How much mileage do you get from a pipe cleaner?

[Wayne_Teipen]

I think you guys clean your pipes too much. You're removing all the good seasoning. I will often get several uses out of each pipe cleaner if they're not too soiled. If you set them aside for a few hours to dry they are good to go. It's not necessary to clean your pipes thoroughly after every smoke. It's more important to remove excess moisture from the airway where it has a more difficult time evaporating between smokes. That's my philosophy anyway, YMMV.

 

[williamcharles]

Depends...some pipes/tobacco smoke dirtier. Especially on the estates, which seem to have the haunting demons of dirt far more often.

I find myself pretty economical, if there's a LOT of filth, I'll use three or four, both ends, then use the cleanest one I've used once and keep scrubbing for good measure. The cleanest of the dirty bunch I also use to whisk out excess ash from the inside of the bowl.

The above is the method I find myself using most often. I also make use of a shank brush in order to cut down on pipe cleaner usage when cleaning a really dirty pipe.

 

[Megaluddite]

I probably milk more use out of pipe cleaners than most folks do. I prefer to think of myself as frugal or fiscally challenged. My friends are more likely to call me a freaking cheap old bugger.

I use a pipe cleaner several times before tossing. I keep a paper towel in my cardigan pocket. After I use a cleaner I give it a thorough wipe with the paper towel to clean and dry it as best I can. I then give the cleaner a good fluff, leave to dry a bit in the air, and use it again later. I only toss the cleaner when it is so dirty and matted that it cannot be readily restored with the paper towel.

I'm really not destitute or anything. It just seems wasteful when I see the trash can filling up with gajillions of barely used pipe cleaners. The landfill may not be filling up with pipe cleaners. But why take chances.

 

[Wet Dottle]

I use each pipe cleaner once and only one end. If it comes out reasonably clean and dry, I may consider using the other end, but only if I think it won't get my fingers dirty and/or smelling bad.

 

[s.ireland]

I think you guys clean your pipes too much. You're removing all the good seasoning.

Thank you!!! Wayne, I couldn't agree more. I've said it before but I just run a cleaner through after each smoke, with some alcohol when possible, then I run the other end through and leave it for a bit to soak up moisture. If the cleaner is not filthy, I will most likely use it again. I hardly ever scrub and I never really mess with the chamber unless it needs a reaming. I keep my pipes cleaner than what I would consider disgusting but too clean feels like I'm breaking it in all over again.