The ultimate guide to hookah cleaning part 2: HMDs

How do I clean my HMD? With these instructions, your smokebox will shine like new again!

Every shisha enthusiast surely knows this: You want to start a session and notice that your HMD no longer looks as great and shiny as it did initially. You try to scrape off the black crust on the underside with your fingernails and quickly realize that the dirt is too stubborn. The burnt-on crust not only looks less appealing visually, but it can also negatively affect the heat conduction of the HMD and the flavor development of the tobacco.

You're probably wondering how to get rid of the annoying and persistent dirt on your HMD. With our guide, we give you the optimal assistance so you can make your smokebox shine again without much cost and effort.

What is an HMD?

The abbreviation HMD stands for "Heat Management Device" and is colloquially also called smokebox or bowl attachment. Many are also familiar with the terms "Kaloud" or "Onmo". These are eponyms, which simply means that the brand name of the products (Kaloud Lotus, ONMO HMD) has become a common name for the item, like "Zewa" or "Nutella".

What function does an HMD have?

The HMD forms the interface between the charcoal and the shisha bowl filled with tobacco. The glowing shisha charcoal is placed in the smokebox at the start of the session and thus heats up. The contact surface on the underside of the HMD uses the heat of the charcoals to heat the tobacco to operational temperature, enabling you to smoke.

What types of HMD are there?

HMDs come in various shapes, colors, and designs. They can roughly be divided into two categories that differ in their manufacturing material. There are smokeboxes made of aluminum (examples: Onmo HMD, Kaloud Lotus 1+) and smokeboxes made of stainless steel (examples: Na Grani, AO 912 HMD).

Stainless Steel HMD

Smokeboxes made of stainless steel appear more high-quality at first glance, due to their shiny surface and heavy weight. Compared to aluminum HMDs, they absorb the heat from the coals more slowly and take longer to reach their operational temperature. The absorbed heat is stored longer and also released just as slowly.

With stainless steel HMDs, there is a risk of overheating the bowl, as the stainless steel can reach a higher temperature than aluminum. Therefore, stainless steel bowl attachments are more suited to experienced shisha smokers who possess the skills for anticipatory heat management.

Aluminum HMD

Bowl attachments made of aluminum are well-suited for beginners as they forgive minor errors in heat management graciously. They react quickly to changes in temperature and only store the heat for a short time. This makes them a more popular choice among the general public. Not for nothing is the Kaloud Lotus 1+ considered the most popular HMD, in which the manufacturer exclusively uses aluminum!

In the Hookain Online Shop, you will find popular Kalouds and many other manufacturers and designs, so you're sure to find the HMD that suits you!

What should I consider when cleaning the HMD?

To ensure that the fun with your HMD lasts a long time, there are several things you should pay attention to both in handling and in cleaning.

The right tool

To get your HMD as gently clean as possible, you should use a brush with brass bristles. The bristles are softer than those of conventional wire brushes and have almost no wear. This protects the material because using a wire brush over a longer period will wear down the contact surfaces of the HMD. If you are the proud owner of a stainless steel smokebox, you should only use brass brushes to avoid scratches on the polished surfaces.

In an ideal case, you can use your HMD for a lifetime without any problems, as both aluminum and stainless steel prove to be very stable materials. You can find our range of HMD brusheshere.

The right cleaning agent

For cleaning your HMD, you normally don't need a cleaning agent. However, if the dirt is so severe that it cannot be properly removed in a water bath, then use only special shisha cleaners.

Using other chemicals carries the risk of the material of the smokebox being damaged by too aggressive cleaners. Under no circumstances should you put the HMD or other shisha accessories in the dishwasher! A large selection of shisha cleaners is available here in the Hookain Online Shop!

With the help of this guide, you should have no problem getting your HMD back in shape! If there are still uncertainties, feel free to contact us anytime via the support function in the online shop or via Instagram.