At a glance
- After every bowl: run a pipe cleaner through the stem and shank while the pipe is still warm to remove moisture and loose residue.
- Periodic deep cleaning: disassemble the pipe, ream the bowl (scrape the carbon cake back to a thin layer), clean the stem and shank with pipe cleaners and isopropyl alcohol, and let all parts dry completely.
- Let a pipe rest for at least 24 hours between uses so the wood (or mineral) can dry out.
- Reaming keeps the cake layer thin and even — too much cake can crack the bowl; no cake at all can expose the wood to direct heat.
- A basic cleaning kit consists of pipe cleaners, a pipe reamer or knife, and isopropyl alcohol (not rubbing alcohol with additives).