Amanda, perhaps a year. The lynchpin of the process is a brief initial white vinegar bath during which the mouthpiece is dismantled, placed in a Tupperware container with enough vinegar in it to cover the parts. Lid on, I briefly agitate the container to insure every surface gets some vinegar, enough I hope to drastically shorten the life expectancy of what ever might be camping on the surfaces. Then rinse in warm water with a little soap on the part that enters my mouth. Allow to air dry. I leave the vinegar in the container and reuse it several times before replacing. As you can surmise, this is really Rocket Science. 😂 Don