The more you dab, the dirtier your titanium nail will become. And like with many accessories, you’ll need to invest a little time into cleaning it and keeping it in good working order. Pooling of concentrates and residue buildup on the nail can cause a harsh taste when inhaling, so it’s best to stay on top of it and keep things clean.

It really doesn’t take much to keep your nail looking like brand new. Here are some tips on the proper care and maintenance of your titanium nail. We’ll outline three methods.

1. Torch method

How to clean a titanium nailA quick and easy way to get rid of gunk buildup on your titanium nail is to apply a torch to it. Although it may seem like a brutal assault on your precious nail, consider that this is what you subject your nail to on a regular basis anyway, and the heat will not harm your nail in any way. Besides, there is no arguing how effective it is. Simple and effective, torching is always a feasible option when you have no other means to clean your nail, and even if you do.

2. Water-dipping method

The torching method can be made even more effective by going the extra step and dipping the hot nail into water. After you have heated your nail as you normally would when dabbing, simply dip it into a bath of room-temperature water. This should enable you to get rid of any residue that remains after torching. Make sure that you use a pair of tongs to dip the nail into water, as holding the heated nail with your bare fingers will result in a nasty burn. This method is also effective for getting rid of the white oxidation buildup that is next to impossible to clean off via other methods.

3. ISO rub method

If you don’t want the risk and trouble of heating up your nail just to clean it, an ISO rub might be your best option. ISO, or isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) is cheap, readily available, and is amazingly effective at removing stains and gunk buildup on titanium nails and just about any non-porous surface. In fact, an ISO rub might even clean off residue that remains after the most vigorous torch and water routine.

If you do opt for the ISO method, there are two ways to go about it. You could soak the entire nail in a saucer of rubbing alcohol, perhaps mixing a bit of salt into it, and leaving it there for 5 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, you could simply rub the nail with a rag or paper towel soaked with rubbing alcohol. The first method is generally more effective at removing stubborn residue buildup, but the second should be sufficient for most situations. Regardless of which method you use, make sure that you work in a well-ventilated area in order to avoid ingesting alcohol fumes. Also make sure that you rinse your nail well after cleaning in order to get rid of any alcohol residue.

Stay on top of cleaning your titanium nail and you’ll find that it substantially extends the life of the product. Not only that, it will ensure your dabs are as clean and tasty as possible, and that’s pretty important!