How Often Do You "Deep" Clean Your Pipes?

[Pipe Smoker]

I don't ever deep-clean pipes. I smoke only one pipe on any given day. At the end of the day I spend close to an hour cleaning that pipe. I clean the rim with Everclear (140 proof), then EVOO. And swab out the bit and shank with pipecleaners wetted with Everclear.

If the pipe has a vulcanite bit I polish it with Colgate toothpaste applied to a tensioned piece of flat shoelace. Then a final polish of the bit with neutral Kiwi shoe polish.

Not regularly, but as needed, I ream. And clean the outside of the pipe with EVOO.

Edit: My cleaning procedure for my metal-stem Kirsten is significantly different…

[Branzig]

So far, never. Should I?

My policy has always been only if it smokes sour. I asked the question here because I find it interesting.

I don't ever deep-clean pipes. I smoke only one pipe on any given day. At the end of the day I spend close to an hour cleaning that pipe. I clean the rim with Everclear (140 proof) and EVOO. And swab out the bit and shank with pipecleaners wetted with Everclear.

If the pipe has a vulcanite bit I polish it with Colgate toothpaste applied to a tensioned piece of flat shoelace. Then a final polish of the bit with neutral Kiwi shoe polish.

Not regularly, but as needed, I ream. And clean the outside of the pipe with EVOO.

If you are spending an hour cleaning said pipe, IMO you do deep clean. Every night

Anytime the use of alcohol is involved, I consider that deep cleaning.

[Lostmason]

My policy has always been only if it smokes sour. I asked the question here because I find it interesting.



If you are spending an hour cleaning said pipe, IMO you do deep clean. Every night

Anytime the use of alcohol is involved, I consider that deep cleaning.

Does that include the scotch I'm drinking? in that case they get cleaned at least once a week (probably (a lot) More)

[Cool Breeze]

I don't ever deep-clean pipes. I smoke only one pipe on any given day.

Just out of curiosity, how many bowls on average do you smoke out of the pipe per day?

[Aguineapig]

IF they ever start to smoke poorly, then I will clean them. Other than that, it's just an occasional pipe cleaner, and wiping any loose soot etc. out of the bowl. Occasional reaming as well, again as needed.

my cobs especially see very little maintenance and still work fine (better than when new, in fact) for it.

[Bruck]

...my cobs especially see very little maintenance and still work fine (better than when new, in fact) for it.

ditto. I don't think I'd deep clean a cob for fear of dissolving it

I don't really dig a new cob - have to suffer thru the first few bowls of corny-tasting smoke before they get good.

[Branzig]

ditto. I don't think I'd deep clean a cob for fear of dissolving it

I don't really dig a new cob - have to suffer thru the first few bowls of corny-tasting smoke before they get good.

Ditto.

Hate the new corn taste here

I have cleaned the stems with some alcohol before. But never the shank, mortise or bowl....I use and abuse cobs like no other lol.

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[Lostmason]

I deep clean estates,but usually just a quick scrape to remove any dottle and blow thru the stem to clear any ash in there.Maybe once a week I'll run a bristled cleaner thru them.

[Haebar]

I do deep cleaning about every 3 months for the pipes that are in my active smoking rotation (usually 10-12 pipes). To me, deep cleaning is to use some sort of alcoholic solution (everclear, vodka, rum, etc.) along with bristle pipe cleaners to clean out sludge deposits in the shank and sweeten things up a bit. Then I run regular pipe cleaners through until they come out clean. Reaming is something that I only do when it is needed, as is the case with the salt/alcohol treatment. Most of my pipes will never need the salt/alcohol treatment, which I only use for when I get estate pipes that are badly ghosted or generally nasty.

[FidelCastro]

A clean pipe is a happy pipe. I tend to always keep my pipes on the clean side as I've tasted a pipe that has been neglected and swore I'd always keep things clean.