How to Clean Your Smoke Buddy (Plus, How Long They Last)

A Smoke Buddy is a handy portable filter that eliminates the smell of smoke and reduces second smoke. Although you can keep the Smoke Buddy dry and free of debris, you cannot clean the filter. In this article, we explain how to clean the exterior, what to do to maintain your Smoke Buddy, talk about alternatives, and more. Read on for more info!

Can you clean the filter on a Smoke Buddy?

No, you can’t clean the internal filter on a Smoke Buddy. It needs to be replaced every three months. You can clean the exterior and mouthpiece to prolong its lifespan, however. Wipe down the exterior, mouthpiece, and caps with a towel to extend the lifespan of your Smoke Buddy.

Section 1 of 7:

How to Wash the Smoke Buddy’s Exterior

Download Article

1
Moisten a paper towel with clean water. Turn on a faucet and dampen a paper towel very lightly. Avoid using a paper towel that is sopping wet. Flooding the Smoke Buddy with water won’t help clean it, and you can get pieces of the towel stuck inside it.
- Baby wipes are okay to use, but avoid using alcohol-based products. Alcohol-based products can weaken the filter on the exit end of your Smoke Buddy.
2
Wipe the inside of the Smoke Buddy. Lower the paper towel through the plastic part of the Smoke Buddy’s open end where you put your mouth. If you’re having trouble, use a small tool, such as a pencil, to guide the paper towel. Move the paper towel to clean off the inner portion of the plastic.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Avoid attempting to clean the filter. Since it’s disposable, the unit has to be replaced when it stops working.
Advertisement
Drag the paper towel out of the Smoke Buddy. Use it again or get another towel to clean the outer portion. Wipe the towel over the plastic to remove any lingering debris.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Remove excess moisture with a towel, then let it air dry. Wipe down the Smoke Buddy’s exterior using the towel, then use the pencil again to push the paper towel through the interior. Absorb as much moisture as you can, then let the Smoke Buddy sit in open air until you need it again.
- Keeping the exterior clean and moisture-free helps prolong your Smoke Buddy’s life span, but once the filter is clogged, you’ll need to replace it.
- Smoke Buddy products don’t come with replacement filters, but there are alternative options, like the Smoke Fiend, that do.

Section 2 of 7:

How to Maintain a Smoke Buddy

Download Article

Moisture from your breath collects inside the Smoke Buddy every time you use it. Set the Smoke Buddy on a table or in another open area to help it dry out and last longer.^{[3]
X
Research source}
Use a damp paper towel or regular towel to wipe down the caps and mouthpiece. While this won’t prevent your filter from eventually filling up and needing to be disposed of, it will slow the process by removing any debris or buildup that’s formed on the Smoke Buddy since you first started using it.

Section 3 of 7:

When to Replace Your Smoke Buddy

Download Article

3 months is the approximate amount of time each unit lasts. This equates to about 150 uses for the Jr. size and 300 uses for the regular size. Depending on how frequently you use yours, it may need to be replaced sooner or later than 3 months.^{[4]
X
Research source}
You will be able to feel when this happens. The filter will be completely clogged, so smoky air will accumulate inside the Smoke Buddy. Once it does, you won’t smell clean air coming out of the unit’s smaller end.

Section 4 of 7:

Smoke Buddy Alternatives

Download Article

Similar to the Smoke Buddy, the Smoke Fiend is designed to filter the smoke that you blow through it. Unlike the Smoke Buddy, however, the Smoke Fiend has replaceable filters. So, if you’re looking to get your hands on one device that has filters you can replace (as opposed to having to buy a whole new product), grab a Smoke Fiend.^{[5]
X
Research source}
A sploof is a homemade filter made from an empty paper towel roll or toilet paper tube. To make a sploof, take the empty tube, stuff dry sheets into it until the middle is full, then put another dryer sheet at the end you plan on blowing the smoke out of. It may not be as effective as a Smoke Buddy, but a sploof is an easy, low-cost way to filter a smoke smell in a pinch.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source

Recovery.org
Resource run by the American Addiction Centers organization providing people with educational resources about substance abuse

Go to source}
3
Air Purifier Air purifiers help improve your home’s air quality and reduce exposure to harmful particles and chemicals in smoke. Not only can they help get rid of the smell, but they can also improve your respiratory health. So, if you’re looking for an alternative to a Smoke Buddy that also improves the air around you, grab an air purifier.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Invest in a stronger air purifier to get more smoke out of the air.
To clear a smoke smell out of a room, cleaning expert Florisa-Leila Ramos says to “locate and remove the source of odors, then ventilate the room as much as possible.” Then, “deodorize the room by placing small bowls of white vinegar or baking soda where the smell is the strongest.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Florisa-Leila Ramos
Cleaning Expert

Expert Interview}

Section 5 of 7:

Where to Buy Smoke Buddies

Download Article

Head to the Smoke Buddy website, smokebuddy.com, and browse their menu to see which Smoke Buddy you like. Once you find the model for you, add it to your cart and order it for delivery. The original model retails for $24.95. Some designs bring the price up to $25.95, while their ECO and glow-in-the-dark models sit at $26.95.
Amazon has a huge stock of Smoke Buddies for you to choose from. On top of the variety in models, they typically run for less on Amazon than the Smoke Buddy website, with models ranging from $16.95 to $21.99. So, to save a little bit of money, head over to Amazon and grab your Smoke Buddy from there.
Smoke Buddies are sold at some dispensaries, depending on your location and what products the dispensary has in stock. Head to your local dispensary’s website, head to their Accessories section, and look for Smoke Buddies or similar smoke filters.

Section 6 of 7:

Are Smoke Buddies disposable?

Download Article

Smoke Buddies are designed to be disposed of once you finish using them; you can’t just replace the filter and keep the container. Most Smoke Buddies are made of plastic, so check with your local recycling program to see if they accept plastic products or not.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

Go to source} The All-Paper Smoke Buddy is marketed as environmentally friendly, but check with your local recycling program and see if that model would be accepted, too, just in case!

Section 7 of 7:

Frequently Asked Questions

Download Article

1
Can you rinse a Smoke Buddy under running water? No, you can’t rinse a Smoke Buddy under running water. Running the Smoke Buddy under a constant stream of water can introduce moisture to the filter, which may weaken its effectiveness and cause you to get fewer uses out of it than you would’ve if it remained dry.
2
How many times can you use a Smoke Buddy? The Smoke Buddy typically yields 300 uses or more before it’s unable to properly hold and filter the smoke. This also depends on the type of Smoke Buddy you’re using. For example, you’ll get about 100-200 uses out of your Smoke Buddy Junior, depending on how often you use it.^{[10]
X
Research source}
3
How long will a Smokebuddy last? The Smoke Buddy lasts between 1 and 6 months, depending on how often you use it. Different models also have different lifespans. For example, the Smoke Buddy Junior lasts 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on how often you use it.^{[11]
X
Research source}