Do Clean The Stem After You Smoke?

[jaxxx123]

i usually run warm waoter through the stem after I smoke and through the bowl also. I was wondering if this is ok?

[SafeSearchOff]

Jax, yeah running water through your stem is harmless, and a general practice for most hookah smokers. Its necessary to run the water through the stem at least every couple sessions to clean out the molasses that drips down through your bowl... unless ur using a funnel.

[xDizzyGuyx]

Yes... I say run water through ATLEAST every time and wash every few times with a brush... if you don't all the crud that gets on it messes up the inside and gives it a bad taste :/ It's not cool

[rbyers]

I reckon if you're too stingy to buy a brush you could use rock salt and rubbing alcohol to a good effect for cleaning the tube of your stem.

Step 1: cover one hole of the stem tube with saran wrap or something and rubber band it on.
Step 2: Pour in salt. Either rock salt or table salt will work. This is used as an abrasive like sand paper for cleaning the stem.
Step 3: Pour in your rubbing alcohol. This is going to be the solvent for the cleaning process.
Step 4: Shake like the dickens. Make sure you rotate the stem every few shakes for maximum cleaning goodness. I found that the last time I cleaned my stem like this I didn't turn it and that resulted in a line of clean through the stem with most of the stem still nasty and unclean. Not really that nasty but it wasn't residue free.
Step 5: Rinse well and dry. Any alcohol left over could be.. not tasty.

I hope maybe someone will potentially try this out, because if you don't have a brush this is a pretty easy way to clean your stem.

[chinamon]

i clean my stem, base and bowl after every smoke. i use the stem cleaning brush and some vinegar or lemon juice (depending on what i have available). same goes for the base. for the bowl i use a toothbrush. i even scrub inside the bowl through the stem. i like when my hookah is squeaky clean.

[sambookamax]

I flush with water after every use...and clean with a brush about every 6 uses.

[3rooker]

You most definitely need to wash it with water. Use a brush or a rag or whatever you have. But you don't want all that gunk from the shisha and particles from the smoke to stay in there. It will make for an odd-tasting smoke and will eventually lead to build-up, reducing the performance of your hookah.

TX

[lazria]

TX, KLD - you oil the stem afterwards? Inside and out? Wouldn't that catch more particals (sp) of stuff? The outside, I can understand and have considered that myself, but the inside???

I clean mine once a week - more if I use the same hookah more than twice that week (now sitting @ 3 functional) - warm water and lemon juice.

[3rooker]

TX, KLD - you oil the stem afterwards? Inside and out? Wouldn't that catch more particals (sp) of stuff? The outside, I can understand and have considered that myself, but the inside???

I clean mine once a week - more if I use the same hookah more than twice that week (now sitting @ 3 functional) - warm water and lemon juice.

I would only suggest a serious oil down if it's going for a long-term storage. The oil repels water. Therefore, you deter rust as well. But if you smoke every day, barely oil it. You'd be surprised at how much it helps! You don't run your engine without oil, do you?

TX

[Allia22]

TX, KLD - you oil the stem afterwards? Inside and out? Wouldn't that catch more particals (sp) of stuff? The outside, I can understand and have considered that myself, but the inside???

I clean mine once a week - more if I use the same hookah more than twice that week (now sitting @ 3 functional) - warm water and lemon juice.

I would only suggest a serious oil down if it's going for a long-term storage. The oil repels water. Therefore, you deter rust as well. But if you smoke every day, barely oil it. You'd be surprised at how much it helps! You don't run your engine without oil, do you?

TX

WAAAAY back when, car manuals suggested putting a thin film of kerosene on car trim. I wonder what the long-term effects of it on the paint did.

I'm no mechanic in any way, shape, or form, but car oil serves as a sort of lubricant in a car, I believe, prevents gunky build-up when you change it as often as you should, and keeps gaskets and such from breaking down. I wonder what the policy of oiling bare metal parts in an engine compartment would be...?

[3rooker]

Well I gave my explanation above. It's just like oiling the barrel of a shotgun. It's going to have grains of gunpowder get in it, but it's also a rust deterrent. Same as the shaft of a hookah. It aids in rust prevention and also provides a slick surface so particles have a harder time attaching. Those particles then end up in the water.

TX

[PerznPerversion]

i clean mine out with water after every use. Its pretty fun too .. but i wonder if the oil really works for the ball bearings. cuz im always scared of them getting rusted pretty easy.

[3rooker]

i clean mine out with water after every use. Its pretty fun too .. but i wonder if the oil really works for the ball bearings. cuz im always scared of them getting rusted pretty easy.

Yea it does. Oil them up real well. You'll have nothing to worry about. It's like waxing your car.

TX

[KLD]

i clean mine out with water after every use. Its pretty fun too .. but i wonder if the oil really works for the ball bearings. cuz im always scared of them getting rusted pretty easy.

Yes...pretty sure oil stops rust from forming

[Guest Abide]

I gave the stems of my 3 a good brushing with a rifle bore cleaner
$15 for a huge kit at wal-mart (great for your firearms too, duh) tons of pieces though. It is however harder than the stem so it will make dust so be sure and get the cloth swab and plenty of water down there after you do. but its like a mirror in there now!

[3rooker]

I gave the stems of my 3 a good brushing with a rifle bore cleaner
$15 for a huge kit at wal-mart (great for your firearms too, duh) tons of pieces though. It is however harder than the stem so it will make dust so be sure and get the cloth swab and plenty of water down there after you do. but its like a mirror in there now!

Exactly how my shotgun barrels look after I get done oiling them. If you want to fight rust and keep your stuff clean, just oil it up, not heavy duty, just a light coat of oil if you are going to smoke every day. If not, oil it up nice and thick.

TX

[ezie]

i clean my stem with lemon juicy/ warm water and the brush set that come with the hookah. For the rust ball bearing i use WD-40 so it's not rusty anymore. I clean my hookah every time i'm done smoking it so it does have built up. I'm looking for a washable hose my hose are pretty done i think.

[Johnny_D]

I probably give it a good clean every other session.
In between i just flush the stem with hot water and the same for the vase.

For a deep clean i will use bleach & washing up liquid with brushes.

And I often soak the vase in a light bleach solution overnight along with all the gromits.

Thus far it appears to work ok.

JD

PS :- ensure you flush any chemicals out fully before smoking!

[Ocrap]

I roll up paper towels, pour rubbing alcohol on them, then twist the paper towel through the shaft. It really gets rid of the oder