Today, we are blogging about the best ways to clean a metal grinder for cannabis. It won't take too long before you need to clean your grinder out, so it can return to its original performance. Understanding the techniques to sufficiently clean a dirty weed grinder is important. You’ve probably noticed that some marijuana feels sticky to the touch. That’s caused by trichomes, the tiny hairs on your bud. Trichomes are resin glands containing lots of THC, CBD, and terpenes. Overall, the stickier the flower, the fresher it is, and the stronger your high will be. We also have a how to use grinder guide for those who need help on the best way to grind weed.
Sticky Kief Build Up
However, this stickiness can gum up the teeth of your metal grinder. You need to know how to clean a weed grinder well. If the blades aren’t sharp, it will rip your weed apart instead of grinding it.
In addition, any organic material can grow bacteria, rot, or mold over time, including cannabis. If there’s a moldy weed in your grinder, and you keep using it, you could contaminate your whole stash.
Check out the King Palm weed grinders, they’re highly rated in multiple online publications. Below we explain each step needed to clean a metal cannabis grinder.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Cleaning Cannabis Grinders
We’ll show you how to clean a weed grinder. It won't take too much time either and will leave you a cannabis grinder looking brand new again. It’s quite easy, so feel free to take a few puffs from your flavored pre-roll cone before you start.
Materials You’ll Need
- Isopropyl alcohol (70-100%)
- Toothbrush
- Paperclip, toothpick, or dab tool for scraping
- Parchment paper
- Ziploc bag, mixing bowl, or baking pan
Step 1: Brush
Start by taking your grinder apart completely. Be careful with each piece, especially the screen. Lay them out on parchment paper.
Brush every grinder piece with a toothbrush, small soft paintbrush, or q-tip. After you’ve finished, there will probably still be some plant matter stuck to the teeth or sides. You can use a paperclip, toothpick, or dab tool to scrape these difficult areas.
Tip: If your residue isn’t coming off, try freezing each piece of the metal grinder for about 30 minutes before brushing it off. This helps the residue stick together and makes it easier to remove.
What’s the Stuff That Comes Out of the Grinder?
Anything you brush away from your grinder during this process is called kief. When trichomes are dried and broken away from your cannabis, they become kief. It’s much stronger and more concentrated than regular weed.
If you want to collect the kief, clean your metal grinder over a piece of parchment paper so you can catch every little bit. No matter where it’s stuck in your grinder, it should still be good to use.
Once you’re done brushing and scraping, it’s easy to roll the parchment paper and get every last bit into your container of choice. Some people dump it right back into their kief catcher when cleaning is done.
You can sprinkle kief on top of a joint during the rolling process, or pack some inside a pre-rolled cone. You can roll your blunt in kief or use it to top off a bowl. Kief is also great for making edibles. It’s super versatile, so don’t just throw it away!
Step 2: Soak
Soak every part of your grinder in isopropyl alcohol for about 30 minutes to an hour.
Isopropyl alcohol kills 99.99% of germs in seconds, making it perfect for cleaning your grinder. Plus, it won’t cause any components to rust like water can. Choose at least 70% isopropyl alcohol, but higher percentages like 90% can work even better.
Submerge each piece of your grinder in rubbing alcohol. You could put them all in a Ziploc bag, a bowl, or a baking pan.
If there’s still a fair amount of extra residue, you can shake the container around while you’re soaking to agitate the grinder. That’s the best way to clean a grinder if you want to reduce your scrubbing in the next step.
Step 3: Scrub
When the metal grinder is soaked, the alcohol will turn light brown. Take each part out of the alcohol bath and rinse them with water.
If you notice any remaining residue, give your grinder one last scrub. You can use a pipe cleaner, toothbrush, or sponge. Just be gentle so you don’t damage the teeth or screen.
Step 4: Dry
Your grinder should now be completely clean! Leave it out to air dry for at least an hour. Make sure your metal grinder is completely dry before you use it, or you could end up with a big mess and soggy weed.
Now you’re ready to start cleaning grinders!
How Often Should I Clean a Metal Weed Grinder?
Many smokers say they never clean their grinders and don’t remember the last time they did. However, knowing the best way to clean a grinder is a necessary part of owning one.
When figuring out how to clean a weed grinder, ask how often you use it. If you only grind your weed occasionally, you can probably get away with less frequent cleanings. However, it never hurts to do it more often.
If you’re a heavy user or daily smoker, you’ll probably want to clean your weed grinder about once a month. If you wait much longer, you’ll notice that your herb is not grinding as efficiently and you’re not getting as much kief.
King Palm carries a wide variety of weed grinders to help you prepare your cannabis for smoking in our pre-rolled cones. Our XL grinder lets you grind up to 3.5 grams of herb at once, and our Mars grinders come in various fun colors.
Don’t like manually grinding your cannabis? Our luxury electric herb grinder will get your weed to the perfect texture in only 3-15 seconds.
