The grinder is one of the most crucial accessories for every herb lover. It’s a dedicated tool that helps you get the most out of your herb while minimising wastage. But, like all your other herbs equipment, the grinder requires proper cleaning and maintenance to keep working diligently.
If you have used grinders before, then you're aware of the sounds and sensations it produces after a few weeks of use, letting you know it's time for a scrub. The question now becomes, how do you clean the grinder without wasting the precious kief inside the grinder?
What You Need to Clean The Grinder
The first step to cleaning a grinder is making sure you have all the necessary cleaning tools for the job. Being prepare beforehand makes the cleaning process faster and more effective. The tools you need include:
- Your dirty grinder
- A toothpick
- A small, soft-bristled brush
- A freezer
- A plate or bowl
- Isopropyl alcohol
- A toothbrush or some other type of stiff brush
- A Ziploc bag or glass jar
- Clean water
- A towel
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Disassemble the grinder
Start by taking apart the different chambers of the grinder. You can save some of the leftover material, so you should do this on a clean surface.
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Soak the grinder in isopropyl
Once you harvest as much of the leftover as possible, add alcohol in a Ziploc bag or a large glass jar and dip the grinder and all its parts. Let the grinder sit inside the for 30 minutes. Once in a while, agitate the container to break apart the plant residue.
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Scrub the grinder
After the 30-minute time frame, pour out the alcohol and retrieve the grinder. Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub the grinder. Make sure you scrub each compartment of the grinder, including the grinding teeth and the scour lids.
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Rinse the grinder
Use clean, warm water to rinse the grinder thoroughly after the scrubbing. Be patient with the rinsing because you want to get rid of the alcohol and any remaining plant material. Use a clean towel to dry off the grinder. Once the grinder is completely dry, it’s ready for grinding again.
Method 2:
There’s another method of cleaning the grinder you can use. After disassembling the grinder and dumping out the leftover plant material, you can follow this process:
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Freeze the grinder
Arrange each piece of the grinder, so it's sitting upright inside the freezer. Leave the parts of the grinder inside the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Freezing the grinder makes the residue stiffer and forces the particles to clump together, making them easier to remove.
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Remove the plant residue
Retrieve the grinder from the freezer and use a toothpick and a small soft-bristled brush to gently scrape as much of the plant material as possible. Have a bowl where you can collect everything.
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Soak in alcohol
Once you have harvested as much as possible, soak the grinder in alcohol and make sure it is fully submerged for at least 20 minutes agitating the container to help break the plant matter.
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Scrub the grinder
Use a brush to give the grinder a proper scrub using a stiff brush. Go over all the compartments, around the edges, and the grinding teeth. Finish off with rinsing the grinder in clean, warm water and drying it using a towel.