Exploded view of the Othello Twist grinder showing the lid, grinding teeth, window, screen and kief catcher

Keep it clean. How to clean your grinder without ruining it

You scanned the lid, good sign. A clean grinder grinds smoother, tastes better and lasts longer. Ours is built to last forever, so lets give it a little help. This is exactly how we clean ours.

Three steps. Same as on the box.

That covers most weeks. Want the full story, or is it getting sticky in there? Keep scrolling.

  1. Hand lifting the textured aluminium lid of the grinder1Take it apart
  2. Close-up of the grinding teeth and the ball bearing2Brush the teeth and the screen
  3. The clear polycarbonate chamber of the grinder3Put it back together

Quick clean

About once a week if you grind daily. Five minutes, no water.

Deep clean

Once a month, or as soon as twisting starts to feel stiff or sticky.

The quick clean

Five minutes, no water. You need a dry toothbrush (a clean one, please) or a small soft brush, and the scraper that came in the box.

The 150 micron screen and kief catcher of the grinder
  1. Take it apartLift off the lid, the magnet lets go easier than you think. Then twist the rest apart. Do it above a clean sheet of paper, you will want what falls out.
  2. Brush the teethBrush between the teeth in the lid and the chamber. Something stuck? Use the scraper, not a knife.
  3. Brush the screenLight strokes from the top side. It is a fine 150 micron mesh, not a doormat. Never poke it with anything sharp.
  4. Collect the kiefScrape the bottom compartment with the scraper. That is yours. Enjoy it.
  5. Put it back togetherBrush the threads once so nothing gets stuck in them, then twist it back together. If it feels tight, do not force it, it is probably a crumb.

The deep clean

Warm water and soap, for when brushing does not cut it anymore. Takes about 15 minutes, plus a night of drying.

The Othello Twist grinder opened up on a table
  1. Freezer firstPut the parts in the freezer for 30 minutes. Cold resin gets brittle and brushes off way easier. Old trick, works every time.
  2. Warm water, drop of soapLukewarm water, not boiling, with a small drop of mild dish soap. Brush the teeth, the chambers and the window.
  3. Rinse, do not soakRinse every part quickly under the tap. Do not leave anything sitting in water. The bearing is sealed and wants to stay that way.
  4. Dry it properlyTowel dry, then leave all parts apart to air dry for a few hours, overnight is best. Wet grinder plus weed is a sad combination.

The heavy stuff

Isopropyl alcohol (IPA, 70% or higher) dissolves resin really well. It also does things you do not want if you use it wrong. Only go here when soap and the freezer did not do the job, and read this first.

  • Keep it off the window

    The window is polycarbonate and polycarbonate and alcohol do not get along. It can turn cloudy or get tiny cracks, and that does not polish out.

  • Wipe, do not soak

    A cotton pad with a bit of IPA, on the metal parts only. Forget the “bag of alcohol and shake it” trick from the internet. Not with this one.

  • Stay away from the bearing

    Alcohol can get past the seals and wash out the oil. That oil is supposed to stay in there forever.

  • Rinse after

    Rinse the parts with warm water once you are done, so nothing ends up in your next grind.

  • It is flammable

    No lighter, joint or candle near it until everything is bone dry. Yes we have to say it. Yes you know someone who would.

  • Window open, gloves on

    If you do this often. Your lungs and your skin will thank you.

How we do it

  1. Take it apartPut the window section and the bearing aside. Those get the soap and water treatment.
  2. Wipe the metalWipe the teeth, lid and kief catcher with IPA. Let it work for a minute on stubborn spots, then brush.
  3. Rinse and dryRinse with warm water, towel dry and let everything air dry fully before you put it back together.

Things that ruin a grinder for life

Forever is a long time. These are the few ways to make it shorter.

  • The dishwasher

    Dishwasher detergent eats the anodised layer. Your grinder comes out dull and it stays dull.

  • Acetone, bleach, oven cleaner

    Too aggressive for the aluminium, the window and the seals.

  • Boiling water

    Lukewarm is enough.

  • Sharp things on the screen

    One poke and the 150 micron mesh is not 150 micron anymore.

  • Oiling the bearing

    It is sealed with the oil already inside. Extra oil only makes your weed taste like a bike chain.

  • Putting it together wet

    Always let it dry fully first.

You probably wonder

Can I put my grinder in the dishwasher?

No. The detergent damages the anodised finish. Warm water, a drop of soap and a brush do the same job without the damage.

Can I clean my grinder with isopropyl alcohol?

Yes, but only the metal parts and only by wiping. Keep alcohol away from the clear polycarbonate window and the sealed bearing, rinse with water after and let it dry fully.

Does the bearing need oil?

No. It is a sealed bearing (61808-2RS), sealed on both sides with the oil inside. Leave it alone and it keeps spinning.

Twisting feels stiff. Is it broken?

Almost always it is resin or a crumb in the teeth or threads. Give it a deep clean. Still stiff after that? Send us a message.

The lid does not close as tight as before?

The N52 magnet does not get weaker. Usually there is residue between the lid and the body. Clean both surfaces and it snaps shut like on day one.

How often should I clean my grinder?

A quick dry brush about once a week if you grind daily, and a deep clean with warm soapy water once a month or when it starts to feel sticky.

Still stuck? Literally?

Send us a message. We are simply 2 guys doing this out of passion, so you get one of us, not a call center.

Ask us anything

Jon & Jarno