Hookah Cleaning Guide: Everything You Need to Know
The whole process of hookah cleaning lasts approximately 20 minutes and defines the taste of your following smoking experience. If ignored, this process makes residue accumulate in the stem, the base water becomes stinky, and the draw gets harder. Years of practice and thousands of feedback have helped us understand exactly what makes a hookah faulty.
In this article, we'll talk about how to clean all parts of hookah, how often it should be done, and when it's time to change certain elements. If you buy hookah online or in the store, the procedure will be applicable for almost any shisha system.
Why Regular Hookah Cleaning Matters
There is residue left behind in the bowl, stem, and downstem after every hit. If not cleared, this residue will bake to form a crust, restricting air passage. In our experience, most hookahs blamed for a weak draw simply need a proper clean.
Base water is the second problem, and the Australian climate makes it worse. In a humid Queensland summer, water left overnight can smell off by morning. Wait a couple of days and there will be mould growing near the waterline.
The other factor that will shorten the life span of your shisha is humidity. This is because the water in the metal pipe will corrode the metal pipe. If you store your hose moist it will become musty after a few days.
A quick rinse after each session prevents most of this. Kept clean, a budget hookah will often outlast a neglected premium one.
How to Clean a Hookah Step by Step
The process of cleaning a hookah does not require anything special at all. It is recommended that warm water, lemon juice or white vinegar, baking soda, and various brushes be used for the cleaning process. The first step that must be done when cleaning a hookah is disassembling the device after cooling and separating the bowl, tray, and hose from the stem.
Clean the Base
Empty the old water from the container, fill the base half-way with warm water and lemon juice. Clean the interior using the bottle brush. Be sure to scrub the ring around the water line. Hot water should not be poured into a cold glass base.
Scrub the Stem and Downstem
The stem should be rinsed with hot water and a brush pushed into the stem from both sides. If there is a purge valve in the stem, remove the valve and clean the ball bearing so that it does not become rusty and jammed.
Rinse the Hose
A musty hose sends many people searching "hookah shop near me", but a washable one just needs a rinse. Run warm water through plastic or silicone hoses, then hang them over a door handle to drip dry. Leather and fabric hoses hide a wire coil that rusts, so only blow air through those.
Soak the Bowl and Tray
Keep the bowl immersed in hot water for ten minutes, and then remove any tough stains with bicarbonate soda. Do not use dishwashing soap to clean clay/terracotta bowls as the porous nature of the material will retain the detergent and make it unsuitable for further use.
Dry and Reassemble
Let every part dry for a few hours, or overnight in humid weather. When put back together, place your hand over the top part of the stem, and mark on the hose. If air is moving, then you need to replace the grommets.
When to Replace Parts Instead of Cleaning Them
Some problems will not be fixed by cleaning. A hose that retains its musty smell despite being cleaned should be replaced. Similarly, replace a grommet that has become hard or cracked. Also, replace a cracked bowl. A spare usually costs a few dollars and keeps the whole shisha running.
A "hookah shop near me" search may turn up a local store, but matching parts are hit and miss. We stock spare hookah hoses, bowls and plugs at our Australian warehouse, so there's no customs risk. Eligible weekday orders dispatch the same day in discreet packaging.
Before you buy hookah online, check that the retailer sells matching spare parts. When customers buy a new hookah from us, we suggest adding a spare hose to the same order. If you're still choosing a model, our guide on how to choose a hookah compares hose counts and materials.
Keep Your Shisha Setup Fresh
Cleaning the hookah all boils down to three practices, fresh water after every use, once-a-week cleaning and drying of the parts. Keep a spare hose on hand, and you'll never need an emergency "hookah shop near me" search. Stock up on hookah parts and accessories, or buy hookah online from our full range when it's time to upgrade.
FAQs
1. How often should you clean a hookah?
Empty and rinse the base after every session, and flush the stem before residue hardens. Deep clean every part weekly with regular use, or every few sessions with lighter use.
2. Can you clean a hookah with vinegar?
Yes. Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water for the base and stem, then rinse well. Just don't add bicarb soda, as the two neutralise each other's cleaning power.
3. Can you wash a hookah hose?
Yes, if it's labelled washable, like most plastic and silicone hoses. Run warm water through, then hang it to dry. Never wet leather or fabric hoses, as their coils rust.
