Your grinder is your flower’s best friend. It’s the tool you turn to when you want to break up your flower for easier cannabis rolling or smoother-hitting bowls. Not only does a grinder help with a quicker and more efficient grinding process, but it also provides cannabis patients a place to catch the potent crystal kief in the bottom chamber below the screen, once all the flower is broken down. And as we know, kief is a great addition to edibles or to sprinkle on your regular bowl of flower for extra potency.
Just like your favorite bowl or bong, your grinder needs to be cleaned regularly to make sure it remains sanitary so you can take full advantage of its benefits. How regularly? Troy from 420 Vape Zone says if you have to clean your grinder more than one time per ounce of cannabis then it is time for a new grinder.
Read on to learn how to keep your grinder clean and ready for your next use.
First Step: Know What Kind of Grinder You Have
The first thing to notice is the material your grinder is made from. This is important because your cleaning process will differ if your grinder is aluminum or plastic. For instance, if you have a plastic, wood or painted grinder, you will want to avoid any alcohol for cleaning as it can affect the surface and design of the piece. High-end aluminum and stainless steel are anodized so alcohol shouldn’t impact its surface. Paying attention to this will add to the lifespan of your grinder.
Tools You'll Need to Clean Your Grinder
It’s always a good idea to gather everything you need before starting a cleaning process. We recommend setting aside a clean area at a table or desk so you can lay everything out in front of you. Troy recommends the following:
- A rolling tray
- A few sheets of paper towels
- A toothbrush (for plastic/acrylic grinders)
- A copper wire brush (for metal grinders)
- A poker or toothpick
- A double-sized Ziplock bag or large Mason jar
- 91% isopropyl alcohol
Cleaning your High-Quality Aluminum or Stainless Steel Grinder
Once you have your set-up, put your grinder in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. This will stiffen the trichome heads and help them to stick to each other rather than the grinder. At the end of that allotted time, the grinder should be frozen. Take it out of the freezer, twist apart the various pieces and use your toothpick or poker to knock out any loose kief or trichome heads. Troy recommends using toothpicks here because they are softer than aluminum or stainless steel and won’t leave scratch marks. Make sure your rolling tray is clean, dry and ready to catch what is coming out. Once you are done with your poker, use your brush to sweep out any loose material. Do as much as you can, but don’t stress if you can’t get everything!
Cannabis DIY: How to Roll Your Own
Next is soaking your grinder in alcohol. If you are cleaning more than one grinder at once, you can place them all in a large Mason jar. If you are just cleaning one, use a double Ziplock bag. Put the pieces of the grinder together and place in your container of choice. Then pour in the alcohol. Let it sit again for 15-20 minutes. Take the grinder out of the container, untwist each part so you can look at each piece closely and rinse with water (hot or cold is fine). Pat dry with paper towels.
Your grinder should be as good as new! If you are looking for a new grinder, check out the selection at the Wellness Connection.
Cleaning your Acrylic or Plastic Grinders
For acrylic or plastic grinders, Hemper recommends using soap and warm water along with a small brush or toothbrush to clean them by hand. Another option is to place your grinder in boiling water on your stovetop. If you choose the boiling water route, separate your grinder pieces, place them together in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Next, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for 10 minutes. Take your grinder pieces out of the pot, and once cooled, use a small brush to remove any of the loose materials. Then let them dry.
A clean grinder allows you to collect the kief and trichome heads that can enhance any bowl or edible recipe. What is your favorite way to clean your grinder?
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