respiratory equipment cleaning instructions

Oxygen Supplies

• HUMIDIFIER

• Refill with distilled water as necessary. Discard any remaining water before refilling.
• Clean humidifier every 3 days:
• Wash in warm soapy water and rinse with cold tap water
• Soak in a t-to-3 mixture of white vinegar and water for 30 minutes and rinse with water.
• Discard vinegar/water after each use.
• Discard humidifier monthly.

• NASAL CANNULA

• Discard every 2 weeks. More frequently if you have a cold.

• OXYGEN TUBING

• Wipe with damp cloth if soiled. Do not attempt to soak/clean tubing.Discard every 90 days.

Hand-held Nebulizers

• NEBULIZER

• After each treatment, disassemble nebulizer, "T" piece and mouthpiece, wash with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly under warm tap water.
• Allow to dry on a clean paper towel.
• Once each day, after rinsing, soak for 30 minutes in a l-to-3 mixture of white vinegar and water and rinse thoroughly with water. Discard vinegar/water after each use.
• Discard setup after two weeks

• TUBING

• Wipe with damp cloth if soiled. DO NOT attempt to soak/clean tubing. Discard after two weeks. (Medicare allows 2 complete circuits and 2 additional medication cups every 30 days.)

CPAP/BiPAP MACHINES

• MASK

• Clean mask cushion daily with warm, soapy water. Use a mild dish soap.
• Disinfect every 3 days - soak mask with cushion in a l-to-3 mixture of white vinegar and water for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly with water. Disinfect daily if you have a cold or respiratory infection. Discard vinegar/water after each use.

• HEADGEAR

• Machine or hand wash in mild fabric detergent if soiled. Allow to air dry

• TUBING

• Disinfect every 3 days. Soak in a l-to-3 mixture of white vinegar and water for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly with water. Discard vinegar/water after each use.

• HUMIDIFIER

• Empty water daily and replace to FULL line with DISTILLED WATER.
• Disinfect every 3 days by soaking humidifier in a l-to-3 mixture of white vinegar and water for 30 rninutes. Rinse thoroughly in water. Discard vinegar/water after each use.