I have heard efferdint and alcohol work good infact that 420 cleaner stuff looks just like it. I just use the method reb described. And what breaks your glass is hitting it hard enough on a harder surface than itself will brake it. Also temerature differance. an example is dont put ice and freazing water in part of your bong and hot steaming water in another part. the extrem temp differance could casue a stress crack, it could come apart like a broken toy, or it could be just fine. Ice and freazing water or hot steamy water but not both at the same time. personaly I dont realy see the point in hot water bongin anyway but people like it.