It’s no secret that the current pandemic has changed our lives permanently. With no end in sight, this pandemic has taught us to be more diligent about our hygiene and the way we conduct ourselves. As a consequence of periodic lockdowns and isolation, many people are tempted to drink and smoke more than they used to. While this isn’t a particularly healthy way to spend your time waiting for the situation to subside, you could still enjoy some shisha and stay protected at the same time.
If you’re looking to spend some time smoking with your close friends and family during these challenging times, it is of utmost importance to maintain proper hookah hygiene and take every precautionary measure in order to avoid any risks of contracting the virus. Take a moment to check out some of the do’s and don’ts we’ve covered in this article, and you should get a better idea about the necessary precautionary steps you ought to take if you’re looking to stay as safe as possible.
Useful Tips to Stay Safe During the Pandemic
Here are some useful tips and tricks to help you minimize the risk of contracting the virus:
Avoid Sharing and Smoking in Rotation
While this is a pretty obvious step towards lowering the risks, it’s still worth mentioning it since it’s probably one of the most significant tips we can offer. As we all know, the coronavirus is transmitted via air, meaning any exposure to contaminated air could potentially jeopardize your health.
The best way to avoid and minimize exposure to potentially contaminated matter is to refrain from sharing the same hookah with other people. Now, some people may think they are safe because none of their friends are sick, but you have to remember that many asymptomatic people can still spread the virus even if they don’t feel sick. While smoking hookah in rotation is typically the traditional way, it’s simply not worth the risk at the moment.
Use a Disposable Hose
If you’re really keen on sharing a hookah with your friends or loved ones, please consider using a disposable hose pipe. This will add an extra layer of safety and significantly reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus (or any airborne virus, for that matter). It’s important to point out that this isn’t a 100% guaranteed way of avoiding the virus; it’s just a precautionary step that reduces the risk. Simply not sharing your pipe with others is still the best practice in this particular situation.
Wash Your Hookah Thoroughly
Washing hookah hoses seems pretty straightforward, but there are some important things you should keep in mind. For instance, we would advise against washing your equipment with dishwasher detergent since it could contain harmful chemicals. An excellent non-toxic alternative would be using baking soda with hot water. As far as washing equipment goes, you only need a shaft brush and a base brush. Both of these items can be found in any store, and they usually cost a couple of dollars.
Washing the stem is pretty easy. Insert the shaft brush into the stem and give it a gentle scrub. Subsequently, run hot water through it and rinse the stem in order to wash off any residue. You can wash the stem with plain water or add a teaspoon of baking soda with a couple of drops of lemon if the stem is particularly hard to clean.
Washing the base is a bit trickier, but it isn’t rocket science. Fortunately, the same principles apply here, too – use the base brush to clean the base of residue and add a bit of baking soda with lemon if you feel inclined. Rinse thoroughly.
If your hose is made of silicone tubing, you can wash that too. Make sure never to wash a non-washable hose since its metal parts are prone to corrosion. If the pipe was used by someone else, it would be a good idea to use a disinfectant to wash it. Or, better yet, just get yourself a new hose and eliminate the potential risks altogether.
Storing Your Hookah Properly
The way you store your equipment is just as important as the way you wash it. There is no point in being diligent with washing if you store your paraphernalia in a reckless manner. On top of that, make sure you always buy the best quality hookah and use coconut shells (coal) for the best experience.
Make sure your hookah is completely dry before putting it away. Wet pipes can quickly become fertile ground for mold and harmful bacteria, both of which are obviously something you would want to avoid. Furthermore, always check the expiration date on the shisha packets and make sure they are as fresh as possible. More importantly, it would be best if you never used shisha that has been opened for a long time. Once opened, it should be smoked within a week. It’s also good practice to wipe down the packets with wet wipes before use.
Do Your Own Research and Stay Informed
The best way to stay relatively safe is to conduct some research and stay informed about the current state of affairs. Since this virus is still somewhat of a novelty, we keep learning new things about it each day. Rather than relying on us and our advice, you should read about the virus as well as the precautionary measures from government sources and gather the necessary info that way. It’s still great to get info from multiple sources, but always make sure they are reliable and trustworthy.
Use Logic and Common Sense
Even though this isn’t a particularly complex tip that you’ve never heard of, it’s still something we feel is important to emphasize. There are countless conspiracy theories circling around the internet, and while the vast majority of them are obviously ridiculous, some of them might spark your interest. While it’s good to be curious, it’s never a good idea to fall victim to someone’s agenda to derail you from listening to official sources, scientists, and doctors. There are hundreds if not thousands of legitimate resources containing information on ways to avoid contracting COVID-19. Please use common sense and stay safe.
We are Here for You Through Thick and Thin
While the current situation in the whole world is undoubtedly tough and challenging, our hookah shop in Fort Lauderdale will push through the challenges and stay on top of its game. We put tremendous effort into developing our business as well as genuine, human relationships with our customers, and we are not planning on changing that anytime soon. If you’re eager to try hookah or spend some quality time with your friends and family, take a look at some of the products we offer, and we guarantee you’ll never look back.
What do you think about our tips and tricks? Have we missed something important? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment and let us know! If you’d like to read more about smoking, paraphernalia, CBD, vaping, and other similar subjects, please read our other articles!