How to clean a hookah at home?

Numerous individuals today are enthusiastic about hookah, with a significant majority purchasing devices for home shisha smoking. Beyond the necessity of knowing how to properly pack tobacco and ignite coals for the hookah, it is equally crucial to maintain the entire apparatus, particularly by cleaning the shaft, bowl, hose, and flask. This practice helps to prevent unpleasant odors and alterations in the flavor of preferred hookah blends, while also ensuring that sanitation is upheld at an appropriate standard. Although cleaning may not be overly complex, it can be somewhat tedious; therefore, it is essential to understand the proper method for washing a hookah after use at home.

Necessary tools and equipment

Cleaning the hookah is a vital task that should be undertaken following each smoking session. This necessity arises not from excessive concern for cleanliness, but from the requirement to eliminate flavors and resins that accumulate on the surfaces of flask, hose, and other components. Consequently, it is advisable not to neglect this responsibility; regular cleaning allows for the easy and swift removal of residue, whereas neglecting the task may result in a more labor-intensive and time-consuming process later on.

Features of cleaning the shaft

When dealing with a collapsible shaft, the cleaning process is relatively straightforward, as the individual components can be cleaned separately with ease. Conversely, if the shaft is a single, solid piece, the cleaning effort will require more diligence. To initiate the cleaning, one should pour moderately warm water into the shaft to rinse it, subsequently draining the liquid. A hookah stem cleaning brush should then be inserted into the shaft, moving it rapidly up and down several times to ensure the inner walls are thoroughly cleaned. Finally, the hookah shaft should be rinsed with running water. This procedure should also be repeated from the opposite end of the shaft. Once completed, it is essential to blow out any remaining moisture and allow the product to air dry completely. Extra attention should be given to cleaning the ports, as they tend to accumulate the most dirt.

Cleaning the base

This component of the hookah can also be cleaned using water. To soften the accumulated residue, it is advisable to fill the base with warm water and let it sit for a few minutes. Afterward, the liquid should be drained, a cloth placed inside the base, and water added before shaking the base in a circular motion, allowing the centrifugal force to enable the cloth to glide along the inner walls. It is recommended to drain the dirty water and refill with clean water two to three times.
Since the cleaning of the base is performed without a brush, some effort will be required to remove the residue from the inner walls, so it's better to use cleaning brush for hookah base. Finally, simply rinse the contents with warm water and allow the item to dry.

Cleaning the hookah bowl

Hookah bowls can be made of different materials, so many smoking enthusiasts are often interested in: is it possible to wash a clay hookah bowl? Not only is it possible, but it is also necessary. It is also better to do this with warm water, which helps to soften and remove plaque from the walls. To dry the product well after washing, it is enough to leave it on the table for a couple of hours. Performing the above steps allows you not only to remove plaque, but also to get rid of an unpleasant smell.

However, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid excessive use of harsh cleaning agents, as they can potentially damage the internal surfaces of the hookah, leading to a decline in the taste and aromatic qualities of the tobacco, as well as posing health risks. The aforementioned substances should be reserved for more severe cases; if one cleans the hookah after each smoking session (or at least after every two to three sessions), then warm water alone will suffice.