How to Clean and Reuse Premium Pre-Roll Filter Tips

Nothing elevates a pre-roll session quite like a premium filter tip. Whether glass or ceramic, a premium filter tip is an inexpensive way to cool the smoke for bigger, smoother hits and adds just enough weight to remind you it’s a luxury item.

And whether you are rolling them into your own joints or using them like a filter for your pre-rolls, a good premium filter tip is an essential part of any stoner kit designed to take your pre-roll game to the next level.

But did you know that a high-quality, premium filter tips can actually be re-used again and again, as long as they are properly maintained? So how do you keep your premium filter tips in top condition use after use?

We got you. Let’s go.

What Are We Cleaning

Let’s begin with the basics: what exactly are we cleaning here? Just like with any piece you use to smoke cannabis, a premium filter tip collects a sticky brown or black substance made up of the ash, tar and carbon created as a byproduct of combustion that is usually called "resin".

Some people even call it “reclaim” because it is still high in cannabinoids and can get you high if smoked, though it tastes terrible and has some potentially dangerous health effects, since it is mostly just tar. Look, we’ve all been there, but in a modern, recreational cannabis market, there’s just no need to put your lungs through that.

Because your premium filter tips stand between you and your pre-roll, they will accumulate resin much like any glass pipe. However, because they are smaller and simpler in shape, they are easier to clean.

How to Clean Premium Filter Tips with Hot Water

The easiest way to clean your premium filter tips, whether glass or ceramic, is to use hot water. It’s not perfect and we often use this in conjunction with another method, but in a pinch, this will certainly give you a cleaner hit.

First, use a poker of some sort to clear any chunks of resin. A pipe cleaner, paper clip or even a large safety pin work great for this. But be careful; if you are cleaning a glass filter tip, there is a path through the filter – but watch out for the twist in the middle!

If you are cleaning a ceramic tip, however, your pokey will not go all the way through because the ceramic tips have a small hole-filled barrier that acts as a final stop for any scooby snacks that may pull through. Scrape the excess resin out the open end, and if you are using a safety pin, give each of the holes in the built-in screen a quick poke to ensure the best airflow.

Once you’ve given your premium filter tips a good scrape, now it’s time for the hot water. We want this as hot as possible, but be careful of course. If you can safely boil the water (I use a tea kettle), that is the best option, but if not, you want it as hot as you can get it.

Again, this WILL be hot and may cause burns if you get it on your skin, so place the filters in something that can handle the heat and pour the water over top. Allow them to soak for a minute or so, CAREFULLY remove the filter tips from the water and run them through again to rinse.

Repeat as necessary, though, again, this may not remove all of the resin.

Alternately, you can boil water on the stove and drop in the filters. If you choose this method, we recommend a metal pan and potentially even an old one. And again, be careful, not just of the heat, but the resin that works its way out of your filter may find its way onto your pan.

Cleaning Tour Premium Filter Tips with Alcohol and Salt

Extremely effective, simple and traditional, using alcohol to clean resin off your glass or ceramic filter tips is the easiest way to prep your filters for re-use.

Begin, of course, with your pipe cleaner or pokey and remove excess chunks of resin.

Then, simply place your filter tips in a zip-top bag and pour in enough isopropyl alcohol to fully cover the tips, or enough to keep consistent contact during the agitation process. Common rubbing alcohol will do the job, but the higher the percentage of alcohol you use (90%+ is preferred), the better and faster this method will work.

Add some coarse salt to the bag as well. The salt is a gentle abrasive that will hit chip away the resin without damaging the glass or ceramic.

Next, seal the bag and shake vigorously. Your alcohol will begin to discolor as it works to remove the resin from the filter tips. The longer you shake, the more resin you’ll remove. You can also let the tips soak for a while, and again, the longer you let them soak, the more resin will be eaten away.

If your tips aren’t clean enough, you can always empty the alcohol, re-cover with a fresh batch and repeat the process. You can also use hot or boiling water to finish the job when you remove your premium filter tips from the alcohol, using the steps above.

Isopropyl alcohol is a solvent that breaks down oils in resin which is non-polar, meaning it does not easily dissolve in water, and since isopropyl alcohol is a stronger solvent than water, this would be our suggested method for cleaning premium filter tips.

Cleaning Premium Filter Tips with Denture Tablets

Believe it or not, the fizzy tablets used to clean dentures can also be used to clean the resin off your premium filter tips.

It’s true!

First, remove excess resin with a pipe cleaner or pokey as usual, then, drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets into a large bowl of warm water. This water does not need to be boiling, so just go ahead and pull it from the tap.

Drop in your glass or ceramic filter tips and let them sit for up to a half hour or when they appear clean. Pull out the filter tips and run through a hot water rinse, any excess resin should be easily cleared out with a clean pipe cleaner.

Vinegar and Baking Soda to Clean Filter Tips

Another home method that works well for cleaning resin from premium filter tips is to use vinegar and baking soda.

First, remove excess resin with a pokey, than simply combine equal parts vinegar and baking soda, place your filter tips in the solution and let them soak for a while.

When they look clean, give them a good rinse and they are ready to go around again.

Commercial Cleaners to Clean Premium Filter Tips

There are, of course, plenty of commercial products that are designed to help remove resin from glassware. Products like Formula 420, Grunge Off, Weed Wipes and others promise to remove resin from cannabis pieces, and for the most part, they do. Even Dawn Dish Soap or degreasers like Zep Big Orange can be effective in removing resin build-ups.

We won’t wade into which of these work the best, but we will say that it is important to follow the instructions on whatever product you buy and that with several of these products you are going to want to do this is a highly ventilated area as they do not smell great.

As far as commercial products go, Weed Wipes is an all-natural alternative that bills itself as safe for you, your pets and the environment. But again, remember to follow all instructions on whatever commercial resin-remover or degreaser you use.

Final Thoughts on Cleaning Premium Filter Tips

And there you have it.

Filter tips are a simple way to upgrade any pre-roll session, whether choosing the premium feel of glass or the luxury of a ceramic experience, adding a filter will not only catch additional particles from coming through, but will help cool the smoke so you can take bigger hits.

And with proper maintenance, your premium glass and ceramic filter tips can be used again and again, either rolled into your joints at home or as a filter and holder that you can stuff an already packed pre-roll into.

But no matter what method you use to clean your premium filter tips, it is important to fully rinse and dry your filter tips after cleaning and before use.

Now grab a pack of premium filter tips and let’s get rolling!