Use Wash Bags with Mesh Sidewalls

Holding bags while they drain is one of the hardest parts of the job. Sourcing bubble hash wash bags made with mesh sidewalls will speed up the drainage process. While traditional bubble bags are constructed with waterproof nylon sidewalls and mesh filters at the very bottom, newer and improved versions of wash bags are made with mesh that extends several inches into the sidewalls. This additional mesh increases the surface area through which water can drain, thus speeding up the drainage process. 

Allowing water to drain quickly through the wash bags decreases the amount of time you need to hold the bags in suspension. Less time holding the bags means less strain on your back. 

Keep Bubble Hash Wash Bags Clean 

Another way to improve drainage time is to ensure that your wash bags remain clean at all times. As trichome heads accumulate on the screens they need to be completely removed after each round of filtering. Trichomes that aren’t removed will quickly build up and then block the pores through which water and contaminants need to pass. Clogged filters make for slower drainage, which equates to extra strain on your back. Some extra greasy resin will make frequent cleaning an absolute necessity. 

Thoroughly rinse the filters with cold, pressurized water after each round of filtration. Some extractors even clean the filters with ISO multiple times throughout a wash. This should be done with caution, and a very thorough rinsing afterwards. 

Hash wash bags should also be cleaned thoroughly at the end of every work day. For more info on cleaning, see our article on How To Properly Clean Bubble Bags. 

Create a Bucket Stacking System

This system essentially creates better structure for each bag, making them easier to manage and quickly stack and then remove during the washing process. Learn more about building and using this stacking system in our article on How To Make a Bucket Stacking System for Washing Bubble Hash.

Devise a Setup for Hanging Bags in Suspension

A final tip for optimizing the bag drainage process is to create an apparatus that holds the bags in suspension for you. You can eliminate the need to manually hold each bag while it drains by getting creative. Use a ladder, cross beam in a ceiling, or even some type of pulley system to hand the bags in suspension while they drain. 

Quality hash wash bags like these from The Press Club are made with grommets, which make it easy to attach clips or hooks for use in suspension. 

Modify Work Bucket for Drainage

If you’re hand-mixing rather than using a washing machine, you may be using a standard work bucket that you manually empty into the filter bags after mixing. This requires lifting the bucket and slowly dumping the mix into the filter bags, which can be hard on your back. This is especially true when you repeat this action a dozen times a day or more. 

Instead of picking up the work bucket after each wash, install a valve at the bottom for automatic drainage. This a drainage valve, you can set the work bucket on a countertop and then open the valve to let the water flow into the filter bags positioned below. 

When you install a valve, make sure the design is minimalistic, reducing the opportunity for trichomes to get stuck inside the valve. You can also install a hose to the valve, to give you better directional control of the flowing water. If you install a drainage hose, be sure to use one with smooth sides, not corrugated. Corrugated sides are trichome traps!

Conclusion

Washing hash is hard work! Being mindful of basic movements that you repeat throughout the hash washing process is the first step in working as smart as you do hard. 

Your lower back is especially prone to stress after a full day of production. We hope that these pointers help you reduce back soreness and tension. 

What tricks do you have for minimizing stress on your back? Let us know in the comments!