Can Acrylic Stems Go in the Dishwasher?
- Thread starter Sanzini
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My friend says he bought them second hand. They were attached to MM Cobs that are clearly unsmoked, so he presumes the stems haven’t been used. They also appear clean overall, but he just wants to be sure and sanitize them as well. I’ll be sure to pass on any advice you may have. ?
Hey, just avoid the sanitizing setting and turn the drying cycle off... lose some, learn some. 
I would hand wash them with mild dish soap.
I'm assuming that you're referring to a mechanical dishwasher and not a member of your household. In either case, you can put an acrylic stem in your dishwasher, but in the latter case it may be a bit uncomfortable, embarrassing, kinky, or illegal. As long as your mechanical dishwasher is equipped with a door, you should be able to place your acrylic stems in it.
Personally, I just run warm water through my acrylic stems and scrub them out with a couple of pipe cleaners that have been dipped in a scent free dish washing soap.
Personally, I just run warm water through my acrylic stems and scrub them out with a couple of pipe cleaners that have been dipped in a scent free dish washing soap.
I once got an old pipe and just filled and smoked. I recovered pretty quickly…lol!! Just kidding.
True, despite the media's insistence to the contrary! ?
Sorry, hadn’t ever heard. Maybe change your media source…lol!! ??
Just use dishsoap and the sink. That's what I do. After every smoke I take the stem off, dip a pipe cleaner in dish soap and run it through the lux of the stem, then scrub the stem with a non-scratch Scotch-Brite scrubbie. Rinse with lukewarm to cold water. I do the same with vulcanite, just minding that the water temperature is towards the cold.
Dish soap should be enough to kill most pathogens.
For brand new pipes, I always disinfect them with a cleaner dipped in absinthe. Every now and then, I will disinfect the stems with absinthe or gin as well. But don't make this a habit with acrylic stems: alcohol can induce the formation of micro-cracks in the acrylic.
Dish soap should be enough to kill most pathogens.
For brand new pipes, I always disinfect them with a cleaner dipped in absinthe. Every now and then, I will disinfect the stems with absinthe or gin as well. But don't make this a habit with acrylic stems: alcohol can induce the formation of micro-cracks in the acrylic.
I would be worried. I left my meer in a hot car for 2 days, and it straightened the stem.
Live and learn.
I actually don't mind it, it takes a pipe cleaner better this way., And I don't use the case anymore. I could boil it and bend it myself. I've done it before. But I don't need to.
Live and learn.
I actually don't mind it, it takes a pipe cleaner better this way., And I don't use the case anymore. I could boil it and bend it myself. I've done it before. But I don't need to.
Yes, you can put the whole pipe through the dishwasher cycle, but why? I've done it to show how safe water is for pipes. But it doesn't clean the airway, which is the important part in cleansing.
However, don't think they are sanitized. No one here has the gear or time to actually sanitize their pipes.
However, don't think they are sanitized. No one here has the gear or time to actually sanitize their pipes.
I think hand washing would do a better job in terms of sanitizing the airway. The jets in a dish washer do well with surfaces, but I wouldn't bet on their penetrating a narrow stem airway in any consistent way. Most dishwashers draw from water heaters that are not set hot enough to melt acrylic, but there is probably some point with some water heaters where that would be a problem.
Yes, the dishwasher is absurd unless you're just demoing sturdiness.
The airway will be clean, but not sanitized.
The airway will be clean, but not sanitized.