How to Clean a Grinder: Easy-to-Do Expert Tips

The herb grinder is part of every expert smoker’s arsenal for better smoking sessions. Cannabis enthusiasts use grinders to break up dense nugs for easy smoking in joints, vapes, and bongs. One thing about grinders is they tend to get clogged up, especially when used over time without maintenance. 

All that sticky plant material residue dulls the sharpness of an herb grinder. It can also introduce nasty mold and bacteria to your fresh cannabis buds. If you think your grinder is up for a long, over-due clean-up, here are some easy tips for sanitizing it.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean an Herb Grinder for Different Material Types

Grinders come in different shapes and sizes. Most importantly, they can be made of metal, plastic, or wood. Identifying your grinder’s type of material is key to determining the most suitable cleaning method. 

After identifying which material your grinder is made of, choose the appropriate method for that material. 

How to Clean a Weed Grinder Made of Metal?

Metal grinders are the most common herb grinder because they’re built to last and produce a smoother and more consistent cut than the rest. Because they’re made of stainless steel, cleaning a metal grinder usually requires isopropyl alcohol. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning metal-made dirty grinders using alcohol. 

Step 1. Prepare the Material Ahead

Here are all the materials you’ll need for this cleaning method:

• Isopropyl alcohol
• Toothbrush, paintbrush, or Q-tip
• Paperclip, toothpick, dab tool, or any sharp object for scraping
• Pipe cleaner or sponge
• Tissue paper
• Ziploc or bowl

Step 2. Brush the Metal Grinder Parts

Take out parts of the metal grinder carefully. Be especially gentle when taking out the screen. Lay all of the parts in a parchment or tissue paper. Gently brush each part using either a Toothbrush, paintbrush, or Q-tip. 

Be extra attentive to the grinder’s teeth and sides. Use a paperclip, toothpick, or dab tool to pluck gunk from narrow areas. 

🛠️ Pro Tip If the gunk or leftover plant isn’t coming off, freeze that particular grinder part for about 30 minutes. The frozen residue will easily come out because ice glues them together.

Step 3. Soak the Parts in Isopropyl Alcohol

Fill the Ziploc bag or bowl with enough isopropyl alcohol to soak all parts of the metal grinder. Submerge all pieces for 30 minutes to an hour. Shake the Ziploc bag to dislodge some of the residues. You can also get your hands in the alcohol-filled bowl and rub the parts. 

Step 4. Scrub the Parts Using a Pipe Cleaner or Sponge

Take the parts out of the alcohol and rinse them with water. Then, make one last thorough scrub using gentler tools like a sponge or pipe cleaner. 

Step 5. Dry the Metal Grinder

Once all parts are completely clean, leave them on top of tissue paper and let them air dry for at least an hour. Make sure your metal grinder parts are completely dry before reassembling. You don’t want to end up with weed in puddles once you start grinding them. 

How to Clean Cannabis Grinder Made of Plastic or Acrylic?

Although a little fragile compared to metal grinders, plastic or acrylic grinders are budget-friendly and do a good job of grinding nugs. Since they’re plastic, they can’t be boiled, so they’re more suitable for a simple clean-up using water and soap. 

Here’s how it’s done. 

Step 1. Prepare All the Tools 

Prepare the following to start cleaning your plastic grinder:

• Q-tip or toothpick
• Toothbrush
• Bowl or any type of container
• Lukewarm water
• Three tablespoons of dish soap
• Paper towel

Step 2. Disassemble and Start Removing Gunk

Carefully separate the parts of your plastic grinder. Remember, plastic grinders are prone to chips and cracks, so handle each part well. Dislodge all bits of herb or residue stuck to the plastic grinder’s teeth. Brush the rest of the parts to make sure no residue is left. 

Freeze the plastic grinder parts if the stuck weed is hard to remove. 

Step 3. Soak the Parts in Soapy Water Overnight

Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and three tablespoons of dish soap. Place the plastic grinder parts in the container and let them soak overnight or for at least 6 hours. Next, take out the parts and scrub them with a toothbrush.

If you’re short on time, you don’t need to soak your grinder overnight. After 30 minutes, scrub the gunk out using a toothbrush. This might take longer than soaking them overnight, but you’ll be able to use the grinder sooner.  

Step 4. Rinse and Dry the Grinder

Rinse the grinder parts with lukewarm water for about 30 seconds. Then, place them on top of stacks of paper towels. The towels will absorb the grinder’s wetness, and the air will dry them completely for at least an hour. 

Reassemble the parts once completely dry and use. 

How to Clean Marijuana Grinders Made of Wood?

Wooden grinders are somewhere between metal and plastic grinders. They’re classic tools with solid grinding abilities but can be sensitive to cleaning agents. Hence, you can’t clean a wooden grinder using water, soap, or alcohol. 

Still, there’s a best way to clean weed grinders made of wooden material. Follow the steps to know the gentle approach. 

Step 1. Prepare All the Materials 

Prepare the following materials for a smooth cleaning process:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpick or any sharp object
• Clean cloth

Step 2. Separate and Freeze

Carefully disassemble parts of the wooden grinder. Then, store them in the freezer for at least 6 hours or overnight. 

Step 3. Scrape and Brush Out the Residue 

Remove the grinder parts from the freezer. Using a toothbrush, scrape the areas with residues stuck. Try using a toothpick or sharp objects to remove the hidden gunk from hard-to-reach areas. 

Don’t vigorously scrape and brush out wooden grinders to prevent accidental scrapes and dents to the device. 

Step 4. Defrost and Completely Dry

Wait for the ice to defrost completely from the cannabis grinder. Then, use a clean cloth to wipe the melting water from the grinder. Air dry the parts, flipping them every 30 minutes to encourage proper air drying. 

Once it’s completely dry, you may use the grinder again. 

Additional Cleaning Techniques for Grinders (Using Milk)

Another way of cleaning grinders is steeping your grinder in milk. Cannabis is naturally fat-soluble, and since milk contains fats, it can dissolve other types of fat well. However, this only applies to metal grinders, as warm milk can disintegrate the durability of plastics and wood. 

Here’s the step-by-step process of cleaning metal grinders using warm milk. 

Step 1. Prepare The Cleaning Tools 

• Glass dish large enough to sit comfortably on top of the pot
• Pot
• 2-3 cups of whole milk
• Food thermometer
• Warm water
• Toothbrush
• Paper towel

Step 2. Set Up and Heat your Double Boiler of Milk

Fill your pot with just enough water to prevent spills when the water boils. Next, fill your glass dish with two to three cups of whole milk. Place the glass dish on top of the pot. Turn the stovetop heat to medium. 

Dip the food thermometer in the glass dish to check whether the milk temperature reached 150 °F or 66 °C. Once it does, reduce the heat to prevent the milk from curdling. 

Step 3. Steep the Metal Grinder Parts in Warm Milk for at Least Two Hours

Soak the metal grinder parts in warm milk with the stove still on for two hours. The milk bath should be kept at 150 °F or 66 °C. Occasionally check using the food thermometer.  

Step 4. Rinse the Metal Grinder Parts

Rinse the grinder components for two to three minutes to remove the milk. Use a toothbrush to scrub some of the residuals from the parts. Lay the freshly scrubbed parts on paper towels to air dry for about an hour. Flip the parts to air dry evenly. 

🛠️ Pro Tip Strain the milk you used from bathing your grinders into a container and let it cool for one to two hours. This is a THC-infused milk you can use as a special boost to your edibles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Sometimes, attempting to speed up the grinder cleaning process can actually slow it down. Here are some of the cleaning tips that at first may seem to help but harm grinders:

1. Using a Hairdryer to Air-Dry Grinders

Resist the temptation to air-dry grinder components using hairdryers, the back of air conditioners, and similar devices. These devices’ heat could melt grinders with fragile materials like plastic. 

2. Reassembling While Still Wet

Wait for the grinder’s parts to completely air dry before reassembling. The hour-long wait could be too long, and you might be tempted to wipe the parts with a clean cloth. Grinder parts have narrow crevices that are hard for most cloth materials to reach. It’s better to wait than to experience issues down the line like molds. 

3. Using Harsh Chemicals

Bleaches and strong cleaning agents might leave traces of harsh chemicals in the grinder and mix with your buds. To uphold the safety and flavor of your weed, stick to gentler cleaning agents like dish soap, alcohol, and water. 

4. Overlooking Hard-to-Reach Areas

It can be tempting to overlook cleaning the threads and crevices of your weed grinder, as they require extra effort. However, these areas need the most attention, as they are the spots where the weed comes in contact with the grinder. Neglecting to remove the residue from these areas can affect the grinder’s performance.

5. Forcing Parts to Disassemble & Reassemble Quickly

Be gentle in separating and reassembling parts to avoid damaging the delicate parts of a grinder like the mesh screen. 

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing more satisfying than hearing that crispy crunch of a grinder doing its work. Unfortunately, you can only achieve that through deep cleaning your grinder, which is often moved to the back burner. 

If you haven’t deep-cleaned your grinders for a while, now’s the perfect time to allot a few minutes to care for it. Frankly, cleaning grinders doesn’t take a lot of effort, but its impact affects your smoking sessions big time.

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