Cleaning & Drying

Keeping your shisha clean

A clean shisha tastes of the flavour you packed, not the last one. Old juice, ash and limescale build up in the bowl, stem and base, so a quick rinse after each session and a deeper clean now and then make a real difference.

What each tool is for

• Bowl brushes: long brushes, such as the 35cm Shishagear Bowl Brush, reach right into the bowl so you can clear out old tobacco.
• Scourers: small steel scrubbers, for example the Shishagear Stainless Steel Scourer, lift burnt-on residue off heads and bowls.
• Stem and base brushes: rigid bristles scrub the inside walls of the stem. Embery suggest using their brush set with baking soda.
• Powders and sprays: a powder such as El Badia Shisha Cleaner tackles stains, odours and limescale. A spray such as Moze Rocket Cleaner is left on briefly, then rinsed off, and is made for glass bases and stainless steel parts.
• Ultrasonic cleaners: the Aeon Sonic Cleaner is one example. It uses ultrasonic waves and lukewarm water to lift limescale and deposits from base glass, so you don't scrub by hand.

Drying everything off

Wet parts left in a pile take ages to dry. A drying mat gives them one place to drain. Look for an anti-slip underside and a surface that lets water run off: the Aeon Drip Mat has notches that collect the drips, while the silicone Darkside Anti-Slip Drying Mat uses raised studs so air can flow under your bowls.

While everything is apart, check your seals. If a grommet has gone hard or split, swap it for a new one from grommets and seals before you put the shisha back together.

Questions

How often should I clean my shisha?

Empty and rinse the base after every session. Give the stem, bowl and hose connector a proper clean every few sessions, or whenever you change to a very different flavour.

What should I use on a glass base?

Pick a cleaner made for glass, such as a spray like Moze Rocket Cleaner or a powder like El Badia Shisha Cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaner is another way to lift limescale without scrubbing.