Is Baking Soda The Safest Cleaner For The Shaft?

[ctsmo]

title says it all

thanks

[olooko]

yes, just add water and make a solution first. As w/ all cleaners wash out the stuff before you use it again.

[ZenSilk]

Would that be 2 parts water, 1 part baking soda?

[hookahlife]

Hey CTS,

Dont worry about how many parts Bakeing Soda to water, just pour the BSoda down the shaft and wash it out, it works wonders. If you want to get it really clean, use a little lemon juice with the BSoda and it will clean it out great.

You could also use Vinegar, but make sure to wash it out well otherwise it will ruin the taste.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Mike
Hookah Life

[ZenSilk]

Ahhh, i see! Yeah i usually use vinegar. But i didn't think to MIX it with Baking soda...
Once again, thanks!

[Sonthert]

The natural calcium content in hard water "Tap water" makes using baking soda a bad practice. Calcium ions find the carbonate ions from baking soda and make calcium carbonate, which is insoluble in water. Calcium carbonate is the stuff that sea shells are made of, its also more popularly known as marble or limestone. Calcium carbonate If you have mechanically softened water or distilled water, it won't be a problem...but why worry about it?

Alcohol, vinegar seem slightly better choices. I get good results with just a brush and cold water.

[ZenSilk]

You don't use anything else as a cleaner other than cold water and good ol fashion scrubbing? Thats what i use too!
i havnt used anything else, and my hookahs are in perfect smoking order after i clean them. Maybe i should start doing vinegar once a month though!
What if you use filtered tap water instead of normal tap water with baking soda? Edited August 31, 2007 by ZenSilk

[Sonthert]

Filters don't generally remove calcium ions, which are the ones that cause problems. You know that chalky white buildup on your hookah (you-all, not just Zensilk)? Thats calcium carbonate (I think). Add more carbonate, and the calcium will shake out as calcium carbonate (there's more calcium than carbonate in normal tap water).

I use tap water. I do use filtered water for smoking.

[ZenSilk]

I've always gone for the filtered too, out of the fridge, just in case. So thats pretty much a hard water stain, which are pretty damn impossible to remove without lime-off or some other icky chemicals...

[Sonthert]

Vinegar will remove it, lemon juice, too.

[ZenSilk]

Well thank God.

[FURsAKeN]

Also be careful if you have brass core using baking soda; it will significantly increase the oxidation process (verti-green, that green junk build up) slightly if not tenfold.

[ZenSilk]

Mya's don't have steel coated brass stems anymore do they?

[OPR234]

Whats wrong with using CLR or some other solvent? as long as you rinse it well I don't think it'd be a problem

[Sonthert]

Mya's don't have steel coated brass stems anymore do they?

I can't say for sure, but I think Myas have always been aluminum core, to my knowledge, but I'm only 40% sure here.

[FURsAKeN]

Whats wrong with using CLR or some other solvent? as long as you rinse it well I don't think it'd be a problem

You still run the risk of residual, even after washing it out dude.

[SomaliSmoke]

Vinegar will remove it, lemon juice, too.

Does the vinegar leave a lingering smell?

[Hookah Master]

lemon juice works godly to get rid of the nasty smell in your base. i use it once every 2 weeks or so

[Allia22]

Vinegar will remove it, lemon juice, too.

Does the vinegar leave a lingering smell?

Nope, no smells left at all. The bowl gasket is a different issue, it's absorbed the smell of so many different flavors (none of which are vinegar) it's ridiculous.

[myasaray.com]

Mya's don't have steel coated brass stems anymore do they?

Dear ZenSilk

MYA Stems are all 100% Brass "Real Brass" we have only 3 stem styles that are also made of 100% brass with a connector inner tube made of aluminum. We never manufactured a complete stem of aluminum and if you found one then this is not a MYA. "Please see the below image"



We hope that the above image answer your question.

Should you have more questions please do not hesitate to contact us at 866 277-9MYA

Thank you

Mahmoud Badawi
CEO Edited September 6, 2007 by myasaray.com

[Sonthert]

I stand corrected. That aluminum downstem is the part I always saw as the proof of aluminum. For most hookahs, you see what they are made of by looking in the "secret" areas...like the downstem.