Grinders are essential for consuming cannabis, but regular use can leave them dirty, clogged, and difficult to handle. Do you know how to clean a grinder? Frequent maintenance ensures consistent burn, damage-free buds, and maximum efficiency.
Ready to learn how to do it right? Join us to discover the various methods of cleaning this essential piece of cannabis kit. You’ll also find out how to wash different types of grinders and save the accumulated kief.
Let’s jump in!
What is a grinder?
A grinder is a tool that breaks cannabis buds into small, similarly-sized pieces. Crushing the nugs into a semi-fine texture makes adding them to joints, bowls, bongs, and pipes easier. The benefits of using a clean weed grinder include a smooth and even burn without canoeing.
Most weed grinders are circular. This shape allows you to rotate them and break down the cannabis. They can fit into your hand and are typically 2–6 inches in diameter.
Grinders consist of numerous materials, including metal, wood, plastic, and acrylic. Learning how to clean a weed grinder made of these components is a straightforward task.
The most common types of grinders consist of four separate pieces:
- A toothed lid
- A toothed grinding compartment with holes for the crushed bud to fall through
- A chamber that collects and stores weed with a screen to filter kief
- A bottom compartment that collects kief
To use a grinder, place a nug in the toothed grinding compartment, close the lid, and twist it a few times. As you rotate, the teeth push against each other to chop the weed into uniform pieces. Then, open the main storage chamber to retrieve your ground cannabis.
What do you need to clean a grinder?
The good news is that cleaning a weed grinder is just as simple as using it. Our tried and tested method keeps your kief safe for further use (here you can learn what is kief and what to do with it, in case you didn't know) and only requires a few items:
- A freezer
- A paper plate
- A plastic
- A soft toothbrush or paintbrush
Keep in mind that slightly different cleaning strategies exist for metal, plastic, and acrylic grinders. We cover all the commonly used techniques for each type of material below.
How to clean a grinder: Step-by-step guide
You know it’s time to give your grinder a clean when the lid gets stuck, or the teeth struggle to rotate. These issues come from built-up plant matter, including sticky resin and powdery kief.
Ready to learn how to clean your grinder? Keep your crushing tool spotless and save your kief to roll a good joint with these two simple steps:
Step 1: Put your grinder in the freezer
Start by emptying all the visible cannabis pieces from your grinder. Once it’s bud-free, place it in the freezer for about an hour.
This action makes the kief brittle and hard instead of its typical soft and sticky texture. Cleaning weed grinders in the freezer also help any stubborn plant matter fall off the inside walls and screen.
Step 2: Use a brush to clean your grinder and collect the kief
Remove your grinder from the freezer after one hour and carefully take it apart. Tap each piece over a paper plate or similar item to loosen the particles and secure the kief.
The best way to clean a grinder is by using a soft brush. Dust off any leftover particles and sweep them onto the plate. We recommend bending the paper to create a cone shape for a better grip. Make sure to clear out the teeth, grooves, walls, and screen.
You might be surprised at the amount of kief, or dry trichomes, that accumulate after a proper grinder cleaning.
We recommend holding on to this powdery substance, as it has numerous uses. Add some kief to your joints and bowls for a potent kick, or consider making rosin from weed.
How to clean a metal weed grinder
All-metal cannabis grinders can’t go inside a freezer, so you need an alternative cleaning solution if you have one. In this case, we recommend using isopropyl alcohol.
Want to know how to save your kief and metal with this weed grinder cleaner? Start by rounding up the following supplies:
- A bottle of around 90% isopropyl alcohol
- A Ziploc bag or similar substitute
- A glass dish
Next, follow these simple steps to learn how to clean a grinder with isopropyl alcohol:
Disassemble your grinder and put all the individual pieces into a Ziploc bag or mason jar.
Pour the isopropyl alcohol inside, ensuring it adequately covers each part of the grinder.
Soak the pieces until the liquid becomes a brown-like color and when most of the particles are loose. A higher isopropyl alcohol percentage can clean your weed grinder faster.
Remove the grinder parts, rinse them with more isopropyl alcohol, and let them dry. You may need to use a brush to scrape off any stubborn residue.
Transfer the leftover brown liquid to a glass dish if you want to make hash. Allow it to evaporate fully before collecting the remnants. Growing hash cannabis seeds can help you get more of this substance.
Note: This weed grinder cleaning method is only suitable for metal grinders. We discuss how to clean plastic and acrylic grinders next.
Cleaning plastic and acrylic weed grinders
Isopropyl alcohol can dissolve or damage acrylic and other plastic materials. As a result, it’s not an effective solution for these types of marijuana grinders.
Wondering how to clean weed grinders made from acrylic or plastic? All you need is warm water, dish soap, and a soft brush. Then, follow these steps:
Prepare your warm water in a sink or a bucket.
Take your grinder apart and soak it in the water for around ten minutes.
Use a soft brush and dish soap to scrub your grinder and remove the buildup.
Rinse all the parts thoroughly and allow them to dry.
Note: This method is unsuitable for metal grinders, as it may cause them to rust.
How to clean a grinder by boiling it
Some cannabis enthusiasts boil their grinders to keep them squeaky clean and prevent them from getting stuck. This method is easy, effective, and quick.
Wondering how to clean a grinder by boiling it? Make sure you have a stove, a pot, and some water. Then, stick to these simple steps:
- Fill your pot with water, place it on the stove, and bring it to a boil.
- Take your grinder apart and place all the pieces inside the boiling water.
- Remove them with an appropriate kitchen utensil after about 5–10 minutes, but avoid burning yourself.
- Use a paper towel, brush, or q-tip to thoroughly clean all the nooks and crannies.
Not that this method is useful, but it gives you less kief. Consider putting your grinder in the freezer first if you’re interested in collecting this powdery substance.
How to make THC milk while cleaning your grinder
Want to be a little daring? Instead of boiling your grinder in water, try using milk. This cleaning method creates THC-infused liquid without wasting any kief—although boiling it may reduce some of the potency.
How do I clean my grinder with milk, you ask? Follow the same steps as you would when using water. Don’t over boil it, as milk evaporates much quicker than water and makes your grinder sticky. Keep the heat on medium and let the pieces sit for 15–20 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Looking for more information about cleaning cannabis grinders? Keep reading for bite-sized answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
Can I put my grinder in the freezer to clean it?
There are numerous benefits to putting your stuck and dirty grinder in the freezer. This method keeps your cannabis tool clean while helping you save as much kief as possible.
Keep in mind that this weed grinder cleaning technique is unsuitable for metal, but works with all other materials. Put your grinder in the freezer for up to one hour, and then tap it on a hard surface to loosen the collected trichomes. Use a brush to coax out the stubborn matter.
Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean my grinder?
Isopropyl alcohol is only suitable for all-metal grinders, as it may damage plastic, acrylic, or wood ones. Using this substance is easy and one of the best ways to clean a grinder.
Soak your dismantled parts in a Ziploc bag of 90% isopropyl alcohol. Wait for the water to turn brown and for most particles to loosen. Rinse the grinder pieces and use a brush to sweep off the stubborn bits.
Can I boil my grinder to clean it?
The boiling method ensures a clean weed grinder, but it typically gives you less kief. If you want to collect this cannabis powder, put your grinder in the freezer first. Then, place your pieces in boiling water for about ten minutes and use a soft brush to dust off the excess.
The lowdown on weed grinder cleaning
The cleaning process is not rocket science. After figuring out what material it’s made from, all that’s left is to select a technique that works for you.
Whether you opt to use a freezer, boiling water, soap, or isopropyl alcohol, there’s a grinder cleaning method to suit your needs.
Ready to put your new skills to the test? Choose a suitable technique and watch your dirty, stuck tool turn into a fresh, unclogged, clean weed grinder.
Check out our blog to learn more about various marijuana-related topics and don’t forget to shop our wide selection of high THC weed seeds.
