If you are a pipe smoker like me, the need to keep your pipes fresh and clean is very important. Trust me on this! Cleaning your pipes once in a while will make such a huge difference in terms of getting rid of any bad-tasting clogs that may ruin your smoke.
In this beginner’s guide to cleaning tobacco pipes, I want to show you how I use my tested and proven 3 step method in deep cleaning tobacco pipes
What are some materials or supplies used for pipe cleaning?
In the cleaning process, we only need some simple cleaning tools
Firstly, I would use natural cleansers to clean the pipe. For instance, at room temperature white vinegar is capable of dissolving and removing stains and grease deposits that had been left in the pipe.
Furthermore, whiskey also acts as an organic cleaner for my tobacco pipes. The alcohol it contains dissolves build-up in the tube. After pouring whiskey into the tube gently shaking it will allow it to reach all parts where it removes stains from all directions
Of course, we can’t forget the most important pipe cleaners! These bendy wires covered with soft material can be twisted around inside for the purpose of scrubbing every corner. Just slice up a pipe cleaner, insert it into the smoking pipe stem, and give it a whirl to dislodge any residue stuck in those hard-to-reach areas.
A good shank brush is crucial if you want to clean your pipe bowl properly. Horsehair bristles will remove even stubborn crusts while softer boar bristles are there to carefully mop sensitive regions. The kind of brush should specifically match your pipe brand for better cleaning results.
When I have any liquid or ash on the surface, I usually use plain cotton paper towels. They absorb moisture and dirt without leaving behind fibers or smell.
In case you have got a really caked-on carbon cake inside the bowl we might also need a pipe reamer; this is designed specially for removing that layer and unblocking the airway. Take it easy though – don’t read too much away; you could ruin your pipe!
Cleaning the smoking pipe
Hey guys, all set? So, for me, I’d rather mix a bit of warm water with a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar –something acidic to get rid of that yucky tar left in the pipe from previous smoke. A toothbrush soaked in the solution helps clean grime inside and outside.
Meanwhile, if by any chance you see the exterior is extremely dirty, just apply some dishwashing soap on it to handle hard coatings developing there. Yes! There is a thick cake layer inside my bowl, so still I need to keep on cleaning! When removing each piece carefully with a reamer I use a pipe cleaner that first scrapes off old layers down to almost like coin thinness. After that, I fill my chamber up with alcohol-soaked cotton balls and let them stay for some time so that the alcohol can work out its miracles. An hour later, I picked up an alcohol-dipped little brush that would sweep every corner of this bowl; making it look as fresh as ever before.
As a rule, if you observe the aforementioned cleaning steps, then you can always get a pure pipe. But many people believe that you should clean all internal surfaces of the pipe after each smoke to the last tiny bit, because over some period of time more deep and difficult-to-reach dirt builds up in places like mortise and shank . To completely freshen your pipe, you need to cleanse the whole airway deeply. A little boring sometimes but nothing a few pointers cannot help with when it comes to cleaning out a pipe’s mortise
Cleaning the Mortise of a Pipe
I think that the steps for deep cleaning a pipe include: Begin with using fine pipe cleaners and alcohol-soaked cotton swabs to scrub out the stem and mortise. Pay close attention to the mortise for oil and tar build-up here. In case it is stubborn, you can use the cleaner solution by soaking in it the pipe cleaner. For any caked debris, gently push in the bristles of a pipe brush into the shank. Keep on rinsing them with clean swabs till they come out clean.
What's the proper way to ream the bowl of a tobacco pipe?
The carbon layer which is found inside the chamber of your pipe allows for good pipe smoking by absorbing moisture and flavors, but when it becomes too thick, air flow becomes difficult. Moderation is necessary for the perfect thickness during the reaming of a bowl.
How do you “trim the cake” just right? At first palm pressure should be applied. Do not cut through to the brier. Soft rotations on a light reamer are used to take off some layers over time. I prefer reaming after around a dozen bowls or so once the cake reaches about 1/8 inch in thickness. The idea here is just about as thin as an American dime. This keeps enough of it to protect the rim yet avoids any constriction
How can I remove odors and flavors from my tobacco pipe after cleaning?
However, sometimes, even if one has cleaned it thoroughly, there could be some unpleasant smells coming out of your pipe. Fortunately, there are various ways that can assist you in getting back the original taste of your pipe.
I like using natural absorbents including baking soda or coffee grounds. Put a little baking soda or dry coffee grounds inside the chamber of the pipe and leave it for several hours or overnight. These natural absorbents will help us to perfectly remove odors and make your pipe as good as new.
English 
German