BUD WASHING for the perfectionists

[Trying2Grow]

I feel as though there is a lot of incomplete info on this, so I wanted to share what I did and why. Feel free to challenge me on it.

Bucket 1 solution:
3/4 distilled water, make sure it’s room temperature. 1/4 3% hydrogen peroxide.

***USE food grade hydrogen peroxide.
Heavy metals are used as stabilizers in commercial grade hydrogen peroxide. Food grade versions are formulated to be free of them.

Submerge cannabis for approximately 30 seconds, then allow to drip dry for 15 minutes before continuing. This drying period allows any residual H2O2 to decompose and won’t “contaminate” the 2nd bucket.

Bucket 2 solution:
1 cup lemon juice, 1 cup baking soda per 5 gallons of room temp-warm RO or distilled water.

***Use lemon juice from REAL lemons. Store bought bottled lemon juice contains oils, and cannabinoids and terpenes are lyophilic. (Fat/OIL soluble).

***Do not mix solutions with hydrogen peroxide and lemons into one bucket thinking it will save you time. That essentially creates mild bleach. That’s why people lighten their hair with this mixture.

Submerge cannabis and agitate the water. Slosh it around. You can be moderately aggressive, as the water is not cold.

Bucket 3 & 4
Just room temperature distilled water.

Submerge, swirl, repeat.

Shake excess water off cannabis lightly.
Hang to dry. Does not have to be in total darkness and can continue photosynthesis for a couple days even after chop, but don’t burn your harvest with a bunch of little water droplet magnifying glasses either.

You can put a fan directly on them for initial dry, as long as it is blowing clean air and you’re not coating them in dust, making this whole process pointless.

Dry as normal after this. In darkness, around 60 degrees/60% humidity, with fans not blowing directly on the buds.

 

[MisterDunk]

Thanks for the outline! Just to clarify, the ratio is 1:3 3%H2O2 to water. Thus 1 gallon peroxide to every 3 gallons water? Thanks

 

[Ninjadogma]

I just do a dunk in a bucket of water with ice cubes for about 15 minutes. I'm just trying to remove dust buildup and some of the live bugs that come with outdoor growing. I like the idea of adding peroxide to mitigate mold risk, though I've never had a problem with it post harvest. I've heard of the recipe before but I'm skeptical of using lemon juice. It has an odor to it, there are oils in lemon juices, and it changes the pH of the water. I'm sure it's fine I'm just sharing why I would not instinctively reach for it to add in the water.

 

[Trying2Grow]

Thanks for the outline! Just to clarify, the ratio is 1:3 3%H2O2 to water. Thus 1 gallon peroxide to every 3 gallons water? Thanks

Thanks for the outline! Just to clarify, the ratio is 1:3 3%H2O2 to water. Thus 1 gallon peroxide to every 3 gallons water? Thanks

Yep!

 

[Trying2Grow]

I just do a dunk in a bucket of water with ice cubes for about 15 minutes. I'm just trying to remove dust buildup and some of the live bugs that come with outdoor growing. I like the idea of adding peroxide to mitigate mold risk, though I've never had a problem with it post harvest. I've heard of the recipe before but I'm skeptical of using lemon juice. It has an odor to it, there are oils in lemon juices, and it changes the pH of the water. I'm sure it's fine I'm just sharing why I would not instinctively reach for it to add in the water.

The oils are why I use real, freshly squeezed lemons. Not bottled stuff. Citric acid raising PH at this stage won’t matter, and the baking soda will bring it back down anyway!

I wouldn’t use ice water! That’s how you make bubble hash after all!

 

[Trying2Grow]

I just do a dunk in a bucket of water with ice cubes for about 15 minutes. I'm just trying to remove dust buildup and some of the live bugs that come with outdoor growing. I like the idea of adding peroxide to mitigate mold risk, though I've never had a problem with it post harvest. I've heard of the recipe before but I'm skeptical of using lemon juice. It has an odor to it, there are oils in lemon juices, and it changes the pH of the water. I'm sure it's fine I'm just sharing why I would not instinctively reach for it to add in the water.

I should mention: The oil is not in the fruit's juice, but in the small oil glands located in the peel or rind. A cold press will result in lemon juice with no oils!

 

[dlwhitmire420]

Does washng it affect the taste of the weed and the potency?

 

[Trying2Grow]

Does washng it affect the taste of the weed and the potency?

Everyone’s opinion seem to be, no affect on potency if done correctly, smoother smoke. some claim flavour and smell are a bit muted, but others claim no difference.

Water curing will do more to mute smell/taste than a pre-dry bud wash.

I plan on doing a water cure on some of this harvest after it dries to see if doubling down makes it even smoother.

At the end of the day, seeing is believing. Try it yourself with a few grams and compare.