1. After every use
   • Wash your hands first.
   • Disconnect the tubing and keep it dry. Do not wash or soak the tubing.
   • Take apart the medicine cup, mouthpiece or mask, and top piece.
   • Wash these parts in warm water with mild dish soap, then rinse well.
   • Shake off water and leave all parts on a clean towel or paper towel to air-dry completely. Do not reassemble while damp.
2. Once weekly
   • Disinfect the washable parts as directed in your specific machine's manual.
   • A common method is soaking the cup, mask/mouthpiece, and top piece in a white-vinegar solution for 30 minutes, then rinsing and air-drying. The exact vinegar-to-water ratio and whether this is suitable varies by device, so follow your manufacturer instructions first.
   • Some parts may be dishwasher-safe, usually on the top rack, if the manufacturer permits it.
3. Compressor and tubing
   • Wipe the outside of the compressor and the outside of tubing with a clean damp soapy cloth or disinfectant wipe.
   • Never immerse the compressor or tubing in water.
   • Keep the machine on a clean, dry surface and away from dust, smoke, and pets.
   • Check and replace the air filter as your manual specifies, commonly about every 6 months.
4. Avoid contamination
   • Use only the prescribed medication or sterile saline.
   • Do not share a nebulizer mouthpiece or mask.
   • Replace disposable cups, masks, mouthpieces, and tubing when they look worn, cloudy, cracked, or as advised by the supplier.

Small-volume nebulizer: hospital cleaning

1. Perform hand hygiene and wear appropriate PPE.
2. Discard any residual medication.
3. Disassemble the nebulizer cup and patient interface as permitted by the device instructions.
4. Clean, then disinfect, according to the approved hospital reprocessing procedure.
5. If rinsing is required, use sterile water. Allow the device to dry fully before reuse.
6. Store it dry in a clean, protected area, labeled for that patient if it is intended for single-patient use.

• Use a new disposable nebulizer, or send the reusable device for validated reprocessing with high-level disinfection or sterilization before it is used for another patient.
• Do not share masks, mouthpieces, medication cups, or tubing between patients.

Disposable nebulizers

• After each use, empty residual medication, rinse the reservoir with sterile water if your policy directs it, and wipe the mouthpiece or mask with an alcohol pad.
• Discard and replace at the interval set by local policy, commonly within 24 hours. A recent hospital-use guidance specifically suggests a 24-hour limit for disposable nebulizers. CDC-hosted guidance

Medication safety

• Use sterile fluids only.
• Add medication aseptically.
• Prefer unit-dose medication vials. If multidose vials are used, handle and store them under the manufacturer’s and hospital medication policy.