Living Dangerously - Nebulizer Cleaning

Hello @thumperguy. I am so glad to hear that you continue to maintain good health and are flare free for 16 months! That is wonderful news.

You will notice that I added to your title so that others can recognize an opportunity to contribute to this discussion about nebulizer cleaning regimen. How long have you been using this process, if you don't mind me asking?

I started to sterilize my nebulizer and aerobika parts about a year ago after washing (and rinsing) in hot soapy water before that. I bought 2 nebulizers and 2 aerobikas so I only have to do it once a day (I nebulize twice a day). Prior to sterilizing, I rinse the parts in warm water to get the saline off and I soak/wash them in warm soapy water twice a week. Based on information here, I now replace the tubing 1/month. I have to admit that the sterilizer makes it easier to clean everything.

I’m pretty pleased that this has been working for me for about 18 months as well. Interestingly, I saw my respirologist last week and she said that there have been very few respiratory patients in the hospital (with flare ups) since covid started. She attributes this to us following instructions to minimize exposure to covid and, in the process, minimizing exposure to everything else! Covid or not, I’m just grateful that this airway clearing regimen seems to help keep me well.

Amanda, I began the Percussion Vest and the nebulizer November 2017. I don’t recall any “involved” cleaning instructions. If there were any I apparently ignored them.
So to your explicit question, well over three years. Don

Congrats on staying well for so long.
It takes a huge commitment to do this every day!

Well Don, Following your excellent advice, I calmed down a little. I now throw all the neb & Aerobika parts into hot soapy water for a 30 minute soak, then (hot) rinse and air dry. But I have skipped sterilizing for quite a while with no ill effects. I still change out the tubing and mouthpiece frequently, most usually because I lose the little "doohickey" the propels the mist, and each of my kits comes with one mouthpiece, one mask & new tubing.
My little guys love the (washed) old tubing to fuel their toy cars, and for all kinds of imaginative play. Any suggestions what to do with all the accumulated masks?
Sue

I also let the parts soak in hot sudsy water, rinse them in hot water and allow them to air dry or shake off excess water before putting them in my WABI sanitizer. I just got a Peri Vios nebulizer last week and I was told I could get new parts every 2 weeks. I never did this with my old SLOW nebulizer. I’m not sure about being able to replace the tubing. I read about letting the parts soak in vinegar solution once a week. Guess I better look over the instructions as I’ve had it a week.

Is there any way to clean that tubing?
I used to use it for months before replacing it but took the advice of someone on this forum and replace it more often now.

I too have been free of exacerbations for over a year which I contribute to mask wearing and 7% Saline. I only change nebulizer tubing every 6 months when I replace the Pari Sprint nebulizer. I pop off the nebulizer and let the compressor run to dry the tubing while I wash the nebulizer parts in hot soapy water. I only sterilize it once a month or so but not the tubing. No problems so far. Since I completed my vaccination on Feb 1, I’ve been wearing my mask less frequently and have noticed more congestion. I might just take the Japanese example of always wearing a mask when outside. It’s hard to take a walk in the neighborhood without leaf blowers stirring up all manner of irritants.

It's not necessary to clean the tubing - just keep it dry. Unlike Rosalynn, I would consider it a miracle if my nebulizer lasted 6 months - 6 weeks is usually my best - and new tubing comes with the neb, so I just replace it then.
As for mask-wearing, ever since diagnosed, well before Covid, I have worn one in dusty/windy conditions, whenever doing yard & garden work, and during bad-air or high allergy conditions. It never seemed odd to me as my brother (who is also my winter neighbor) wears one too. So does one of my MN neighbors - we have noticed more & more of the landscape guys around here doing it too.
I continue to use N-95 masks in the garden, but just wear my 3-layer cloth ones now for everyday use. I just came in from raking the winter leaf cover off the gardens, and will put on the N-95 before I begin loading the leaves into compostable bags.
Sue

Amanda, glad to be “flare free,” just don’t want to be mistaken as “flair free.”