How to Clean a Weed Grinder For Dry Herb

Grinders are the unspoken hero of any smoker’s kit: essential everyday pieces, they should be cleaned regularly to avoid clogging. If you don’t know how to clean a weed grinder, we’re here to provide you with the ultimate guide. 

What is a grinder?

A dry herb grinder is a tool typically made of metal used to grind cannabis before smoking. This grinding process is crucial to the smoking process: not only does it maximize the amount of smoke you get out of your herb, it also ensures a more even and consistent burn. 

Though grinders come in a variety of shapes and sizes, there are two main types: single chamber and multiple chamber. 

In the most simple single chamber grinder, the main chamber contains a set of metal grinding teeth. The lid to the grinder has a complementary set of these same teeth, which work with the main chamber’s teeth to grind the weed. Break up your nugs, press the pieces in the teeth, place the lid on, and twist. The twisting motion chops your herb into teensy pieces: better to maximize your herb’s efficiency. 

In a multi-chamber grinder, such as this 4-piece gunmetalgrinder from Vessel, the process is similar, but the chambers are divided into sections. The top section (with the lid) contains the metal grinding teeth. After placing the bud in the teeth and grinding, the chopped herb will fall into a second chamber. This second chamber catches the herb. Typically the second chamber contains a screen which filters out kief, or the fine, cannabinoid-heavy plant particles which fall off the flower. This kief falls into a third, typically fairly slender, chamber at the bottom of the grinder, which catches everything. 

Do weed grinders need to be cleaned?

All weed grinders should be cleaned regularly for a number of reasons. 

For one, kief and resin will begin to build up on the sides of your grinder’s teeth and walls. If not cleaned for a long while, this gunk will clog the teeth, reducing their ability to grind the herb effectively. Cleaning your grinder washes away all this gross build-up, ensuring that it grinds smoothly. 

Additionally, though it is less likely, it is possible for weed to mold in your grinder after a significant amount of time. Inhaling moldy weed can cause nausea, coughing, and vomiting. Cleaning your grinder regularly will prevent the built up weed from going moldy, putting you at less of a risk for smoking it. 

What you need to clean a weed grinder

Learning how to clean a weed grinder is straightforward and requires little supplies. Gather the following supplies to prepare to clean your grinder. 

The supplies you need are as follows:

• Toothpick or Paper Clip
• Soft Bristled Brush
• Your Freezer
• A Bowl
• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Ziploc Bag 
• Clean Water 
• Towel

How to clean a weed grinder step-by-step

After gathering your supplies, follow these steps to deep clean your grinder:

1. Disassemble your grinder:When your grinder is no longer smoothly grinding, a deep clean should be on the horizon. Begin the process by disassembling your grinder, removing each chamber from each other.
2. Remove residue:Dump out the herb that is still in the grinder. Shake and lightly tap the grinder to loosen the build up from the walls. 

Freeze grinder: When you’ve successfully removed most of the residue from the grinder, pop that bad boy in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Freezing the grinder makes the residue inside stiffer, allowing it to knock loose easier rather than clinging to the teeth or sides. 

Remove the rest of residue--and save it! Knock the build up loose! Most of it will be kief--the cannabinoid-rich plant particles that fall loose from the weed flower. Save this potent plant residue by using your soft-bristled brush and toothpick to maximize the amount of residue saved. Scrape the edges of each chamber, the sides of all of the grinding teeth, and around the sides of each chamber’s lid. 

Submerge in alcohol: Once all the goodies are removed from the grinder, it’s time to make that baby shine. Place each disassembled chamber inside your large Ziploc bag or jar. Pour in enough alcohol to completely submerge each chamber and let soak for at least 20 minutes. Swirl occasionally to break apart any leftover residue still stuck on the grinder.

Clean off remaining residue: It’s time for the final clean: take your soft bristled brush (a toothbrush will also work) and scrub your grinder clean. Here’s where you can focus on the residue that

Rinse and dry: Rinse with clean water and dry with a towel. 

Get to grindin’: Now that your grinder is sparkly clean and moving smooth again, you can go back to happily grinding your herb. 

To sum it up

Cleaning your grinder doesn’t have to be a hassle. Every once in a while, give your grinder a little love, disassemble it, and give it a good clean. Make sure to freeze it first to harvest any leftover residue, and then submerge your grinder in isopropyl alcohol. Scrub it, rinse it, and your grinder should be good as new. 

FAQs

How do you deep clean a grinder? 

Freeze your grinder to help stiffen up and knock loose any leftover plant matter. Then, place your grinder in a Ziploc bag and submerge with isopropyl alcohol. After soaking for 20-30 minutes, scrub with a soft bristled brush, rinse, dry, and start grinding again.

Can you boil your grinder to clean it? 

Yes, but only if it’s completely metal.  If you go this route, place all chambers in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Let cool for 10 minutes, rinse, dry, and start grinding again. 

What weed grinder should I buy? 

Any that speaks to you! We like the 4-piece gunmetalgrinder from Vessel.