Cleaning The Hookah

[Servetus]

I have been using[b] distilled vinegar[/b], works well at removing the previous shisha smell and taste from the hose, etc. It's cheap, but is[b] lemon juice[/b] really better? I'm a noob so please instruct me if I'm committng a "no no."

[method]

whats wrong with water and a brush ?



[img]http://212.143.3.82/users/files17/176423/gallery_large/128214652815683606.JPG[/img]

[method]

sry for the huge photo [img]http://www.hookahforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/facepalm.gif[/img]

[Kathrynx]

Yep, water and a brush will work just fine. I have used some dish soap on my brush if the hookah needed a little extra love, but that's about it.

[vendetta_revived]

For me, lemon juice+hot water, or baking soda+hot water, or a combination of all three work best. I have learned that hot water alone is not sufficient for cleaning.

But then I can't tell you how different would that be from using distilled vinegar, since I have never used it.

[Servetus]

Well, yes of course a brush, but something food grade and acidic seems to cut the ghosting problem. Distilled vinegar is very inexpensive for me and redily available, lemon juice is more expensive, and I like to use it more for flavoring in cooking. Hence the use of distilled white vinegar as a cleaning solution followed by hot water.

[bdot]

I just use hot water only for a day to day basis for both my stem and base.

Every couple of weeks I do a more thorough job and use a brush and hot water on the stem and a little bit of dish washing soap for the base.

No ghosting issues here... Except for my hoses.

[Chreees]

Water for daily cleaning, but once a month or so I clean using water, baking soda, and lemon juice.

[Hassouni]

Vinegar works very well, but make sure you REALLY rinse it out afterwards

[Evilsquirrel]

I always just use hot water and a brush

[Lucy Ford]

run hot water through it before i smoke every time. Usually give it soap and water with the brush every couple weeks. Bucket of hot hot hot water and lemon juice 3 or 4 times a year

[EAK1791]

Just hot water and a brush for me too. Every once and a while, if the stem's ghosting a bit, I'll send a little bit of cheap vodka down it. Works like a charm for me.

[ezxen]

boiling water works for me

[Epoch]

I save the lemon juice for my washable hoses.

Other than that, water and a brush. Sometimes dish soap if it's extra messy.

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='EAK1791' timestamp='1302045611' post='504326']
Just hot water and a brush for me too. Every once and a while, [b]if the stem's ghosting a bit, I'll send a little bit of cheap vodka down it. [/b]Works like a charm for me.
[/quote]

Does this really work??

[littlec]

[quote name='method' timestamp='1302017131' post='504281']<br />whats wrong with water and a brush ?<br />
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<img src="http://212.143.3.82/users/files17/176423/gallery_large/128214652815683606.JPG" /><br />
<br />[/quote]<br /><br /><br />
Yeah I agree you don't need more than that maybe a little dish soap. Also Lol at the people using something as acidic as lemon juice on their hoses. That and hot water is going to break down the glue in there a lot faster than just warm water.

[TheyCallMeDave]

[quote name='littlec' timestamp='1304534555' post='508286']
Yeah I agree you don't need more than that maybe a little dish soap. Also Lol at the people using something as acidic as lemon juice on their hoses. That and hot water is going to break down the glue in there a lot faster than just warm water.
[/quote]


Using a base like dish soap probably isn't an awesome idea, seeing as it's a lot harder to clean an actual base out of something like the inside of a stem. Just the slimy, soapy texutre/taste doesn't seem too inviting for a deep clean on my hookah. Vinegar works fine.

And believe it or not, hot water and lemon juice hasn't affect any of my hoses, at all. The blue nammor hose I've had for almost a year has been fine with that kind of cleaning, and the guy that had it before me had it for quite a long time too and cleaned it the same way. Just use a cheap motor oil funnel to put in the water and juice. It's fine.

[littlec]

[quote name='TheyCallMeDave' timestamp='1304537684' post='508290']
[quote name='littlec' timestamp='1304534555' post='508286']
Yeah I agree you don't need more than that maybe a little dish soap. Also Lol at the people using something as acidic as lemon juice on their hoses. That and hot water is going to break down the glue in there a lot faster than just warm water.
[/quote]


Using a base like dish soap probably isn't an awesome idea, seeing as it's a lot harder to clean an actual base out of something like the inside of a stem. Just the slimy, soapy texutre/taste doesn't seem too inviting for a deep clean on my hookah. Vinegar works fine.

And believe it or not, hot water and lemon juice hasn't affect any of my hoses, at all. The blue nammor hose I've had for almost a year has been fine with that kind of cleaning, and the guy that had it before me had it for quite a long time too and cleaned it the same way. Just use a cheap motor oil funnel to put in the water and juice. It's fine.
[/quote]

It's not recommended some hoses are better built than others as they're all hand made. I'm telling you the actual design of a washable hose isn't very friendly to being washed hard with hot water or something acidic. The glue they use just isn't meant to take the abuse, which is why i wash mine once a month tops (the non-toxic glue just doesn't hold up that well against it). Dish soap in your stem is fine, you'd have to be retarded to not be able to wash it all through I sometimes pour some bar keepers friend down there to buff out any oxidation. Vinegar will work too I just can't stand the smell of it.