How to Clean a Nebulizer
When you are having trouble breathing and need to use your nebulizer for treatment, it's not the time to discover that the tubes are clogged or dirty. Keeping your neublizer clean will not only prevent clogs and the spread of germs and bacteria, it will also increase the lifespan of the machine and its accessories.
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Instructions
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Perform Daily Nebulizer Maintenance
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1
Detach the mask or mouthpiece and the T-shaped elbow piece from your nebulizer, removing and putting the tubing aside. The tubing of your nebulizer shouldn't be washed--instead it should be replaced when it looks cloudy or isn't attaching securely to the nebulizer machine anymore.
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2
Run warm water over the mouthpiece and elbow piece for no less than 30 seconds. Shake the piece to remove excess water and let them air dry on a clean towel.
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3
Connect the mouthpiece or mask to the T-shaped elbow once it is dry and reconnect them to the tubing.
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4
Attach the tubing to the nebulizer machine and turn it on for approximately 30 seconds to dry the inside of the elbow and mouthpiece.
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5
Put the mask or mouthpiece and T-shaped elbow, cup, and tubing back together, and connect the device to the compressor. Run the nebulizer machine for 10 to 20 seconds to dry the inside of it.
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6
Cover the machine to keep it free from dust.
Perform Weekly Nebulizer Maintenance
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7
Clean the mask, mouthpiece and T-shaped elbow as you would on a daily basis, washing them with dishwashing soap as you rinse them.
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8
Prepare a solution of vinegar and water. Combine one part white vinegar to two parts sterile, distilled water in a clean bowl or bucket.
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9
Place the mouthpiece, mask and elbow in the vinegar-water solution and let it soak for half an hour. Discard the solution when you are finished.
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10
Run water over the pieces or rinse them with sterile water after you remove them from the cleaning solution.
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11
Shake to remove excess water and leave the pieces to air-dry on a towel. When the pieces are dry, reconnect them as you would after a daily cleaning and run the nebulizer to dry the inside.
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12
Detach the tubing from the nebulizer, coil it gently and store it in a clean, sealed plastic zipper bag.
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13
Use a damp, soapy cloth or disinfectant wipes to clean the surface of the nebulizer machine. Cover the machine until its next use.
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Tips & Warnings
As with any other electric appliances, never immerse the nebulizer compressor in water.
