A nebulizer is a device that is used to give liquid medicine through an airborne mist. Since you breathe iA nebulizer is a device used to administer medication through mist inhalation. The American Lung Association recommends it to people with different types of lung infections, lung secretions, cystic fibrosis, and chronic lung diseases. Nebulizer therapy is also an effective treatment procedure for managing asthma.
Many of you may not know how to clean your best portable nebulizers. If that is the case, worry no more. In this article, we’ll teach you how to clean a nebulizer – the right way.
Methods Of Cleaning A Nebulizer
There are two ways to clean your machine effectively. One of them is quick cleaning. This is the type of cleaning that should be done after every use.
The second method is deep-cleaning. After every three to seven days, you should clean your device using this way for additional safety.
How To Clean A Nebulizer: Step By Step Process
Step 1: Wash Your Hands
Before you handle the nebulizer, always wash your hands with tap water and soap. You can even use hand sanitizer. This ensures that you won’t be carrying any microbes. This is very important, especially if you are administering the treatment to a child with asthma.
Step 2: Remove the Pieces
There are several types of nebulizers, but they have similar components. These are the mouthpiece, nebulizer mask, and nebulizer cup. They also contain tubing, connecting pieces, and an air compressor. When planning to wash, take out the mask and medicine container.
Step 3: Wash the Pieces
Using warm water and mild detergent, clean the mouthpiece separately for at least two minutes. Then do the same for the medicine container. Keep in mind not to wash any tubes or the machine itself.
Step 4: Let Everything Dry
After washing, shake the pieces to remove excess water. Next, lay out a clean cloth or paper towel and place the items on it to dry naturally. The time of drying varies.
Sometimes it takes twenty minutes, and other times, it takes an hour or two. We suggest that you let the parts dry for at least an hour. This ensures all water evaporates.
Step 5: Assemble Again
Once the pieces have dried, you can connect the parts back together. Then run the device for 10 to 20 seconds to remove the remaining water vapors. After this, you can disassemble and store the cleaned pieces in a clean bag.
Disinfect
The disinfecting method for non-disposable nebulizers is very simple. In a clean bowl, add the disinfectant provided by your doctor. If your doctor didn’t give any, then prepare your own. You can do this by adding half a cup of vinegar to a bowl of water. This white vinegar solution is very effective in keeping germs and bacteria at bay.
Make sure you’re using clean water. You can even use sterile water if you want. Once you have the solution in the bowl, add the mouthpiece and medicine container to it. Ensure that they are entirely submerged. Let the parts soak for an hour.
Wash The Equipment
Use steps 1 to 3 of the quick cleaning method to wash the disinfected pieces of equipment.
Air Dry
After washing, let the pieces dry for 1.5 hours naturally by setting them out on a towel.
Storage
After drying, reconnect the nebulizer briefly to remove any water inside the parts. Then disassemble and store the pieces in a clean bag until you use the machine again.
Final Words
That was your complete guide to cleaning a nebulizer step by step. Always wash the pieces after every use. This will prevent you from facing bacterial/microbial infections.
