Vulcanite mouthpiece maintenance – Keep them black and shiny
Written on: Tue, Feb 01, 2011 by tNd
Sources: VegasSmokes, Pipesmagazine.com, Pipetips.com
Vulcanite rubber, unlike acrylic, is a material that is not completely stable. Saying this, we are talking about that not so nice green/brown color our mouthpieces might get over time. This is oxidation and it happens as a result of a chemical reaction of saliva in our mouths and vulcanite rubber itself. It also might happen because of the sunlight.
This process can be slower if we maintain our mouthpieces with olive oil. 
First we got to do is to dismount the pipe and clean the mouthpiece really good (if the mouthpiece is new – no need to do that, it is already clean).
Second, with our finger we take a very small amount of olive oil and apply that on a mouthpiece in a thin layer.
After this has been done, we have to allow the oil to penetrate the mouthpiece for several minutes (5 minutes will be enough). During this time, the oil penetrates in very small pits that are on the surface of the mouthpiece and covers them leaving less surface on the mouthpiece where oxidation might occur and in this way, preserves the mouthpiece for a longer period of time. Besides that, olive oil is a natural anti-oxidant which also might help in keeping our mouthpiece nice and shiny.
After 5 minutes rest, we have to clean the mouthpiece from oil excess. Cotton rag is one of the best materials to do that. And this is it – easy to do.
I have to thank VegasSmokes for this idea – first I found it there and it really works.