It is extremely important to properly clean and store your nebulizer cups. It can be time consuming, and if you're like me (college student status), it can be difficult to find a clean, dry, safe place to store them. Here's some information about how I clean and store my nebz.
According to Pari.com, a leading company for respiratory equipment, the cups are designed to last about 6 months from the first use with proper cleaning. Some neb cups have timestrips to remind you when to replace them. Depending on what medication you're putting in the cup, the lifespan can be shortened. For medicines like Tobi, specialized cups are available. I highly recommend that when you get sick, you replace all of your cups to better control the bacteria and prevent a relapse. The hospital I go to offers 3-4 cups per visit. I am very adamant about grabbing a few extras to have around just in case.
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| Purchase one like this here |
Cleaning: Immediately after the every treatment rinse the nebulizer thoroughly. This will prevent buildup of leftover medication and saliva. You can either allow them to soak in warm water for 5-7 minutes and hand wash them, or toss them in the dishwasher. You can purchase a basket like the one pictured on Amazon, at Target, and other nearby stores. They're generally used for baby bottles, but I find that they are also beneficial in storing the neb cups to avoid having them fly throughout the dishwasher. Always place the basket on the top rack. If you place them on the bottom, you run the risk of leftover gunk falling from the top rack and melting them! DO NOT wash the tubing! *Please make sure your dishwasher is cleaned regularly. You can find instructions on how to do that here.* Be sure to rinse with STERILE water! Allow them to air dry if you choose the handwash method.
Mix a solution of 1 part distilled white vinegar and 3 parts warm tap water in a clean bowl. Soak the nebulizer parts (except the tubing and mask) for 60 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Alternatively, mix a solution using Control III® Nebulizer Disinfectant and follow manufacturer’s instructions. Rinse thoroughly.
You can also disinfect your nebulizer parts by boiling in a clean pot of water for 10 minutes. Be sure to keep a close eye on them while you're boiling them...you don't want them to warp or melt because it can decrease their effectiveness.
According to CFF.org, you can:
boil your nebs for 5 minutes, microwave for 5 minutes, dishwasher for 30 minutes, electric steam sterilizer OR you can use the cold methods: soak in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes, soak in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 3 minutes
Some compressors have filters made into them. It's always best to change these when you notice they're starting to become discolored, usually a yellow color. The recommended time to change your filter out is every 6 months.
Educational post, right?
WRONG. We all have lives, families, school, jobs, and other duties. While it would be great if we could do this EVERY day, it is seemingly unreasonable. I highly encourage you to do the aforementioned cleaning instructions, however, there are ways to adapt them to accommodate...LIFE.
-Designate your neb cups for certain medications and label them. You can use masking tape, a label, or just a permanent marker to identify what's flowing through your cup. Albuterol, hypertonic saline, Tobi, Pulmozyme, etc
-After each use, rinse thoroughly with hot water. Allow to air dry.
-Store them in an air tight container until the next use
Clean and disinfect them as the aforementioned instructions recommended once a week.
Breathe Easy,
-B.
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