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How to Thoroughly Clean a Hookah

How to Thoroughly Clean a Hookah

By christophanes / January 23, 2009
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Note: This blog was last updated on August 8, 2022

Does every bowl you smoke on your hookah taste like Double Apple...even though you've not had Double Apple in a week? Does your hookah base have a "fill-to" line built up from the last 20 sessions?  If you answered yes, it is probably time to clean your hookah. If you answered no, it is probably still time to clean your hookah. Hookah cleaning can be quick and simple but it can tend to give off some water works, so select a place to clean your hookah where you can make a bit of a mess.

Small hookahs can typically be cleaned easily in a kitchen sink but you may want to clean larger hookahs outdoors using a garden hose. In all cases, it is generally a good idea to dry the outside of the stem with a towel or cloth after cleaning to prevent water spots and to reduce the chances of oxidation (corrosion) in some models.


hookah parts disassembled

You'll want to begin cleaning your hookah by emptying the water from the base, tobacco from the bowl, and ash from the tray (make sure all coal embers are extinguished! I am guilty of letting a tiny coal smoke up a trash can shhh.). Disassemble your hookah as much as possible (depends on the style of your hookah), including removing the hose connectors (if they're designed to be removed), ball bearings, and the bowl stem (if designed to be removed). With your hookah disassembled, turn the water on and start rinsing!

Hookah Shisha cleaning supplies Bling hookah solution

Each component of the hookah should be rinsed initially. After rinsing, you may want to use a solution to help remove flavors and odors from the hookah. In addition to the popular Bling Hookah Cleaning Solution (not to be used with acrylic bases or any hoses), you can mix lemon juice and baking soda together for a great cleaning agent that's safe for hookah components of all composition. Lemon juice and baking soda is particularly efficient at removing bad smells from a stem or hose. You don't have to be exact about the baking soda-lemon juice recipe, you can mix any amount of the two together for an effective and safe cleanser.

Bling hookah cleaning solution

When using Bling, be sure to read the instructions on the back of the bottle. Gentle dish soap is also suitable for hookah cleaning, but we advise against any harsh cleaners. Hookah Cleaning Brushes and hookah Cleaning Rods work very well for scouring hard-to-reach areas inside the hookah. A longer, thinner shaft brush is generally for the stem, while a wider brush is for the base. If you have a thinner, rod-style object it will require you to put a thin strip of cloth on the end, which is then 'swabbed' through the shaft. These types of cleaning rods are less effective on bases, but with proper maintenance the base can be quite easy to keep clean.

hookah cleaning brushes

Pour a little of your cleaning solution through the stem, and swab it out a couple of times with your brush of choice. You won't need to hard-scrub the stem too much, a couple of passes will be fine. The majority of the shisha residue is water-soluble as it is mostly honey, molasses, or glycerin, all of which dissolve easily in plain water. (Don't forget to clean the threads where the hose connectors or bowl stem screw on - over time, buildup can cause them to freeze and it will be difficult to remove them). Give the bearings a good rinse too, and then set them aside to dry. 

Rinse the stem thoroughly, and then dry the outside with a clean cloth or towel before setting it in a well-ventilated area (so that the inside of the shaft dries quickly).

empty hookah bases laying down

You'll want to wash the base in a similar fashion, using a base brush. Glass bases can be difficult to hold when wet, especially when wet and soapy, so be sure you've a good hold on the base (We see an unfortunate number of bases that are broken in the cleaning process).

Thick glass bases that have no paint can be washed in a dishwasher (although not recommended, handwashing is best), but bases with thinner glass, or paint or metallic trim, should be washed by hand. Allow the base to air-dry (it isn't necessary to dry with a cloth) before reassembling the hookah. 

When reassembling your hookah, you may choose to coat the ball bearings in vegetable or olive oil to protect them from corrosion which may also help prevent them from sticking over time (from the buildup of smoke residue).

variety of styles of hookah hoses laying on table

The hose you say? Make sure it’s washable! Some hookahs, like MYA and KM still come with the traditional, non-washable style hoses. If you’re unsure, ask us! Putting water through a non-washable hose degrades its life. If it’s washable you’re good to go on a few rinses of water. Simple as that! Hang the hose up to dry or, holding the hose by one end, swing it around in a circle to ‘fling’ the water out (be sure that all loose/removeable pieces are removed first!). 

Side Note:

Traditionally, hookah lounges reserve one hose for each flavor to avoid flavor contamination (or “ghosting”). While that may be a bit much for today's smoker, if you're using non-washable hoses you might consider assigning one hose to stronger flavors and another to lighter flavors.


It’s pretty simple right? Cleaning a hookah is necessary, and the more frequently you do it the better. Make sure that you keep track of all removable parts and remember, before you put water through your hose to make sure it’s washable. If you have a stubborn cleaning situation, check out our blog on deeper cleaning and restoration. If you get lost at any point, we’re here!

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