Like any reusable smoking apparatus, your hookah needs some timely maintenance to be clean and hygienic. Also, all shisha tobacco flavors are best enjoyed when you have a squeaky clean hookah without any residual buildup from earlier sessions. 

So, here are the best ways to take care of your hookah:

Clean Your Hookah As Often As You Can

You must clean your hookah frequently. Cleaning all the parts daily isn’t necessary, but you must get rid of the used water in your hookah base. 

Ideally, you should get fresh water for every session unless you intend to smoke the same flavor of shisha tobacco. Reusing the water in your hookah base is fine for a round or two if you load a similar or identical flavor. Otherwise, get fresh water for every session.

Once you are done with all the sessions for a given day or night, dispose of the used water and air dry the glass vase or base before refilling or reusing it. Allowing the used water to stay in the base may facilitate mold growth, which is harmful for your health.  

How To Clean the Different Hookah Parts

You have to clean all the components of your hookah, but the method isn’t identical. Also, you must clean the parts inside-out. The interior surfaces of each part are more important than the exterior, albeit the latter may be visibly more discomforting when it is unclean.

Thus, clean all the essential hookah parts, including:

• Stem
• Base
• Bowl
• Hose
• Tray, etc.

1. Clean the Stem With a Slender Brush

Generally, hookah kits have a slender cleaning brush for the stem or pipe. If you don’t have it, get a thin or slender but long brush with soft bristles to clean the stem. Here are the steps:

• Allow the hookah to cool and disassemble the stem at room temperature.
• Hold the hookah stem under a faucet and allow water to run through its bore.
• You may use warm water if you want a more effective cleaning and rinsing.
• Fill a small pot with water and mix some kitchen or dishwasher soap.
• Block one end of the hookah stem and load the bore with soapy water.
• Take the slender brush and clean the interior surface of the hookah pipe.
• Allow the soapy water to pour out with the residual buildup and other debris.
• Repeat this exercise with the brush until you have clear soapy water pouring out.
• Rinse the hookah stem or pipe with water, whether warm or room temperature.
• Place the stem upright on a steady table or tilted along the sink’s backsplash.
• Allow the residual water to flow out and the hookah stem will air dry overnight.

Don’t use vinegar instead of dishwasher soap or kitchen detergent if you have a hookah pipe made of metal or alloy. Vinegar can corrode metal and alloy, including stainless steel. So, avoid vinegar even if you have a brass hookah pipe.

 

2. Clean the Base With a Thicker Brush

Hookah kits have a shorter but thicker brush for the glass base or vase. If you don’t have it, you can use any suitable brush you use in your kitchen. But don’t use a brush with hard bristles as it may scratch the glass if you are too rough to clean any rigid stains.

• Allow the hookah base to cool so that the glass vase doesn’t crack.
• Don’t use hot water for a cold vase or cool tap water for a hot base.
• Use water to cleanse the glass base and get some soap if necessary.
• Fill the vase with some soapy water and use the thick brush to clean it.
• You can swirl the soapy water to agitate the cleaner against the glass.
• Repeat the process with fresh soapy water in the base and the brush.
• Turn the glass base over and allow the residual water to drip out.
• Flip the glass vase, set it upright, and let it air dry overnight or so. 

3. Clean the Bowl in Boiling Water

Here are the steps to clean a hookah bowl:

• Get some water in a pot, place it on your stove, and let it come to a boil.
• Meanwhile, remove all the leftover shisha tobacco from the hookah bowl.
• Reduce the heat on the stove and submerge the hookah bowl in the water.
• Turn on the heat again to get the water boiling for around 5 minutes or so.
• Let the hookah bowl cool a little, pick it up, and brush off all the debris.
• Use a soft-bristled brush so that you don’t damage the ceramic glazing.
• You may also use a soft rag or microfiber cloth if you have one available.
• Clean the holes with a q-tip and the exteriors with a piece of soft cloth.
• Allow the bowl to air dry completely before using it again for a session.

4. Rinse a Washable Hose With Water

You can’t wash conventional hoses with metal coils or made of leather. But silicone hoses are washable. Pour water into the hose from one side while you block the other end of the bore. Swish and swirl the water inside the hose to get rid of all the gunk.

You may use soapy water or lemon juice on silicone to get rid of rigid residual buildup. Hang the hose on a hook with both ends facing downward. Any remaining water will flow out and the hose can air dry.

5. Clean the Tray and Grommets

Last but not the least, clean the hookah charcoal tray and rubber or plastic grommets. Soapy water should suffice for these parts. These components aren’t difficult to clean or maintain.