Fact Checked by Doctor NameHand-washing is a technique used by cannabis cultivators to gently clean buds after harvest.
It involves submerging sections of branches in water and carefully rubbing the flowers between the palms to remove excess leaf trim, dirt, dust, and pesticides.
What is hand-washing?
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Hand-washing protects the delicate trichomes on the flowers while giving them a polished, finished look for curing and packaging.
It is considered a custom, artisanal technique that contrasts machine trimming methods used for large-scale marijuana production.
Hand-washing allows cultivators to give each bud individual attention.
Hand-washing vs. machine-washing
Machine trimming uses automated trimmers to strip leaves quickly and buck flowers off the stems. This is efficient for processing large batches but can damage trichomes and reduce overall quality.
Hand-washing is slower but results in intact, resinous flowers worthy of premium pricing.
Consumers can tell the difference – hand-washed buds often smoke smoother and taste better.
