In our test, the hookah cleaning set from M. Rosenfeld made a good impression overall. The set consists of three large brushes, a small brush, a wire brush and metal cleaning beads. The combination of all the brushes and the cleaning beads means that hookahs can be thoroughly cleaned even in hard-to-reach places. Unfortunately, one of the large brushes, which is necessary for cleaning the dip tube and smoke column, was not convincing in the test. However, cleaning the bowl with the set works very well.
Advantages
✅ Comprehensive set with a large selection
✅ Cleaning the bowl with the cleaning beads
✅ Cleaning the dip tube with the tube brush
✅ Small tube brush for the hose adapters
✅ Foam brush for bowl bulges
✅ Favourable price
Disadvantages
❌ No instructions for use available
❌ No standardised brush design
❌ Low quality of the large tube brush
The first impression
The packaging and labelling
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be ensured.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Carton is sufficiently stable, product is well protected | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | Unnecessary packaging waste was largely avoided, items were packed compactly | 95 points |
| Packaging convenience | Packaging can be easily opened without tools | 100 points |
| Total | 98 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The shisha cleaning set from M. Rosenfeld arrived in a compact shipping box. The box contained the cleaning set in its product packaging. Thanks to the appropriate size of the shipping box, the product packaging could not slide around inside. The cleaning set and the associated product packaging were undamaged and in perfect condition. Both the shipping box and the product packaging were easy to open without tools.
The product packaging consists of an opaque, precisely fitting zip bag. It contains three large brushes, a transparent plastic bag with a small brush and a wire brush, as well as a resealable plastic net with cleaning beads. Although the plastic zip bag is not made of sustainable material, it can be reused and is also suitable for long-term storage of the cleaning set. The same applies to the net with the metal beads, which is also made of plastic. The plastic bag containing the small brush and the metal brush could have been dispensed with. It offers no additional product protection compared to the other packaging elements.
After unpacking
Package contents and instructions
ℹ️ Most people’s first impression after unpacking is immediately memorable. Are the contents of the pack complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Package contents & scope | Set with five different brushes and 500 cleaning beads | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | Not available, but would have been helpful | 30 points |
| Contact information | Can be found on the product packaging, unfortunately no telephone number available | 90 points |
| Total | 73 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
Theshisha cleaning set consists of five different cleaning brushes and 500 cleaning beads. The brushes are a large and a small pipe brush, a pipe brush with a woollen head, a foam brush and a wire brush. This completes the set.
There are no instructions for use. To understand which brush is intended for which part of the shisha, this would certainly have been helpful. The wire brush in particular can scratch surfaces if used incorrectly. Instructions on how to use the cleaning beads would also be useful, as not everyone is familiar with this cleaning principle. The user must therefore find out for themselves how best to clean a hookah with the set.
There is a risk of small children swallowing the cleaning beads and also a choking hazard due to the zip bag in the product packaging. It is therefore essential to keep the set away from small children. Corresponding safety instructions can be found in English, German and with symbols on the zip bag.
Contact information can only be found on the product packaging. It can be found on the back and includes the company name, address and the name of the managing director. An e-mail address is also provided. Unfortunately, there is no telephone number.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the product processing. How high quality are the materials used? Is the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | No standardised design, brushes appear to be from different manufacturers. | 50 points |
| Processing | Apart from the large pipe brush, no defects in the workmanship | 83 points |
| Stability | Tube brushes, wool head brush and foam brush are flexible as intended, otherwise sufficiently stable | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | By contributing to maintenance, the lifespan of a water pipe can be extended | 100 points |
| Total | 83 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The large pipe brush is 60 cm long in total and is made from a flexible, double metal wire. The tip of the wire is covered with a rubber cap to prevent scratches on the object to be cleaned. This is followed by the brush head, which is 27 cm long and has a diameter of 3 cm. Nylon wires are wound between the two wires. The first half of the nylon is black, the second half is yellow. At the end of the brush is a small handlemade of black plastic, which can also be used to hang the brush. At one point, excess plastic from the manufacturing process is still protruding from the handle, which has a negative effect on the quality impression. Even before the first use, there are brown, rust-like discolourations on the metal wire. These are not to be found on the other parts of the set.
The design of the small pipe brush is identical, but the rubber cap at the tip and the handle at the end are missing. Instead, the metal wire at the end is shaped into an eyelet. The total length of the small brush is 10 cm. The black nylon brush head is 4 cm long and has a diameter of 7 mm.
Compared to the large tube brush, the brush with a woollen head is shorter with a total length of 30 cm, but has a larger diameter of 3.7 cm. It also consists of a double, flexible metal wire. The wool head is made of different coloured wool threads and covers the entire front of the brush, which means that the tip of the brush can also be used for cleaning. The wool head has a length of 5.5 cm. This is followed by a tube brush section with black nylon wires over a length of 8.5 cm. Like the large tube brush, the brush ends with a black plastic handle on which the brush can be hung.
The foam brush has a total length of 42 cm. Apart from the 11.5 cm long handle at the end, it is fully equipped with white, foam-like brush elements. Like the brushes described above, this brush can also be bent into the desired shape. The tip of the brush is coiled in the shape of a snail, which means it can also be used for cleaning.
The wire brush is designed like a standard manual toothbrush. Its total length is 17 cm, of which 4 cm is the brush head. The metal bristles are made of medium-hard, thin metal wire. Apart from the metal bristles, the brush is black in colour. The cleaning beads are made of shiny metal and have a diameter of 3 mm.
Apart from the large pipe brush, all brushes make a high-quality and stable impression. The differences in the texture of the handle and wire of the various brushes are striking. Although they are all printed with the M. Rosenfeld logo, they appear to be from different manufacturers.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test is the most relevant and therefore the most important. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning the smoke column and immersion tube | Thorough cleaning with the large tube brush, detachment of the handle when pulling out | 60 points |
| Cleaning the base | Easily accessible areas can be cleaned with a wire brush and wool brush | 90 points |
| Cleaning the hose adapters | Thorough cleaning is easy with the small pipe brush | 100 points |
| Cleaning the bowl | Easy cleaning of the outside and underside with the beads, too flexible foam brush for the rest | 80 points |
| Total | 83 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
In our test, we focus on the insides of the central components of a water pipe. These include the smoke column with dip tube, the base, the hose adapterand, of course, the bowl. Standard household utensils are sufficient for the outside of a water pipe, as these are easily accessible, unlike the inside, and no special cleaning kit is required. The test object is an approximately five-year-old water pipe from the mid-range segment, which is in urgent need of cleaning.
We start with the dip tube and smoke column. For this we use the large pipe brush, which is the only one with a sufficiently long handle to penetrate the entire smoke column. The brush is easy to insert. This alone and further twisting movements loosen considerable amounts of dirt. However, the brush is not as easy to remove as it was to insert. The individual bristles are pressed towards the centre axis during insertion, preventing the brush from being pulled out. However, the handle of the tube brush should not be pulled to remove it, as otherwise, as in our case, the handle will come loose. Although it can be put back on, it no longer holds as firmly as before. The brush can therefore only be pulled out by the wire. If this is bent to the side beforehand, this is much easier. After cleaning with the large pipe brush, the smoke column and dip tube are clean again and hardly have any odour of their own.
The next step is to clean the inside of the base. We use the wire brush for this. This makes it quick and easy to scrub off dirt and corrosion. However, it would be better if the wire brush also had bristles at the tip to make it easier to reach the rear corners on the thread of the dip tube. However, the wire brush should not be used for coated, painted or polished surfaces, as it will scratch the surface. In this case and for light soiling, the wool head of the wool head brush can also be used.
The small pipe brush is ideal for cleaning the hose adapters . It can also be used to get into the narrow channels and remove dirt from the non-return valves. However, the balls must be removed from the non-return valves beforehand.
Finally, the bowl is cleaned. Firstly, we use the cleaning beads, which we add to the bowl with a little lukewarm water. The bowl is then swivelled out vigorously. Unfortunately, it is hardly possible to manoeuvre the beads into every area. However, the areas reached by the beads can be cleaned quickly and effectively. In our case, this is the underside in particular, with the exception of the bulge in the centre, as well as the outside of the main part of the bowl. However, it is not possible to clean the rings above, the neck and the curvature on the underside in this way. However, collecting the beads through the net works very well with a little practice.
The brush with a woollen head can be used for the curvature on the underside of the bowl, as it also has woollen threads at the tip. The foam brush can also be used for this. We use the foam brush for the rings above the main part. The round head of the brush thus reaches into the curves of the bulges and the deposits on the glass can be scrubbed away. Unfortunately, the wire of the brush turns out to be a little too soft. With firmer scrubbing, even stubborn deposits could be removed so quickly, but the entire brush bends beforehand. Instead, you have to scrub longer but with less pressure. The foam brush surprises positively when washing out. Even if considerable dirt accumulates on the white foam, simply washing it out with water is enough to restore the brush to its original white colour.
The combination of the different brushes and the cleaning beads means that all elements of a water pipe can be thoroughly cleaned.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we look at how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also analyse consumer reviews and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | Low price with good performance | 80 points |
| Rating cut | 4.4 out of 5.0 on Amazon | 70 points |
| Total | 75 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
On the Amazon platform, consumers have given the product an average rating of 4.4 stars. The low quality of the set is often criticised. Many customers like the cleaning with the cleaning pearls. In our practical test, we were able to confirm that the cleaning beads were good and that the quality, at least in the case of the large pipe brush, was not so good.
Prices of up to €55 are charged on the internet for comparable cleaning sets. Very inexpensive cleaning sets with cleaning pearls are available from as little as €16.90. The cleaning set from M. Rosenfeld is currently in the lower price segment with a price of €17.98. The price ratio is reasonable for the quality and scope of services you get.
Overall result
| Weighting | Score achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & labelling | 10% | 98 points |
| 2. package contents & instructions | 10% | 73 points |
| 3. product processing & appearance | 20% | 83 points |
| 4. in the practical test | 40% | 83 points |
| 5. price/performance & consumer reviews | 20% | 75 points |
| Total | 82 points |
