Let's clear one thing up first. The silicone bong Perth smokers forget in the ute over January won't melt, however cooked the dashboard gets. It'll just come out stinking, crusty and a bit sad, and that part is fixable.
At The Bong Shop we've been selling bongs since 1980, which works out to 40+ years of summers. Add 7,000+ customer reviews and an Australian warehouse, and we've seen most of it. What follows is what the heat really does, and the two-minute habit that sorts it.
How Perth Heat Treats a Silicone Bong
You know the drill by now. Low thirties most days, a few shockers over 40, and air dry enough to crack your lips. The UV index hits 12 for good measure.
The Fremantle Doctor helps in the arvo, sure. It does nothing for a car parked at the shops, though. RACV reckons a cabin can pass 70°C within minutes on a 30-degree day.
Silicone itself doesn't care, mind you. It's fine well past 200°C and shrugs off UV better than normal rubber. The trouble is everything in the bong that isn't silicone.
What Dry Heat Actually Damages
The Water
Old bong water is grim at the best of times. In dry heat it goes off faster and slowly disappears, so there's less filtering. That's why a neglected piece hits so harsh.
Perth adds its own problem. The tap water is about twice as hard as Sydney's, and worse again around Yanchep and Two Rocks. Hence the chalky white ring, which a splash of white vinegar shifts.
The Resin
This is the one that kills the flavour. Resin goes soft in the heat, smears itself thin, then dries like varnish. And silicone hangs onto a smell much longer than glass will.
Scrubbing warm resin just moves it around. Chuck the body in the freezer for an hour instead, glass bits out first. Then give it a good twist and the resin flakes straight off.
The Glass Parts
People forget that plenty of "unbreakable" bongs aren't all silicone. The Bent Short Stack we stock has a lift-out glass cone piece.
Glass can't stand a sudden change in temperature. If the cone piece has been baking in the car, don't hit it with ice water. Let it cool inside first, or you'll be shopping for a replacement cone piece.
The Surface
Ever noticed how silicone picks up fluff like a phone case does? Same deal with dust, and the summer easterlies bring plenty. Grit in the cone seat ruins the seal, so rinse first and store it in a cupboard.
A Two-Minute Routine for Hot Days
Once the forecast is over 30, we'd do this after every session.
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Tip the water out straight away, no exceptions.
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Pull out the conical part and clean both parts using warm soapy water.
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Shake up the body part and place it upside down for drying.
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Store it inside the house, in a cupboard, and never near a window.
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Only add cool, fresh water when you're about to use it.
Boiling water is no problem for silicone, but it's a quick way to crack glass. For the bigger weekly clean, our bong maintenance schedule walks you through it.
Choosing a Silicone Bong Perth Summers Won't Beat
Silicone quality varies a lot, by the way. The cheap stuff is often padded out with fillers, and filled with silicone tears far more easily. What you want is food-grade silicone that comes apart completely.
You don't have to spend big either. Most of our silicone bongs sit between $40 and $60. Honestly, how easily it pulls apart matters more than the price tag.
Looking to buy a bong online in Perth? We ship bongs Perth wide in plain packaging, and standard shipping is free over $120. Just note that flammable cleaners go by road, so they may turn up later.
Shade, Fresh Water and a Cold Freezer
Really, that's the whole trick. Empty it, keep it in the shade and freeze it now and then. Do that and the silicone bong Perth summers usually ruin will be fine.
Ready to buy a bong online in Perth? Have a look through the full silicone range at The Bong Shop, shipped discreetly from our Australian warehouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a silicone bong melt in a hot car?
No, it can't. A parked car might reach 70°C, and silicone handles far more than that. What you'll get instead is baked-on resin, rank water and maybe a cracked cone piece.
2. How often should I change bong water in a Perth summer?
Every single session, honestly. Warm water is quick, but when it dries, it will leave hard water scale on your silicone. Fresh cold water is free, and it will give you smooth rips.
3. What type of bong suits Perth's climate best?
We'd say silicone, mostly because it won't shatter and it's easy to live with. The most forgiving bongs Perth buyers can pick have a silicone body and a glass cone piece.