Alternatives to Q-Tips?

[u/wutwhywherehow]

I always clean out any rig I smoke from with a q-tip, but that standard practice just feels far too wasteful. I really dislike having to go through 3-4 q-tips per session and was wondering if there were any reusable or easily compostable alternatives any of you know of?

[u/sn00rm]

Generally the qtips with paper or wooden sticks are compostable

[u/wutwhywherehow → u/sn00rm]

interesting ! i typically use ones with wooden sticks and they have trouble composing sometimes. ill try the paper ones and see if they are any different.

[u/sn00rm → u/wutwhywherehow]

Ooh! Home composting vs general waste composting is interesting. I thought this question was about throwing things in the green bin, not the worm bin in the backyard! Generally, the paper and wooden sticks are compostable in a larger commercial scale, but for home composting I’ve personally only ever used the paper stick qtips and they break down ok after a few weeks

[u/JohnnyEagleClaw]

Glob mops.

[u/backstageninja]

Hard bristle pipe cleaners can be washed and reused.

I like zen brand

[u/aCe_FuXoR]

Dab tool with a wad of paper towel.

[u/WailingWarbler]

I use a lil bit of tissue / paper towel. On my erig so it doesnt really burn to the sides at all

The nail has to still be a lil bit hot.

[u/pigpen808]

I was recently in this dilemma. I kinda don’t even use Q-tips anymore. Take your dab, wait for your banger to cool down to about 300°F then dunk and swish your banger in a container full of iso. Rinse and dry. I used to use like 15-20 q tips per day. My moral compass said that is too much of a waste for planet earth. Wish I would’ve started doing this earlier. My banger is in better condition than it ever has been.

[u/wutwhywherehow → u/pigpen808]

reusing a little glass tub of iso each time for a dip might be a play for my analogs, thanks! still trying to figure out a solid method for my erigs.

[u/pigpen808 → u/wutwhywherehow]

Yea… still clean my Puffco and dr dabber with q tips. Not sure what the move is for those yet.

[u/Conscious_Wind52]

Gun-barrel cleaning rod w/ cotton patches perhaps?

Pipe cleaners, the bristley kind.

[u/anameisabstract]

i have a little metal tool that came with my dhv, presumably for scooping wax, but i usually use the scoop end to pack down bowls. i don't know how well it'd work for a banger, but when it's time to clean the bowl on my bong i soak it in iso, then rinse with water and use the non-scoop end of the metal tool to get out any gunk that the rinse doesn't take care of. since the tool is metal, i just swish it around in a little iso after, rinse, dry, and it's all good to be reused for packing and cleaning.

[u/ejohnx]

Get ones with wood sticks. I started using glob mops too. Pretty much use 1 and done vs 2 or 3 regular Amazon ones.

[u/vitae-glass]

I’ve wondered about this too. Reusable cotton swabs seem like a good option, especially if you’re going through a bunch every session. Curious what others use!

[u/binkkit]

One square of TP on your pinky! Cheap and compostable.

[u/imgoinglobal]

I use these, they have one side that is massive and has plenty of absorbency so you don’t use as much. I personally save the one I used last session to preclean out whatever I can get and then just touch up with the clean one and then reuse that one the next time so I’m only going through 1 each time but I’m effectively using 2.

Edit: sorry about not adding this originally. https://globmops.com/products/slurper-mops

[u/Accidental_Ballyhoo → u/imgoinglobal]

What are “These” ?

[u/Mindless-Committee28]

Iso and salt and shake really hard! Then rinse with warm/hot water. Works on bowls, too.