Cleaning Nebs

[JenniferRose65]

So this is how my mother was taught to clean my nebulizers way back when and how we have been cleaning them for the past 21 years...
-separate and rinse all the pieces
-soak in hot soapy water
-rinse off
-soak in 1/3 distilled vinegar; 2/3 warm water
-set pieces out to dry

Now, first of all...I was curious to see if this is still a sufficient way to clean my nebs.
Secondly, keeping in mind that I'm a college kid living in a room with nothing but a sink, a hot plate, and a toaster oven...is there an easier or better way to be cleaning my nebs?
Also...I know I'm terrible at this part. How often should I be cleaning my nebs?

Thanks for the help!

 

[JenniferRose65]

So this is how my mother was taught to clean my nebulizers way back when and how we have been cleaning them for the past 21 years...
-separate and rinse all the pieces
-soak in hot soapy water
-rinse off
-soak in 1/3 distilled vinegar; 2/3 warm water
-set pieces out to dry

Now, first of all...I was curious to see if this is still a sufficient way to clean my nebs.
Secondly, keeping in mind that I'm a college kid living in a room with nothing but a sink, a hot plate, and a toaster oven...is there an easier or better way to be cleaning my nebs?
Also...I know I'm terrible at this part. How often should I be cleaning my nebs?

Thanks for the help!

 

[JenniferRose65]

So this is how my mother was taught to clean my nebulizers way back when and how we have been cleaning them for the past 21 years...
<br />-separate and rinse all the pieces
<br />-soak in hot soapy water
<br />-rinse off
<br />-soak in 1/3 distilled vinegar; 2/3 warm water
<br />-set pieces out to dry
<br />
<br />Now, first of all...I was curious to see if this is still a sufficient way to clean my nebs.
<br />Secondly, keeping in mind that I'm a college kid living in a room with nothing but a sink, a hot plate, and a toaster oven...is there an easier or better way to be cleaning my nebs?
<br />Also...I know I'm terrible at this part. How often should I be cleaning my nebs?
<br />
<br />Thanks for the help!

 

[hmw]

Vinegar used to be recommended to sanitize after washing with soapy water. This is no longer the case. Since you have a hot plate, it may be easiest for you to wash them in soapy water at your sink, and then boil them in a pot of water on the hot plate to sterilize them, then set out to dry.

They need to be washed and sterilized between EACH use... bacteria gets deposited on them during each tx, where it will grow in the moist environment of the used neb; the neb cup will also get clogged and not work as well as it should if it's not kept clean.

 

[hmw]

Vinegar used to be recommended to sanitize after washing with soapy water. This is no longer the case. Since you have a hot plate, it may be easiest for you to wash them in soapy water at your sink, and then boil them in a pot of water on the hot plate to sterilize them, then set out to dry.

They need to be washed and sterilized between EACH use... bacteria gets deposited on them during each tx, where it will grow in the moist environment of the used neb; the neb cup will also get clogged and not work as well as it should if it's not kept clean.

 

[hmw]

Vinegar used to be recommended to sanitize after washing with soapy water. This is no longer the case. Since you have a hot plate, it may be easiest for you to wash them in soapy water at your sink, and then boil them in a pot of water on the hot plate to sterilize them, then set out to dry.
<br />
<br />They need to be washed and sterilized between EACH use... bacteria gets deposited on them during each tx, where it will grow in the moist environment of the used neb; the neb cup will also get clogged and not work as well as it should if it's not kept clean.

 

[JenniferRose65]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I most definitely needed to post something about this! I've been doing this so wrong!
I don't need to worry about the boiling water ruining or melting the nebs?
I also heard that you can sterilize them in those reusable/microwavable bags for baby bottles? Would some of those bags and a microwave be a good investment?

 

[JenniferRose65]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I most definitely needed to post something about this! I've been doing this so wrong!
I don't need to worry about the boiling water ruining or melting the nebs?
I also heard that you can sterilize them in those reusable/microwavable bags for baby bottles? Would some of those bags and a microwave be a good investment?

 

[JenniferRose65]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I most definitely needed to post something about this! I've been doing this so wrong!
<br />I don't need to worry about the boiling water ruining or melting the nebs?
<br />I also heard that you can sterilize them in those reusable/microwavable bags for baby bottles? Would some of those bags and a microwave be a good investment?

 

[hmw]

If you have the Pari nebs, they handle being boiled, microwaved, etc just fine. The disposable ones will melt.

You'd probably like having a microwave for the food convenience- it would likely be a good investment since eating well is important for you too. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> There is a microwave sterilizer that you can get that you add water to (it costs about $30 & you don't need to worry about replacing bags), or you can try the bags, or you could just get a glass microwaveable bowl and boil them in that.

 

[hmw]

If you have the Pari nebs, they handle being boiled, microwaved, etc just fine. The disposable ones will melt.

You'd probably like having a microwave for the food convenience- it would likely be a good investment since eating well is important for you too. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> There is a microwave sterilizer that you can get that you add water to (it costs about $30 & you don't need to worry about replacing bags), or you can try the bags, or you could just get a glass microwaveable bowl and boil them in that.

 

[hmw]

If you have the Pari nebs, they handle being boiled, microwaved, etc just fine. The disposable ones will melt.
<br />
<br />You'd probably like having a microwave for the food convenience- it would likely be a good investment since eating well is important for you too. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> There is a microwave sterilizer that you can get that you add water to (it costs about $30 & you don't need to worry about replacing bags), or you can try the bags, or you could just get a glass microwaveable bowl and boil them in that.

 

[AleksandraKaczynska]

Hi,
I was recently told to use a baby bottle sterilizer - they are used in some of our hospitals - I'm from Poland.
But they are used before each use - not after - so you are certain there are no bacteria.
I use Side Stream Durable neb - so they can be boiled and so on.
The baby bottle sterilizer is very cheap and convienent. After use I rince it in warm water (the neb, all pieces and the mask or mouthpiece - not the air-cord) and place the parts in the sterylizer. Not the bags - they are not in shops here.
we use a:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.redcoon.pl/index.php/cmd/shop/a/ProductDetail/pid/B130532/cid/39002/Petra_Electric_DI_600/
">http://www.redcoon.pl/index.ph...etra_Electric_DI_600/
</a>here it's rather cheap.
It takes about 15 minutes before use - to sterize 10 min. and to dry 5 minutes.
I used to use chemicals - Sekusept - or boiled the neb in water with a drop of washing liquid for 10 min. But it was a fuss and I didn't do it everytime.
And this way I don't use the same gear for the neb as for food <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Maybe try this way.

 

[AleksandraKaczynska]

Hi,
I was recently told to use a baby bottle sterilizer - they are used in some of our hospitals - I'm from Poland.
But they are used before each use - not after - so you are certain there are no bacteria.
I use Side Stream Durable neb - so they can be boiled and so on.
The baby bottle sterilizer is very cheap and convienent. After use I rince it in warm water (the neb, all pieces and the mask or mouthpiece - not the air-cord) and place the parts in the sterylizer. Not the bags - they are not in shops here.
we use a:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.redcoon.pl/index.php/cmd/shop/a/ProductDetail/pid/B130532/cid/39002/Petra_Electric_DI_600/
">http://www.redcoon.pl/index.ph...etra_Electric_DI_600/
</a>here it's rather cheap.
It takes about 15 minutes before use - to sterize 10 min. and to dry 5 minutes.
I used to use chemicals - Sekusept - or boiled the neb in water with a drop of washing liquid for 10 min. But it was a fuss and I didn't do it everytime.
And this way I don't use the same gear for the neb as for food <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Maybe try this way.

 

[AleksandraKaczynska]

Hi,
<br />I was recently told to use a baby bottle sterilizer - they are used in some of our hospitals - I'm from Poland.
<br />But they are used before each use - not after - so you are certain there are no bacteria.
<br />I use Side Stream Durable neb - so they can be boiled and so on.
<br />The baby bottle sterilizer is very cheap and convienent. After use I rince it in warm water (the neb, all pieces and the mask or mouthpiece - not the air-cord) and place the parts in the sterylizer. Not the bags - they are not in shops here.
<br /> we use a:
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.redcoon.pl/index.php/cmd/shop/a/ProductDetail/pid/B130532/cid/39002/Petra_Electric_DI_600/
">http://www.redcoon.pl/index.ph...etra_Electric_DI_600/
</a><br />here it's rather cheap.
<br />It takes about 15 minutes before use - to sterize 10 min. and to dry 5 minutes.
<br />I used to use chemicals - Sekusept - or boiled the neb in water with a drop of washing liquid for 10 min. But it was a fuss and I didn't do it everytime.
<br />And this way I don't use the same gear for the neb as for food <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />Maybe try this way.

 

[janddburke]

I Cleaning Nebs

I rinse all the pieces and put them all in my big Pampered Chef mixing bowl and put enough water to cover. then I place in the microwave on High for 6.66 (should be enough to get to a boil then boil for 5 minutes) neb cups can definetly handle.

also once every few weeks I soak in 1 part bleach and about 50 parts distilled water (I use previously boiled water or what we refer to as kettle water) before rinsing and nuking.

I have a plastic basket on the counter with a paper towel in the bottom for drying. the plastic gets rised with the bleach mixture and then the boiling water, but not in the microwave.

if you take the stuff right out of the microwave (with a spoon) while it is still very hot it dries in seconds, really.

 

[janddburke]

I Cleaning Nebs

I rinse all the pieces and put them all in my big Pampered Chef mixing bowl and put enough water to cover. then I place in the microwave on High for 6.66 (should be enough to get to a boil then boil for 5 minutes) neb cups can definetly handle.

also once every few weeks I soak in 1 part bleach and about 50 parts distilled water (I use previously boiled water or what we refer to as kettle water) before rinsing and nuking.

I have a plastic basket on the counter with a paper towel in the bottom for drying. the plastic gets rised with the bleach mixture and then the boiling water, but not in the microwave.

if you take the stuff right out of the microwave (with a spoon) while it is still very hot it dries in seconds, really.

 

[janddburke]

I Cleaning Nebs

I rinse all the pieces and put them all in my big Pampered Chef mixing bowl and put enough water to cover. then I place in the microwave on High for 6.66 (should be enough to get to a boil then boil for 5 minutes) neb cups can definetly handle.
<br />
<br />also once every few weeks I soak in 1 part bleach and about 50 parts distilled water (I use previously boiled water or what we refer to as kettle water) before rinsing and nuking.
<br />
<br />I have a plastic basket on the counter with a paper towel in the bottom for drying. the plastic gets rised with the bleach mixture and then the boiling water, but not in the microwave.
<br />
<br />if you take the stuff right out of the microwave (with a spoon) while it is still very hot it dries in seconds, really.

 

[Ratatosk]

I Cleaning Nebs

The only time I've ever used vinegar was before washing in soapy water, rinsing and boiling on the stove for 10 minutes. And the reason I used vinegar was because our water softener wasn't working very efficiently and we'd get calcium deposits on the nebs, which would clog them. We've since gotten a new softener.

When DS was diagnosed over 7 years ago, the head RT was giving us instructions on neb cleaning and mentioned that they used to recommend vinegar, but that's no longer the case.

 

[Ratatosk]

I Cleaning Nebs

The only time I've ever used vinegar was before washing in soapy water, rinsing and boiling on the stove for 10 minutes. And the reason I used vinegar was because our water softener wasn't working very efficiently and we'd get calcium deposits on the nebs, which would clog them. We've since gotten a new softener.

When DS was diagnosed over 7 years ago, the head RT was giving us instructions on neb cleaning and mentioned that they used to recommend vinegar, but that's no longer the case.