirty water is never going to let you fully enjoy what those dabs can really offer, flavor-wise. So, if you can, replace the water between each use, as this will make sure that each dabbing session tastes as fresh as possible. Besides that, it will help prevent your rig from developing a permanent yellow tip.

Tip #2: Give Your Rig a Thorough Weekly Cleaning

Besides replacing the water, your entire rig needs to be cleaned at least once a week. The constant residue buildup with each session gets that rig dirty pretty quickly, and a weekly cleaning never lets it get too dirty. Take the rig apart and soak the entire device in a solution of water, salt and isopropyl alcohol, which will lift away the residue, so you don’t have to work too hard to scrub it. Wipe away the residue, and then let the rig air dry before using it again.

Tip #3: Avoid Dabbing Too Hot

Dabbing at too high of a temperature will scorch your rig, and while this issue is really only an aesthetic one, a yellow or brown rig is not a good look. Chazzing refers to scorching the rig excessively, and can turn it black, in a way that can’t be reversed. Be mindful of the temperature you’re applying to avoid discoloring your rig.

Tip #4: Get a Reclaim Catcher

When we enjoy a dab hit, some of our concentrate goes back down and into the rig, creating a glob of oil that just sits there until it’s cleaned out. This can be tricky to clean since the channel where it gets stuck is pretty narrow. But, that’s where a reclaim catcher comes in handy. This is an accessory that attaches to the space below your banger, and, catches that glob of oil so you can remove it and reuse it for your next dabbing session.

Tip #5: Store Your Rig Properly

Finally, make sure to keep your rig somewhere where it can stay clean. Don’t let it collect dust on a shelf, and don’t put it in a drawer that’s filled with dirt and debris. Treat your rig like a prized possession, and you’ll be rewarded with a pristine piece of equipment for years to come.

Keep Your Rig Perfectly Clean to Enjoy Your Dabs for a Long Time to Come

Essentially, if you want to enjoy fresh flavor, lots of potency and easy airflow each time you dab, you’ll need to put effort into keeping your rig clean. We know that it may sound like a lot of commitment, but the cleaning routines described above are all amazingly simple and intuitive, and take very little time, while offering big reward. Just doesn’t get any more awesome than that!