Make sure your pipe is clean or you'll start to get a horrible taste with each smoking session. Use a soft bristle brush to clean the pipe and base bottle.

Its best to clean your pipe straight after using it, that way the smoke in the pipe doesn't have time to dry. Plus the last thing you want to be doing when you?re looking forward to a smoke with your friends is spend time cleaning your pipe. A dry pipe and hose gives a better smoke

Cleaning the pipe (metal pipe stem)

Cleaning after each smoke
Use a brush with a dense array of bristles at one end as they clean better than the regular brush?s with a thin array of bristles along the whole length of the brush.

Run hot water through the metal stem, wet the brush and push it into one end of the pipe stem. Move the brush back and forth working 6-10 inches of the pipe at a time until full length of the pipe is done. If the pipe is longer than the brush you can insert the brush at the other end and clean the rest of the pipe. Run more hot water through the pipe again and repeat with the brush if needed.

Cleaning every 5-6 smokes
Remove the exhaust valve and ball bearing. Run water though the valve and clean the hole using a cotton bud.

Every couple of months
You can soak the pipe stem in the bath every couple of months and then clean it with a brush to give a burst of freshness and bring the shine back to the metal.

Cleaning the base bottle

Every 5-6 smokes drop 1 tea spoon of washing powder into the base bottle and fill to the top with hot water. Leave for 20 minutes then clean using a bottle cleaning brush. Rinse with water until clean. If you don't wash your bottle at least every month or two it'll collect dirt and mold.

Washing your hose

Not all hoses are washable. Leather hoses tend to be washable to a degree but are usually made with a steel coil which will start to rust after the first month. Look for a washable guarantee from the manufacturer. Modern hoses are sometimes made with rust proof material but can still feel authentically eastern.

None leather hoses -
Washable - Not recommended but can be rinsed out with cold water, this is not recommended more than few times as the water will damage the material

Life Span - 3-4 months if used once or twice a week

Leather hoses -

Washable - Yes, only use cold water, rinse out as little as possible as the coil will start to rust after the first wash.

Lifespan - 6-10 months if you smoke once a week

Washable hoses -
Washable - Yes, rinse with cold water

Lifespan - 1-2 years or longer of you look after your hose

 

Courtesy of Shishainfo.com