How to Clean a Pipe Screen
Remove the screen., Inspect the screen., Blow on the screen., Gather some supplies., Burn the screen with a lighter or match., Let the screen cool for a minute., Blow on the screen., Inspect the screen again., Mix salt and alcohol in a container...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Remove the screen.
Hold your pipe over a sink.
Use a pair of tweezers to gently remove the screen from your pipe. -
Step 2: Inspect the screen.
Take a good look at the screen to see if it’s damaged.
If it doesn’t have any holes or tears, then it’s probably worth saving.
If it has worn very thin or has a hole in it, you should probably just toss it and replace is with a new screen. , While holding your screen over the sink, gently rock it back and forth with your thumb and forefinger.
Blow on it, and if it's now clean, there’s no need to clean the screen.
If it’s still looking dirty and clogged, then it’s time to start cleaning. , You’ll need to gather some supplies, including a lighter or matches, salt, rubbing alcohol, clean water, and a small bowl or container.
These supplies will help you clean your pipe screen effectively., While holding it with tweezers horizontally over the sink, hold a lighter or match underneath the screen in your other hand.
Slowly move the flame around the different parts of the screen to burn it evenly.
If it catches fire, extinguish the match or lighter and let the screen fire burn out.
If it doesn't catch, burn the screen for no more than 5 seconds. , Remove or extinguish the flame and continue holding the screen with your tweezers for at least one minute.
After a minute or more, hold the back of your hand close to the screen to see if it’s still hot.
Once it’s cool, take it from the tweezers and hold each end of the screen between your thumb and forefinger. , Gently rock the screen again, letting any ashes dislodge.
While still holding it over the sink, blow on it again to get any remaining ashes off. , Look carefully at the screen once more to see whether it’s clean or still looks clogged and covered in dirt.
If it’s good to go, you can put it back in your pipe.
If not, you’ll need to soak the screen. , If your pipe screen is still caked with dirt, ash, and debris, it’s time to soak it.
Pour some rubbing alcohol in a bowl, cup, or similar container.
Add in a few tablespoons of salt and mix with a spoon., Place your screen into the mixture and let it sit there for a half hour or so.
This will give the mixture some time to break down the dirt, ash, and resin.
This is also a great way to clean the pipe itself, if it’s made of glass.
Soak your entire pipe in the container if you’d like., After at least half an hour has gone by, take the screen out of the mixture, rinse it thoroughly under clean running water, and then wipe it clean with a paper towel.
If you’re cleaning the entire pipe, make sure to thoroughly rinse it with clean water and wipe it dry with a paper towel as well. -
Step 3: Blow on the screen.
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Step 4: Gather some supplies.
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Step 5: Burn the screen with a lighter or match.
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Step 6: Let the screen cool for a minute.
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Step 7: Blow on the screen.
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Step 8: Inspect the screen again.
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Step 9: Mix salt and alcohol in a container.
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Step 10: Put your screen in the container to soak.
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Step 11: Rinse and dry the screen.
Detailed Guide
Hold your pipe over a sink.
Use a pair of tweezers to gently remove the screen from your pipe.
Take a good look at the screen to see if it’s damaged.
If it doesn’t have any holes or tears, then it’s probably worth saving.
If it has worn very thin or has a hole in it, you should probably just toss it and replace is with a new screen. , While holding your screen over the sink, gently rock it back and forth with your thumb and forefinger.
Blow on it, and if it's now clean, there’s no need to clean the screen.
If it’s still looking dirty and clogged, then it’s time to start cleaning. , You’ll need to gather some supplies, including a lighter or matches, salt, rubbing alcohol, clean water, and a small bowl or container.
These supplies will help you clean your pipe screen effectively., While holding it with tweezers horizontally over the sink, hold a lighter or match underneath the screen in your other hand.
Slowly move the flame around the different parts of the screen to burn it evenly.
If it catches fire, extinguish the match or lighter and let the screen fire burn out.
If it doesn't catch, burn the screen for no more than 5 seconds. , Remove or extinguish the flame and continue holding the screen with your tweezers for at least one minute.
After a minute or more, hold the back of your hand close to the screen to see if it’s still hot.
Once it’s cool, take it from the tweezers and hold each end of the screen between your thumb and forefinger. , Gently rock the screen again, letting any ashes dislodge.
While still holding it over the sink, blow on it again to get any remaining ashes off. , Look carefully at the screen once more to see whether it’s clean or still looks clogged and covered in dirt.
If it’s good to go, you can put it back in your pipe.
If not, you’ll need to soak the screen. , If your pipe screen is still caked with dirt, ash, and debris, it’s time to soak it.
Pour some rubbing alcohol in a bowl, cup, or similar container.
Add in a few tablespoons of salt and mix with a spoon., Place your screen into the mixture and let it sit there for a half hour or so.
This will give the mixture some time to break down the dirt, ash, and resin.
This is also a great way to clean the pipe itself, if it’s made of glass.
Soak your entire pipe in the container if you’d like., After at least half an hour has gone by, take the screen out of the mixture, rinse it thoroughly under clean running water, and then wipe it clean with a paper towel.
If you’re cleaning the entire pipe, make sure to thoroughly rinse it with clean water and wipe it dry with a paper towel as well.
About the Author
Madison Mendoza
Enthusiastic about teaching DIY projects techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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