Terry,
I have A-typical cystic fibrosis along with bronchiectasis and MAC so I had a lot of mucous. It has cut down considerably since I started the MAC meds. I used to do a breathing treatment 2xday, but since about 3 months into my meds, I cut down to 1xday in the morning unless I feel I need a second one later in the day. I use a baby bottle sterilizer to sterilize my equipment every day. I soak everything in warm water for awhile, agitate, rinse and sterilize. I only sterilize the aerobika once a week. I wash the mouthpiece every day and sterilize with the rest of my breathing equipment, but the unit itself, I wash and sterilize every Sunday. I used to use distilled water but I don't anymore. Don't take what I do as gospel, because I don't know that I'm doing it "right." It works for me and I'm comfortable with it so that's what I'm doing. I struggled a lot in the beginning boiling water to sterilize, sometimes forgetting it was on the stove (yikes!) and then talked to my respiratory therapist the first time I was going away for a few days and she put me on to the sterilizer. They have packets you can microwave your equipment in as well so it's easy to carry with you when you travel. You can find it all on Amazon. Best, Linda