How Do I Clean Filter Hoses

First I should say that I've never had an external so I have to go by things I've read.

Some people clean their hoses using a cloth. You attach a long piece of string to the cloth which needs to be the right size to fit into the tube without getting stuck, and the other end of the string to a weight of some sort. Drop the weight into the hose and when it emerges as the other end pull the string through together with the cloth.
The first time I'd attach another piece of string to the cloth and use that to pull it back out if it gets stuck.

I use one of those (a JBL Cleany) for cleaning my siphon tube. [If anyone else is thinking of using it for that particular purpose, then I would advise that it's useful but only the small brush fits in and takes a lot of work to push it through; best to hold the wire part in a tissue or cloth to avoid friction burns and blisters! It ought to be fine for the purposes of cleaning wider tubes/hoses than siphons, though.]

Oh yes, I have one of those safe places. 

Glad to hear you are happy with the brush. They are very handy.