How to Clean a Nebulizer

A nebulizer is a special type of machine used to give drugs in the form of an airborne mist so that they can be inhaled.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceCleveland ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source} Nebulizers are often recommended for young children, people suffering from asthma, or people who have difficulties with ordinary inhalers. Keeping a nebulizer clean is very important — since your medicine has to pass through it on the way to your lungs, an unclean nebulizer can have you inhaling germs, leading to infection.^{[2]XResearch source}

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Quick-Cleaning Your Nebulizer

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Perform these steps after each use of your nebulizer.

1
Wash your hands. Before beginning, it's a good idea to take a few moments to wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. Washing your hands kills bacterial and other harmful microorganisms on them. Since this method for cleaning the nebulizer doesn't use any soap, you won't want to accidentally transfer these onto the nebulizer by cleaning it with dirty hands.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- See How to Wash Your Hands for tips on getting your hands as clean as possible. If you have a germ-sensitive job (e.g., healthcare worker), you may want to use the more conservative WHO guidelines for hand-washing.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceWorld Health OrganizationHealth information and news provided by the World Health OrganizationGo to source}
2
Take the nebulizer apart, if possible. Most nebulizers consist of a mask or mouthpiece, a section of tubing, a few connecting pieces, and a compressed air machine. Gently take these pieces apart from each other. You only need to clean one or two pieces, not the entire machine, so don't leave them connected unless your nebulizer does not come apart.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Lung AssociationNonprofit health organization dedicated to improving lung health through education, advocacy, and researchGo to source}
- Most nebulizers come in one of two varieties: atomizer jet and ultrasonic. Atomizer jets, the more common variety, use compressed air to disperse your medicine, while ultrasonic nebulizers vibrate the liquid medicine with soundwaves to make it into a vapor. While these two nebulizers use different mechanisms to operate, they both use similar mouthpiece/tubing setups to disperse the medicine, so the cleaning instructions are virtually identical for both.
- Some nebulizers (like, for instance, smaller portable models) may have slightly different configurations. In these cases, do your best to remove the pieces that can be removed. Nearly all nebulizers will have some sort of mouthpiece or mask — this is the most important thing to remove and clean.
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3
Wash the cup or mouthpiece with warm water. Run some warm (not hot) water. Rinse the mouthpiece and any T-shaped connecting pieces that attach to it under the water for about half a minute to one minute, making sure that every part of these pieces gets rinsed.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Lung AssociationNonprofit health organization dedicated to improving lung health through education, advocacy, and researchGo to source}
- Do not rinse the tubing or the compressed air machine with water. The tubing is difficult to dry and the machine itself is not intended to be cleaned this way. You can, however, wipe down the outsides of these pieces with a towel.
Shake the excess water off of your mouthpiece (and any T-shaped connector piece you washed) and set it on a clean towel. Allow the water to evaporate naturally. This can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or two, depending on the climate.^{[7]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Lung AssociationNonprofit health organization dedicated to improving lung health through education, advocacy, and researchGo to source}
5
Put the machine back together and store. When the pieces are dry, put the entire nebulizer back together. Run air through the machine for about 10 to 20 seconds to remove any water inside. At this point, you can disconnect the mouthpiece and tubing from the compressed air machine and store both separately.
- A good place to store the mouthpiece and tubing is in a clean ziplock bag. The compressed air machine can be covered with a sheet or towel to keep dust off of it.
6
Optionally, wash pieces in soapy water at the end of the day. Some (but not all) nebulizers will recommend that you disinfect the pieces after each day of use. Consult your model's instructions to determine whether you need to do this. Follow the steps below for this intermediate cleaning method, which is nearly the same as the steps above, but using soap:^{[8]XResearch source}
- Remove the nebulizer's mouthpiece and any T-shaped connector pieces attached to it. The tubing and compressed air machine should not be washed.
- Run warm water.
- Use mild dishwashing soap or detergent to wash the pieces for about half a minute to one minute, making sure that every part of the pieces is cleaned.
- Rinse for about half a minute to remove soap.
- Shake the excess moisture off and air-dry on a clean towel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Deep-Cleaning Your Nebulizer

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Perform these steps every three to seven days while using your nebulizer.

1
Wash the equipment as directed above. To ensure long-term cleanliness and keep your nebulizer in good working order, it's important to give it regular deep cleanings to kill any bacteria or microorganisms your normal cleaning regimen failed to kill. After you finish using your nebulizer, start by washing it as you normally would. See the section above for more details.
- Most manufacturers recommend performing a deep cleaning once or twice per week. If you are unsure how often to deep clean your nebulizer, consult the instructions that came with it.
2
Get a disinfectant solution (or make your own.) Different nebulizer manufacturers will recommend using different products for deep cleaning sessions. Some nebulizers will have a cleaning solution included with them, others will recommend that you buy a commercial cleaning solution from the pharmacy, and others will recommend that you make your own — consult your nebulizer's instructions to be sure which is best for you.^{[9]XTrustworthy SourceCleveland ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- To make your own cleaning solution, mix one part white vinegar to three parts water. For example, you might combine 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 1/2 cups of water.
3
Soak your pieces. Put the mask and any T-shaped connector piece in a clean bowl and cover them with the cleaning solution until they are completely submerged. Leave them to sit so that the solution can clean them thoroughly. The amount of time your nebulizer's manufacturer will recommend for soaking can vary from model to model. Typically, however, this is around 20 minutes to an hour.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Lung AssociationNonprofit health organization dedicated to improving lung health through education, advocacy, and researchGo to source}
- Once again, don't soak the tubing or the compressed air machine.
4
Rinse well and air dry before storing. Once the nebulizer has finished soaking, finish the cleaning process the same way as you would for a quick-clean in the method above.^{[11]XResearch source} See below:
- Remove the pieces from the solution and rinse them thoroughly with warm running water for at least 30 seconds.
- Shake the excess water off and set the pieces on a clean towel.
- Allow the pieces to air dry.
- When dry, you may re-connect the pieces and run the compressed air machine briefly to remove any water caught inside them.
- Store the tubing and mask in a clean ziplock bag. Cover the compressed air machine with a towel before storing it.
- Dispose of your leftover cleaning solution — don't reuse it.

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Question
Can you boil water and then turn off the stove and put the nebulizer and all its pieces in the boiled water for 10 minutes to sterilize instead of using the vinegar cleaning solution once a week?
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Yes, you can. You might want to keep the heat on low for ten minutes instead of turning it off.
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Can I use a dishwasher to clean my nebulizer?
Community Answer
Some parts of some nebulisers can be cleaned in a dishwasher. Check your nebuliser instruction booklet to be sure.
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Does the nebulizer have to be up on a high shelf to clean out the hose while it is running?
Community Answer
No it doesn't. The hose isn't affected by height. However it is a good idea to keep the tube as straight as possible.
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Tips

Be sure to consult the directions that came with your nebulizer before using the instructions above. When in doubt about what to do, always follow the specific instructions for your nebulizer.
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In addition to the instructions above, you'll want to check your compressed air machine's filter periodically and replace it as needed.
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If the pieces of your nebulizer don't come apart, do not force them. A broken nebulizer is no use to you.
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Warnings

Don't use hot water to clean your nebulizer — use warm water instead. Besides the obvious burn hazard, hot water can warp or melt the plastic of the mouthpiece.
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